Kalanchoe plants are small and exquisite, with compact growth and lush green leaves. They bear dense clusters of flowers, making them highly ornamental. Even when not blooming, their leaves are attractive, making them ideal indoor potted plants. Kalanchoes have a long flowering period. Below, we'll introduce the cultivation methods and precautions for Kalanchoe. Let's take a look together.
Cultivation Methods for Kalanchoe
-
Soil: Kalanchoe should be planted in loose, fertile soil with good drainage, avoiding heavy clay soil. A mixture of leaf mold, garden soil, and river sand in a ratio of 4:2:2 is recommended.
-
Light: Kalanchoes prefer sunlight and should be placed in sunny areas such as balconies. Sun shading may be necessary in summer, but adequate sunlight is required throughout the year.
-
Water: Kalanchoes store water in their leaves and have strong drought resistance, so frequent watering is unnecessary. Watering once every 2-3 days during the growing season is sufficient, while watering frequency should be reduced during the winter dormancy period.
-
Temperature: The optimal temperature during the growing season is 20-25°C, while during winter dormancy, temperatures should be kept between 16-20°C to promote flowering around the Chinese New Year. Temperatures below 5°C can cause leaf reddening and delay flowering.
-
Fertilization: Apply fertilizer to Kalanchoe every 15-20 days during the growing season using diluted compound liquid fertilizer to promote faster growth. After flower buds form, apply a 0.2% potassium dihydrogen phosphate solution.
Precautions
-
Pruning: Prune Kalanchoe promptly when most of the flowers on a flower stalk have withered to encourage a second flowering. Do not wait for all flowers to wither before pruning.
-
Temperature: Maintain a temperature between 12-20°C after pruning Kalanchoe to encourage the growth of new shoots and the differentiation of flower buds. New shoots can emerge within a week, and new flower buds may appear when new shoots have grown two to three pairs of leaves.
-
Fertilization Timing: After pruning Kalanchoe following flowering, apply fertilizer promptly to stimulate rapid growth of new shoots and flowering.
Above are the cultivation methods and precautions for Kalanchoe. With proper care, Kalanchoes can bloom spectacularly. Kalanchoe enthusiasts should note that removing the growing point during the vigorous growth period and pruning branches and leaves during the growing season can promote the later growth of Kalanchoe.
