Kalanchoe - home care for medicinal and flowering varieties

The popular houseplant Kalanchoe, home care, which is simple, is known to all flower growers. Some grow its medicinal species, enjoying the decorative appearance of the bush. And at the same time using its juicy leaves to improve health. Others prefer flowering varieties that delight with their colorful and lush baskets of inflorescences.

Whatever variety the Kalanchoe belongs to, it will not give you much trouble. The mysterious name hides an unpretentious succulent... It can survive a lack of lighting and missed watering. Feels good in the cool and is absolutely indifferent to air humidity. But if you want to see the Kalanchoe bloom, pay a little attention to it. What does this plant love, how is it better to care for and propagate it, and what mistakes do we most often make?

Features of Kalanchoe

Before starting to study the basic requirements for growing Kalanchoe, it will not be superfluous to understand a little what it is. In a word, it is impossible to describe what a plant looks like, because there are up to 200 species of it. There are varieties with rounded, oval, triangular, and even tubular or openwork-pinnate leaves. Each of them is beautiful in its own way, and almost all of them bloom. This is not such a frequent occurrence among the fat family, to which the Kalanchoe belongs. But if in some species flowering can be seen very rarely, others dissolve their buds annually.

The Kalanchoe bloom is a very beautiful sight. This usually occurs in the spring, but sometimes inflorescences appear even in winter if the plant is kept warm. The color scheme will delight you with its variety and bright colors. There are white, red, pink, yellow varieties, for example, as in the photo below. Terry varieties of culture look gorgeous with small but stuffed flowers that look like miniature roses.

In general, 2 groups of Kalanchoe are most often distinguished:

1. Medicinal. They are only two types of plants: Degremona and pinnate. The first has triangular sharp leaves, painted in a dark green color with purple spots on the bottom. In the second, the leaves are monochromatic, green, covered with a bluish bloom, and more rounded, only the very tip is sharp.
2. Beautifully flowering. They have a wide range of varieties with abundant, colorful and long flowering. Blossfeld is among them, Kalandiva, his hybrid called Mix, as well as Rosalina, Mangina.

Species that bloom, but are very rare and unremarkable, can also be distinguished separately. These include felt Kalanchoe, dissected. These plants are grown for a beautiful decorative look. Their main advantage and decoration is the unusual shape of the leaf plates.

Kalanchoe - home care and simple maintenance rules

It is easy to grow Kalanchoe due to the individual characteristics of its species. The flower represents a large group of succulents. Therefore, it is not surprising that it is quite difficult to ruin it. If you take care of a bush without fanaticism, without looking every day to him with a watering can, Kalanchoe will forgive a lot. Moreover, he does not need to look for a special place in the house, but some preferences are worth familiarizing with. This is especially important when flowering varieties appear in your collection. They just need a little more attention.As well as maintaining conditions under which the bushes can lay flower buds.

In order for Kalanchoe to grow actively, and most of its varieties also surprise with flowering, it is enough for the plant:

• good lighting in winter and diffused light in summer;
• cool content in winter and warmth - during the rest of the year.

But what the succulent has no requirements for is air humidity. Unlike many indoor plants, it is not afraid of dry air. You can even put it on a working radiator, nothing will happen to the Kalanchoe. In the same way, the flower also tolerates high humidity in a cool room. Many growers claim that they often spray it and the plant likes it.

It is possible and even necessary to spray Kalanchoe periodically. But not at all in order to increase the humidity of the air. Such a procedure will simply allow you to clean the leaves of dust and give the bush a shiny and well-groomed look.

Lighting nuances depending on the season

Kalanchoe loves the sun, and given its good growth rate, it just needs it. If the flower does not have enough light, it begins to stretch, and the quality of flowering also suffers. As a result, the shoots become thinner, begin to fall on their side, and the buds become small.

The optimal day length for flowering varieties is at least 12 hours.

Therefore, in winter, do not be afraid and feel free to move your plants to the southern windows. Or install additional lighting for them. But in the summer, direct rays will only cause harm, because they will leave burns on the leaves. At this time, either cover the blinds or shade the flowers. If this is not possible, then make room for them on the eastern and western windowsills and move them there.

Temperature regime for flowering varieties

Decorative Kalanchoe species are not demanding and even tolerate 26 - 28 ° C well. At this temperature, they can live permanently, all year round. But if you have varieties that bloom, take care to create conditions for them to lay flower buds. To do this, from mid-autumn, give the plants a cool room where the temperature does not rise above 16 ° C. In the coolness, Kalanchoe will slow down growth, but it will begin to prepare for flowering.

It is the non-observance of the temperature regime that is often the answer to the question of why the Kalanchoe does not bloom.

Kalanchoe - home care

Growing a succulent plant is easy as it requires a minimum of maintenance procedures. It is much easier for a bush to tolerate a lack than an excess of attention.

Kalanchoe grows quickly, and you can support its development:

1. Abundant watering. The warmer it is in the room, the more often you water the bush. Although he is a succulent, he loves water. Do not let the soil dry out completely, especially in summer. Then the juicy leaves lose their turgor, and the shoots sag helplessly. However, do not fill the Kalanchoe - the soil should have time to dry out between waterings. In a constantly moist substrate, the root system will rot and the bush will disappear. The exception is the cool content in winter. During this period, watering should be rare.
2. Periodic dressings. A succulent plant can grow in a nutrient substrate without additional fertilization. But with gratitude will accept from you the introduction of a liquid mineral complex every 2 weeks. Kalanchoe should be fed only in the warm season, when it is actively growing and blooming - from late spring to autumn. In winter, the need for fertilizer disappears, because during this period the growth processes slow down. For Kalanchoe, preparations intended for succulents and cactus.
3. Pruning as needed. Kalanchoe is one of the few succulents that lends itself well to shaping. By pinching the tops in time, you can grow a lush, round bush. Removal of the growth point stimulates the awakening of the lateral buds, and the stems begin to produce many branches. Start forming young plants in the spring.And keep working in the summer as you grow, adjusting the direction and number of stems. Pay attention to old copies as well. Cut their extended stems in half.

Pruning is also needed by the Kalanchoe after flowering. Remember to remove any faded buds.

Kalanchoe transplant at home

The succulent does not need frequent transplants, and the need for the procedure is determined by the size of the plant. Once the bush has outgrown its pot, replace it with a larger flowerpot. Young plants are developing rapidly, so they will have to be replanted every spring. But old large plants can be left in the same container. Just replace the top layer of the soil, and rejuvenate the plant itself with a haircut.

After the purchase, Kalanchoe is also advised to transplant, since it usually grows in the transport soil. But not immediately, but giving the plant about a week to adapt to new conditions.

In the soil, Kalanchoe is not particularly demanding, but, like any succulent, it prefers a loose substrate. The main thing is that it allows water and air to pass through well. Stagnation of water for a plant, which makes its own reserves, is destructive. Ready-made substrate for cacti is suitable.

If you don't trust the store-bought soil, prepare the soil mixture yourself by mixing in equal parts:

• sand;
• peat;
• sod land;
• leafy ground.

To prevent putrefactive diseases, add charcoal to your home soil. And so that the roots do not come into contact with the water flowing down to the bottom of the pot after watering, lay expanded clay drainage.

Reproduction of Kalanchoe - all possible ways

Another advantage of beautiful bushes with bright green leaves is that they are extremely tenacious. This lies not only in unpretentious care, but also in plant propagation. In an effort to increase its numbers, it almost does not need our help. A seed, a baby, a leaf or even a broken twig that has fallen into a pot quickly takes root and very soon gives a new plant.

At home, the reproduction of Kalanchoe occurs mainly in a vegetative way by rooting:

1. Cherenkov. The most suitable moment for harvesting them is spring or summer pruning of Kalanchoe. Although cut and planted in the fall, cuttings will also work well. So great is the Kalanchoe's power to live. Cuttings are usually cut tops, but if necessary, you can divide the long stem into fragments. They will take root too.
2. Leaves. It is better to root the leaves in the summer, carefully cutting them from a healthy branch. At the same time, keep in mind that you will have to wait for a full-fledged plant from a leaf a little longer than from a cutting.
3. Children. Many types of Kalanchoe form babies on the lateral side of the leaf plate. At first it looks like little leaves have grown on the leaf. But over time, they turn into small outlets and build up their own roots. This is the best moment for the separation of the children and their rooting.

There is another way of reproduction of Kalanchoe - by seeds. But flower growers rarely use it, because vegetative methods give a faster effect. And rarely does anyone collect seeds, more often the inflorescences are cut off after flowering.

At the same time, seed reproduction is quite simple, because the seeds germinate well. If there is an opportunity to purchase them, then simply sow directly over the surface into a tray of leafy soil. Then cover with plastic wrap, water regularly, ventilate and keep the temperature at 20 ° C. A month after the entrances, the seedlings can already be dived into separate pots for growing.

Kalanchoe grown from seeds, if it is a flowering variety, will give buds only in the second year of life.

Kalanchoe - home care and possible problems

All the troubles that can happen to your pet are for two reasons: non-compliance with the conditions of detention and improper care.From this, not only the appearance of the plant suffers, but its development is disrupted, flowering does not occur and diseases appear. If you do not take action, especially in the latter case, then everything ends in failure and the bush dies.

Kalanchoe diseases

Succulents, regardless of their type and variety, most often suffer from:

1. Rot (late blight, gray and stem rot). Signs: the leaves lose their turgor, become soft, the shoots sag. Growing dark spots appear on the stems, the branches dry out. The soil begins to emit an unpleasant swampy odor. If you take out the bush, you can see the rotten roots. Cause: too frequent and abundant watering. Treatment: replace the soil, treat the Kalanchoe with a fungicide. Water as the soil dries.
2. Powdery mildew. Signs: white coating on leaves, shoots and peduncles, similar to dust. Old leaves fall off, young ones grow deformed. Cause: high air and substrate humidity, excess nitrogen, thickened bush. Treatment: transplant the bush, remove diseased leaves, if necessary, cut off the stems. Spray the plant with a fungicide.
3. Ring spot. Signs: on twigs or leaves, spots are visible, which encircle them in a ring. At first the spots are yellow, then darken. The leaves are deformed, coarse, lose color. Cause: viral nature of the disease. Treatment: does not exist, the plant must be destroyed so as not to infect other crops.

Kalanchoe pests

Sometimes insects appear on the bushes, which begin to feed on their juice. Plants become weak, begin to ache and may disappear. In addition, there is a risk that uninvited guests will move to other flowers. Therefore, it is important to notice and destroy insects in time.

Use insecticides and acaricides to treat the flower. Prepare the working solution according to the instructions and spray the bush. Usually several treatments are carried out with a break.

Most of all, Kalanchoe loves such pests:

1. Aphids - small, black or green, settle on the back of the leaves and drink juice from them. The foliage becomes covered with a sticky bloom, turns yellow, withers. Plant in waterlogged soil.
2. The tick is also very small, invisible to the naked eye. But you can clearly see the thin web with which he braids the bush. Appears in rooms with dry air.
3. Scabbard - insects with a strong shell, firmly adhere to leaves and stems. They look like brownish bumps. Anti-scale preparations are useless, you just need to remove it manually.
4. Mealybug - appears in constantly moist soil, feeds on juice. Carries black mold. A diseased plant has a white bloom on the veins.

Competent home care and timely transplantation of Kalanchoe are the key to the flowering of this amazing plant. Having created suitable conditions for him to lay flower buds, you will admire the abundance of lush inflorescences. However, even without them, Kalanchoe looks very decorative, while it does not belong to capricious cultures. So feel free to buy a new green pet!

Caring for home flowering Kalanchoe - video