Kalanchoe is a succulent plant, which can grow both inside and outside the house. Available in a clay pot. It blooms from the beginning of winter until the end of spring. It is a popular plant and its lovers love it mainly for the long duration of its flowers but also for its attractive foliage. Kalanchoe forms very nice bouquets of small flowers in red, yellow, orange, pink and white, while in recent years we find two-tone varieties.
Also its dark green leaves are impressive, because they are fleshy, broad, oval in shape and serrated edges. Kalanchoe growth is generally slow. Its average height is 15-45 cm, while over time its trunks begin to wood. It originates from Madagascar, but some varieties are also found in the rainforests of Brazil and Southeast Asia.
What is the proper mounting location for the kalanchoe?
In general, kalanchoe are very easy maintenance plants and the only thing they can not stand is the cold. Kalanchoe is so sensitive to cold that if the temperature approaches 0οC it will die in just a few hours. On the contrary, in order for this beautiful plant to grow properly, it needs warm temperatures. Kalanchoe preffers light, in fact, it loves it. The kalanchoe needs a lot of light to grow and in fact if the light is abundant, its leaves will acquire a beautiful red hue at their edges. However, it should not be seen directly by the strong summer sun, as it can burn its leaves.
What kind of soil does kalanchoe need to thrive?
Its roots are quite delicate and it would be better to use clay pots, as the clay allows better aeration of the roots. The kalanchoe prefers to live alone in small pots. However, the larger the pot, the larger leaves it will give us. The soil you choose for your pot should be light with a high content of peat, perlite and coarse sand.
What watering and fertilizing needs does kalanchoe have?
Proper watering of Kalanchoe is very important. Excessive moisture can rot its delicate roots. Therefore, for better drainage, place a large amount of pumice or sand in the pot and do not water it often. Before watering it, it would be good to do a test with your finger, dipping it in the pot’s soil. If mud remains on the finger, postpone watering. In general, know that it is better to dry the plant for a while than to water it too often.
Also, try not to wet its leaves because they too can rot. A liquid fertilizer for flowering plants once a month will give it strength and will give you rich and healthy flowers. At the same time, you can use some general purpose fertilizer in liquid form or slow absorption tablets.
A tip for caring for kalanchoe
Practically, it gives us its flowers from the beginning of winter until the end of spring. To give them strength, it is good to cut the flowers just before they wither.