Kalanchoe plants have oval, scallop-edged leaves and small blooms. Kalanchoe blossfeldiana, sometimes known as window’s thrill, is the most popular houseplant among the genus’ over 100 species. It produces tiny clusters of blooms in red, pink, yellow, orange, and white.
Kalanchoe is a popular houseplant since it is drought resilient and easy to maintain, requiring water only every other week when kept in optimal bright lighting.
In tropical and subtropical climes, it can be grown as a perennial. In colder climes, it is commonly grown as an indoor plant. With proper care, it can rebloom indoors for decades.
Keep it away from pets, though, as the plant is harmful to cats and dogs when eaten.
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Common Name | Kalanchoe, Flaming Katy, Florist’s Kalanchoe, Christmas Kalanchoe |
| Botanical Name | Kalanchoe blossfeldiana |
| Family | Crassulaceae |
| Plant Type | Perennial, Succulent |
| Mature Size | 6–18 inches tall and wide |
| Sun Exposure | Full Sun, Partial Shade |
| Soil Type | Sandy, Well-drained |
| Soil pH | Acidic, Neutral, Slightly Alkaline |
| Bloom Time | Seasonal Bloomer |
| Flower Color | Orange, Yellow, Salmon, Pink, White , Red |
| Hardiness Zones | 10–12 (USDA) |
| Native Area | Africa (Madagascar) |
| Toxicity | Toxic to Pets |
Kalanchoe Care
Kalanchoe care is simple if you follow a few basic guidelines and keep the conditions perfect. The primary growth needs for kalanchoe are:
- Plant kalanchoe in a loose, loamy, sandy, well-drained potting medium, such as cactus mix or succulent soil.
- Kalanchoe should be grown in a warm indoor environment with plenty of indirect light. Alternatively, place it in a full-sun outdoor position with protection from the late afternoon sun.
- Allow the kalanchoe plants to dry completely between waterings.
- Fertilize indoor kalanchoe plants once a month during the spring and summer.
Light
Kalanchoe plants thrive indoors in bright, indirect light. Kalanchoes should be planted outside in medium shade to full sun. When planted in full sun, it benefits from afternoon shade to prevent burning. Leggy stems indicate that the plant isn’t receiving enough light.
Also Read : A Beginner’s Guide to Creating a Beautiful Flower Garden
Soil
Kalanchoe plants thrive in well-drained, loamy, or sandy soil. Indoor plants should be potted in a porous mix that drains effectively, such as 50% potting soil and 50% cacti or 60% potting soil and 40% perlite.
To guarantee good drainage and avoid an overly damp environment, put your kalanchoe in a clay container that can assist absorb excess water from the soil.
Water
This hardy plant requires little water, only being saturated every few weeks (and even less frequently during the winter). Allow the soil to completely dry in between waterings to help prevent root rot.
Temperature and humidity
Kalanchoe thrives in temperatures ranging from 55°F to 80°F. With the exception of shielding it from frost, you don’t need to do anything to produce a suitable indoor climate. Kalanchoe plants aren’t finicky about humidity.
Kalanchoes will not survive as outdoor garden plants outside of USDA hardiness zones 10 to 12 because they cannot tolerate temperatures below 55°F.
Fertilizer
Kalanchoe, like most flowering plants, benefits from fertilizer, but they are not heavy feeders. Garden-grown plants just need one light feeding in the spring. Indoor plants should be fed a well-balanced fertilizer blend once a month in the spring and summer, but not in the winter. If flowering is sparse, use a phosphorus-rich fertilizer.
Growth Rate
Kalanchoes are often slow-growing, requiring two to five years to maturity. ‘Flaming Katy’, one of the most prevalent kalanchoes, matures to be about 12 inches tall. Paddle plants can reach heights of over two feet, whilst cathedral bells and velvet-leaf kalanchoe can reach heights of five or six feet indoors.
Types of Kalanchoe
K. manginii: This species, sometimes known as chandelier plant, has fleshy leaves and produces massive, bell-shaped dangling blossoms. Moist air is required for blossoming.
Kalanchoe daigremontiana: This kalanchoe species is known as the “mother of thousands” because of the tiny plantlets that sprout around the edges of its leaves.
K. porphyrocalyx: This species, sometimes known as pearl bells, features slender, rectangular leaves and purple hanging blooms.
Kalanchoe delagoensis: This kalanchoe is known as the chandelier plant because of the tubular orange flowers that hang down from the top of its branches.
K. beharensis: This kalanchoe species, often known as velvet-leaf kalanchoe, is hardy in USDA hardiness zones 9–11. It is prized for its big, pale silvery green fuzzy foliage.
Kalanchoe luciae: This kalanchoe, also known as the flapjack plant, is a typical houseplant with flat, spherical leaves that can turn red in the winter.
K. pinnata: This kalanchoe species, commonly known as cathedral bells, has fleshy green leaves with small plantlets along the borders.
Kalanchoe tomentosa: This kalanchoe, also known as the chocolate soldier or panda plant, has thick, fluffy leaves with a blue tinge and brown dots along the edges.
Pruning
Pinching back the stems of a kalanchoe plant will help it maintain its shape and produce more blooms. Remove any dead flowers to keep the plant looking nice and promote new development. This is especially critical during the plant’s dormancy in late winter and early spring.
Propagating Kalanchoe
The growing offsets will take energy away from the mother kalanchoe plant. Pruning and propagating the offsets will allow the mother plant to thrive while producing multiple new plants.
In addition to reproducing the offsets, you can take stem cuttings. Here’s how to take stem cuttings and grow Kalanchoe offsets.
- Cut a several-inch-long portion of stem from a mature plant with a sharp, clean knife or clipper. Remove any offsets at the joint where they attach to the parent plant.
- Allow the cut to dry for a few days, or until the end looks to be healed shut and calloused.
- Dip the calloused ends of the cutting into rooting hormone.
- Plant the cutting in the same soil combination as the mother plant.
Place the newly planted cutting in bright indirect light but do not water it; the stem should root within a month and can then be cared for like a mature kalanchoe plant.
Potting & Repotting Kalanchoe
Unlike plants that love to be potbound, kalanchoe plants thrive when repotted on a regular basis. For optimal results, repot your kalanchoe in the fall, after it has blossomed.
This will promote new growth and boost the plant’s fullness. When repotting, make the container one size larger. If your plant’s roots aren’t filling the pot, you can retain it in the same pot and simply add a new layer of dirt.
Make sure you pick a pot that drains effectively. Clay is an excellent choice because it is permeable and will keep the soil somewhat dry.
Overwintering Kalanchoe
In lower locations, once nighttime temperatures rise above 60°F, you can move indoor kalanchoe plants outside. When the weather starts to cool down in late summer or early fall, bring them indoors. If your kalanchoe is exposed to temperatures below freezing (32°F), it may die, so bring it inside when the overnight temperature drops below 55°F.
Kalanchoe plants in USDA hardiness zones 9–11 may often withstand a frost, even if their foliage falls back. In colder climates, however, they will not withstand frost.
During the winter, position your kalanchoe in a bright, indirect light source, such as a south- or west-facing window. You can use a grow light if necessary.
Kalanchoe plants require less water in winter than in spring or summer.
How to Bring Kalanchoe to Bloom
How To Keep Kalanchoe Blooming
To bloom to its maximum capacity, place your kalanchoe plant somewhere that receives at least 6 to 8 hours of bright light per day. During the fall and winter, the plant should be in near-total darkness for the rest of the day. A complete 14 hours of daily darkness for at least six weeks is required for the plant to store energy for future blooms.
About four months later, in spring, you’ll be rewarded to bursts of beautiful blossoms that can persist for many weeks. If you control the plant’s light exposure, it can bloom throughout the year.
Kalanchoes can bloom indoors all year if given the right conditions. Kalanchoes need intense sunlight during the day to blossom properly. Direct sunlight can actually impede blooming, therefore bright, indirect lighting is preferable.
How to Encourage More Blooms.
Another method for promoting continuous kalanchoe flowering is to deadhead the flowers once they have finished blooming. If your plant isn’t flowering, seek for a phosphorus-rich fertilizer blend to help it generate more buds.
Common Problems with Kalanchoe
Kalanchoe plants are fairly easy to grow, however issues might emerge if they are not properly watered or exposed to high temperatures.
Soft, damaged flowers and leaves.
Plants exposed to near-freezing conditions frequently have damaged leaves or stunted blooms. For optimal results, keep these plants at temps above 50°F.
Wilting
High temperatures can cause leaves to wilt. Ideally, keep these plants under 80°F.
Drab or burnt leaves.
Plants require proper light exposure to look their best. If the leaves receive insufficient light, they will lose their distinctive glossy green color. Indoor kalanchoes thrive in areas that receive plenty of bright indirect light but not too much direct sunshine.
Soft, Fragile Stems
Overwatering or planting in a water-retaining soil medium are both common issues with kalanchoe. Excessive water can quickly lead to root and stem rot in these plants. If you notice this problem developing, withhold water until the plant recovers.
Failure to Bloom
When a kalanchoe fails to bloom, it is usually because it does not receive the necessary amount of winter darkness to reset its bloom cycle. During the winter, these plants require six weeks of nighttime darkness lasting 14 hours every day. Without this reset time, the plants typically fail to flower again.
