Kalanchoe flowering pruning. Kalanchoe home care

Kalanchoe is a rather unpretentious indoor plant that can be easily grown at home, knowing a few rules. With proper care, the beautiful green Kalanchoe will bloom with bright pink flowers, however, the flowering period is this plant not so long.

Mostly, appearance depends on how you will care for the flower, and where it will be.

Watering:

The plant does not tolerate excess moisture. If the soil is constantly too wet, then the roots suffer first of all: the process of decay begins, so watering should be taken seriously. Kalanchoe is watered with cool water (it is advisable to keep one glass jar, constantly replenishing it: watering is best done with old water). Water in such a way that in no case do not touch the stem with water; if moisture gets in, it does not absorb it, it is possible that the process of decay will begin. Watering should be moderate, so that the soil is sufficiently moist, but not wet, water should not flow out. If you accidentally poured more water than necessary, then immediately free the pan from excess liquid. Remember that it is much better for Kalanchoe to receive less water the more: the plant copes well with the lack of water for two to three days. The secret is that Kalanchoe has a small supply of liquid and can survive without watering. But it will be very difficult to save a flower from an abundance of water.

Autumn and winter Kalanchoe should be watered half as much as in the warm season. In no case do not leave water on the tray (preferably even if it is completely dry). The plant does not tolerate cold well, and from the presence of even a couple of drops it can simply freeze and begin to rot. Watering should be as needed: wait until the soil is completely dry and you can safely add water. Make sure the water temperature is room temperature. Otherwise, every watering will become stressful for the plant.

Lighting:

Kalanchoe - one of those plants that constantly needs sunlight, but there are several features of pot lighting. From morning until two or three in the afternoon, you can keep Kalanchoe on the windowsill or any other place with abundant sunlight on the flower. However, after dinner, Kalanchoe should be closed or moved to the shade, creating a feeling of night. If you do not have the opportunity to constantly change the location of the flower, then the problem can be solved with the help of a light scarf with which you will cover the pot. In the hours after dinner, Kalanchoe does not perceive the sun's rays, they rather spoil the leaves of the plant.

In winter or on days when the sun does not come out, the plant can not be tolerated, constantly leaving it on the windowsill.

If they turn yellow upper leaves, and the lower ones begin to fall off at this time, then there is only one reason - the lack of the proper amount of sunlight. If, on the entire stem, the leaves began to turn yellow evenly, then perhaps too a large number of it is direct sunlight falling on the pot. Move to a more neutral location. It is also undesirable to keep Kalanchoe by the window, as glass increases the exposure of the rays several times, burning the leaves.

For flowering species of Kalanchoe, an east or southeast direction is preferable and additional lighting in winter period. With a clear lack of lighting, the plant stretches and weakens. The upper leaves turn pale, and the lower ones may die.

In its homeland, Kalanchoe is well lit for about ten hours, and the rest of the day is in darkness. And at home, Kalanchoe, which is a plant short day, we must try to provide similar conditions, only then it will bloom beautifully and for a long time.

Air temperature:

Just like in the case of water, temperature regime We can say that less is better than more. Kalanchoe feels most comfortable at 17-19 degrees, but if the temperature in the room drops to 5-6 degrees, nothing will happen to the plant. But when the heat is too strong, Kalanchoe feels bad, begins to absorb too much liquid, but the plant cannot absorb so much, so various diseases can occur.

The temperature regime for this plant is also more or less free. Already at 10 ° C outside the window, it can be put on the balcony for Fresh air where Kalanchoe can be located all summer autumn period. This plant tolerates heat stoically - it copes well with it. But in order for the flower not to dry out, you need to increase the frequency of watering.

The optimum temperature in summer for Kalanchoe is 23-25°C, and in winter - 12-16°C.

Air humidity:

Kalanchoe should not be kept in rooms with high level humidity. As we said earlier, the flower does not like an excess of water, and this applies not only to the soil, but also to the air. The reason is that moisture from the air also enters the interior of the plant, creating an excess of accumulated fluid in the stem, and not in the root system. As a result, fungus, mold, etc. may develop.

Try to keep the air as dry as possible, especially in autumn and winter.

But in order to rid the flower of the dust accumulated on the leaves, it is sometimes advisable to wash it in the shower. It is also useful to wipe the leaves with a soft cloth so that spider mites or mealybugs do not start on the surface.

Top dressing:

Kalanchoe is not very fond of various fertilizers. As well as in the issue with the soil, the plant is quite unpretentious, but if you begin to notice that the flower lacks minerals, then choose succulent fertilizers. In winter, it is impossible to fertilize the soil in any case.

During this period, even if Kalanchoe begins to wither (with the exception of diseases), you should not overload the root system with various additives. Best time for top dressing - this is the end of spring, in extreme cases - the middle of summer. Fertilizers should be given half as much as indicated on the package - believe me, and this amount will be more than enough for your home doctor.

The only important rule when feeding is that the fertilizer mixture must be completely dissolved in warm water, then let it cool down and only then add it to the soil. Otherwise root system will not be able to absorb fertilizer.

Transfer:

Kalanchoe grows quite rapidly, however, due to the rather strongly growing root system, it needs to be transplanted quite often, regardless of the size of the stems themselves. Transplantation should be done in late spring when the plant is in its most active phase.

Kalanchoe, along with a small amount of soil, is separated and removed from the old pot and transplanted into a new one.

After transplantation, the process of adaptation begins. It is imperative that the old and new soils be the same in composition and proportions. During the adaptation period, top dressing is required, as we talked about a little earlier. On average, the plant takes root completely after a week. When choosing a pot, try to choose deeper models with a wide diameter.

If for some reason the transplant must necessarily be carried out in the winter, then try to create as many comfortable conditions for a plant.

refers to fast-growing flowers, therefore, it requires frequent transplantation - once a year, at the end of March. Mature plants can be sprinkled with new earth, but on condition that the roots do not go beyond the boundaries of the pot.

It is necessary to transplant Kalanchoe into a pot larger than the previous one by 2-3 cm in diameter. When transplanting, you need to very carefully pull the flower out of the container - as it has very fragile leaves and stems. The soil is suitable for the following composition: sod land(1 part), leaf ground(1) and sand (1), you can also add humus.
A not too big pot with drainage at the bottom and suitable soil is all that a Kalanchoe needs when transplanting.

Reproduction:

Homemade Kalanchoe can be propagated in the following ways: cuttings, babies or seeds.

The process of self-destruction is very interesting, when the fallen leaves independently give roots and are fixed in the soil.

When propagating from seeds, it is better to choose cool months (end of winter - beginning of spring). Seeds should not be covered with earth, they must be covered with glass and cloth so that sunlight does not fall. Ventilate the pot twice a day by adding water. The soil must be constantly moist. So you should continue for a month, and then transplant the plant into a pot and cover it with a film for a couple of days. As soon as you see that leaves have appeared, finally transplant into a pot (about 7 cm).

During the growth period, the plant should be fed with fertilizers, however, in very small doses. Do not forget to pinch the shoots to form a beautiful bush.

Bloom:

If your home beauty does not produce long-awaited flowers, despite proper maintenance and proper care, then reduce the amount of fertilizer in the soil. The most common reason for the absence of bright flowers on Kalanchoe is the hyper-high content of fertilizers in the soil. Top dressing should be stopped gradually, just reduce the amount of fertilizer each time, bringing it to zero.

As soon as the flowers fade, the inflorescences should be removed immediately along with the peduncles. Their timely pruning will stimulate the release of new flowering stems and extend the flowering period until mid-summer. Kalanchoe is sometimes classified as a re-flowering plant, but in view of the common misconception that it is not so easy to achieve a second wave, it is often thrown away and replaced with new plants immediately after flowering is completed. All that Kalanchoe needs to bloom from year to year is to provide it with a relative dormant period between August and December, during which they create a long night - up to 14 hours - and a relatively short day, shading it with a special cap or rearranging it in a dark place in the late afternoon. Neither reducing the frequency of watering, nor stopping dressing kalanchoe not needed, but the abundance of watering should be reduced, as well as the concentration of fertilizers. During flowering, fertilizers should contain increased proportions of phosphorus. In young plants pinch the tops of the shoots.

As soon as the flowers fade, the inflorescences should be removed immediately along with the peduncles. Their timely pruning will stimulate the release of new flowering stems and extend the flowering period until mid-summer. Kalanchoe is sometimes classified as a re-flowering plant, but in view of the common misconception that it is not so easy to achieve a second wave, it is often thrown away and replaced with new plants immediately after flowering is completed. All that Kalanchoe needs to bloom from year to year is to provide it with a relative dormant period between August and December, during which they create a long night - up to 14 hours - and a relatively short day, shading it with a special cap or rearranging it in a dark place in the late afternoon.

As soon as the flowers fade, the inflorescences should be removed immediately along with the peduncles. Their timely pruning will stimulate the release of new flowering stems and extend the flowering period until mid-summer. Kalanchoe is sometimes classified as a re-flowering plant, but in view of the common misconception that it is not so easy to achieve a second wave, it is often thrown away and replaced with new plants immediately after flowering is completed.

Pruning:

This is very important condition specifically for flowering species of Kalanchoe. You need to cut drastically. The peduncle must be removed as low as possible so that the remaining part does not rot. Also flowering weakens the plant. All old and bad looking parts of the plant need to be cut off. And strong young shoots should be cut and used for rooting.

In summer, it would be good to pinch the tops of the flower in order to form side shoots. Otherwise, the plant will ugly stretch and grow.

Pests:

The most dangerous disease for Kalanchoe it is aphids. It is quite easy to detect it, small green or dark green insects are constantly on the leaves and stem, which completely block the plant's access to nutrients. From aphids, Kalanchoe can completely perish, and before that you will definitely notice that the leaves began to turn yellow, the flowers either fall off, or do not appear at all. If the insect has hit the plant too extensively, then the especially affected foci will have to be cut off and burned, and the remaining stems should be treated with potash soap. If everything is not so bad, then you can simply wash the plant in a solution of potassium or laundry soap. The solution must not enter the soil.

If you find an unpleasant grayish coating on Kalanchoe from small insects, then most likely your flower is affected by scale insects. Because of them, the condition of the flower deteriorates sharply, a fungus develops, and flowering does not occur. Scale insects secrete a special mucus, so before removing them you will have to use an alcohol solution. Then gently brush off the insects and re-wipe the affected areas with any medicine with alcohol. The plant will recover on its own.

Types of Kalanchoe:

Kalanchoe Blossfeld. Compared to other home-grown Kalanchoes, Blossfeld is more tall plant with large inflorescences on long peduncles. There are plants with white, yellow, red, pink and purple flowers. The leaves are bright green, with slight redness around the edges. You can buy Kalanchoe Blossfeld with very decorative double flowers.

Kalanchoe Kalandiva. The plant is a dwarf variety of Kalanchoe Blossfeld. A small bush (with fleshy stems and leaves characteristic of all Kalanchoe) blooms profusely for a long time. Kalandiv has not only a lower bush, but also short peduncles, which adds decorativeness to this Kalanchoe.

Kalanchoe mix looks very nice. Small Kalanchoe bushes with flowers located next to each other various shades able to decorate any room, balcony or loggia.

Kalanchoe Laciniata. This plant is valued for its very original strongly dissected leaves. It is because of these light green leaves with a wax coating, somewhat reminiscent of deer antlers, that Laciniata is sometimes called “deer horns” by the people. Juicy fleshy shoots of this Kalanchoe gradually lodging, which allows it to be used as an ampel culture. Kalanchoe Laciniata also blooms, but her yellow flowers slightly less decorative than those of Blossfeld or Kalandiv. Requires care similar to other species.

Kalanchoe Blossfeld. Compared to other home-grown Kalanchoes, Blossfeld is a taller plant with large inflorescences on long peduncles. There are plants with white, yellow, red, pink and purple flowers. The leaves are bright green, with slight redness around the edges. You can buy Kalanchoe Blossfeld with very decorative double flowers. Flower of Kalandiva species Flower of Kalandiva species Kalanchoe Kalandiva. The plant is a dwarf variety of Kalanchoe Blossfeld. A small bush (with fleshy stems and leaves characteristic of all Kalanchoe) blooms profusely for a long time. Kalandiv has not only a lower bush, but also short peduncles, which adds decorativeness to this Kalanchoe. Kalanchoe mix looks very nice. Small Kalanchoe bushes located next to each other with flowers of various shades can decorate any room, balcony or loggia. Flower of the species Laciniata Flower of the species Laciniata Kalanchoe Laciniata. This plant is valued for its very original strongly dissected leaves. It is because of these light green leaves with a wax coating, somewhat reminiscent of deer antlers, that Laciniata is sometimes called “deer horns” by the people. Juicy fleshy shoots of this Kalanchoe gradually lodging, which allows it to be used as an ampel culture. Kalanchoe Laciniata also blooms, but its yellow flowers are slightly less decorative than those of Blossfeld or Kalandiva. Requires care similar to other species.

When choosing plants to decorate an apartment, an amateur is looking for decorative, unpretentious and useful flowers. These include Kalanchoe blooming. A native of Madagascar, brought to Russia for his medicinal properties, very unpretentious. Brought out over the years different forms of this succulent, up to 100 species of Kalanchoe settled on the windowsills and greenhouses of the country.

How to propagate Kalanchoe blooming

A native of a hot climate, growing on stony soil, saving water in reserve, the flower is unpretentious. It will grow on soil consisting of sand and brick chips, mixed in equal proportions with leafy humus and. Won't give up a small amount fertile humus and birch embers interspersed with small pebbles. But you can just buy ready soil for geraniums, it is also suitable for Kalanchoe.

The capacity for planting the plant is chosen so that it is convenient to place the roots in it, but the extra volume is harmful - the earth can turn sour. The plant is transplanted every year into a large bowl, into a fresh substrate. In this case, any pot should have a good drainage layer.

Planting material can be obtained by cutting off part of the stem from the top of the plant after flowering has ended, and rooting it in wet sand. flowering species Kalanchoe give seeds from which seedlings can be obtained. You can propagate Kalanchoe blooming as a viviparous plant, in which the baby separates, falls into the ground and takes root. It remains only to remove it carefully and plant it in a prepared glass. The appearance of children on the sheets does not depend on whether the plant bloomed.

While the plant takes root, make sure that the soil is moist. Later, excess moisture is harmful. The leaves and stem are wrapped in a layer that does not have pores, and the moisture from the plant does not evaporate.

Photo Kalanchoe with good care at home

In order for the plant to annually delight lovers with its decorative effect, it is necessary to create conditions for its development:

1. Kalanchoe should be placed on the brightest window, while covering from direct sunlight.
2. With the onset of spring, water the plants in small portions once a week, with top dressing for flowering cacti once a month.
3. In summer, provide fresh air and give the opportunity to fade and build up a green mass.
4. In August, prune the faded bouquets, cut and form the desired shape of the plant. Reduce watering by half, enrich the feed mixture. Lower the temperature to 18 degrees and reduce daylight hours to 9-10 hours, giving good lighting at this time.

Everything, biological rhythm the flower is aged, and if the species is blooming, the bush will please with a lush color.

Sometimes it happens that flowering bush bought in flower shop, no longer gaining buds for several years. How to care for Kalanchoe blooming, which was purchased at the store. It is necessary to know that fresh flowers coming from Holland in containers contain a substrate with temporary flowering. Later ground becomes lean, unable to provide the plant with food.

How to transplant a flowering Kalanchoe? It is necessary to take a large container, remove the plant from the container and, to the maximum, carefully shake off the old soil from the roots. After that, carefully place it in a new place, water the plant well to compact the soil, but let the water drain through the drainage and remove it. In the future, water the flowering plant only after the clod of earth inside the pot has dried, testing it in depth for moisture.

The reasons why a home-grown bush does not enter into flowering may be excessive care. The plant blooms when it needs to give offspring. Therefore, it should be moderate to avarice. This will protect Kalanchoe from the development of fungal diseases. Overflow for succulents is much worse than drought.

A plant that is deprived of light will not bloom. In the shadow it will be oppressed, it may die. In the bright spring and summer sun, the leaves will get burned, and will hurt for a long time. And if you do not create a short bright day for a Madagascar resident from August to December, then the Decembrist is unlikely to bloom.

Secrets of how to make Kalanchoe bloom annually

Seasoned succulent lovers find ways to make an annual flowering kalanchoe, and even expel the color to a significant date.

Immediately after flowering, the plant is cut into a stump and removed for a month and a half in a dark and cool hanging with a temperature below 15 degrees. Then it is exposed to light, and the usual watering and top dressing is done. During the summer, Kalanchoe grows green mass. At the same time, the growing leaves are pinched, forcing the plant to bush. Do this until November.

Esotericists believe that Kalanchoe has a strong biofield. It cleans the house not only from harmful impurities in the atmosphere, but also negative emotions. Plants with red and orange flowers energize those around you.

Now, you should provide the plant with bright light for 8 hours and darkness at other times of the day, in a month Kalanchoe will put forward buds. Now place the flower on the windowsill with a temperature of 18 degrees and long flowering will keep you warm in cold winters.

Sometimes people are surprised that Kalanchoe blooms profusely in offices in winter and does not want to please when home care. The reason is that office workers are on duty 8 hours. The rest of the time indoors in winter it is dark. And the energy saving mode allows you to keep the room at a low temperature during non-working hours. That's the whole secret. At home, the same result occurs if the plant is kept in a non-residential room, without turning on the light in the evenings.

Using the properties of the plant to bloom after a dormant period, you can artificially create conditions and get unusual Kalanchoe bushes that bloom even in summer. But in the summer there are already enough variety flowering plants. Therefore, the flowering of the Decembrist in winter pleases lovers more than distillation in summer.

Care for home blooming Kalanchoe - video

Kalanchoe – bright representative Crassulaceae family, can be both decorative (Blossfeld) and medicinal (Degremont). blooming kalanchoe unpretentious in care and has a rare beauty.

Let's take a closer look: caring for flowering Kalanchoe at home, transplanting, reproduction, proper watering and feed for abundant flowering. Kalanchoe care after flowering.

Decorative flowering Kalanchoe has dense, fleshy leaves, with beautiful caps of inflorescences of various shades. With proper care up to 8 months pleases beautiful flowering. The leaves are wavy along the edges.

Kalanchoe endures high humidity and dry conditions. During favorable periods, the leaves of the plant accumulate moisture, which is later used for survival.

blooming kalanchoe resistant to various diseases and pests, easy to propagate.

Kalanchoe - home care

Lighting

For normal growth, any place in the house is suitable, where even a little sunlight falls. The plant grows well in partial shade or with diffused sunlight.

When exposed to direct sunlight, the color of the leaves along the edges will change, they become reddish.

The ideal place in the house would be east or west window, with not very intense lighting. Blooming Kalanchoe prefers an east or southeast window.

During the flowering of Kalanchoe in spring and autumn, additional lighting will be needed.

Not enough light leads to stretching of plants, the upper leaves turn pale and the lower ones die.

Temperature

The plant tolerates temperature fluctuations calmly. Therefore, already starting from 10 degrees, it can be taken out to fresh air. In the summer-autumn period, the plant can be left on the balcony.

The plant tolerates the heat in the summer months well, but it is necessary to increase the frequency of watering.

The optimum temperature is: summer 23-25 ​​degrees, winter 12-16 degrees.

Watering

Kalanchoe accumulates moisture in the leaves, and endures drought or, for example, your absence. Plants are afraid of stagnant water.

Watering must be done abundantly in order to wet the entire clod of earth, but the remaining moisture must be drained.

Decide for yourself correct frequency watering, the earth ball should dry out between waterings.

More often watering is carried out in the summer heat, in winter the interval between waterings is 10-14 days.

If you pour the plants, the roots will begin to rot, various rot and fungi will appear.

Humidity

At home, Kalanchoe does not need spraying. It is especially dangerous to spray in winter. If the leaves are covered with dust, The best way get rid of it, wiping with a damp cloth or, alternatively, wash in the shower.

pruning

In order for the plants to bloom, they need to be cut drastically. Cut flower stalks as low as possible so that the remaining parts do not rot.

All bad looking and old parts of the plant must be removed. Young and strong shoots, after pruning, are suitable for propagation.

In summer, pinch the tops to form side shoots and protect the plant from growth.

Video - Pinching decorative Kalanchoe

top dressing

Approximately once a month, Kalanchoe should be fed using fertilizers for succulents.

For flowering Kalanchoe use complex fertilizers otherwise the plant will not bloom.

Attention: an excess of fertilizer is dangerous for Kalanchoe.

It is better to dilute half the dose or a third when carrying out top dressing according to the instructions for the drug used. Do not fertilize in winter.

reproduction

Kalanchoe belongs to fast growing plants so it reproduces easily.

For breeding young shoots that remain after pruning or are cut specifically for propagation are suitable.

Shoots are approximately 10-12 cm long. 4-6 lower leaves are removed on them and planted at such a depth in a pot with loose, fertile soil.

From the sinuses of the torn off lower leaves, roots will appear in the ground. After planting, compact the soil around the shoot and water along the edges of the pot (to make the shoot in the ground a little wilted, all other watering should be done as usual, over the entire surface).

There is no need to cover the plant during reproduction. Put the pot in a warm place so that there is partial shade.

Question: How to care for Kalanchoe after purchase, why do some Kalanchoes live well after flowering, while others are only thrown away?

Tanitka: I found out that they were bred as one-year-olds, for growing in flower beds and decorating the streets in old Europe.

Maria: I also came to the same conclusion for myself. Moreover, with red flowers it can turn out to be both a hybrid and a traditional Kalanchoe Blossfeld. Traditional - tenacious like I don’t know who, withstands the most nightmarish conditions in lousy soil and without watering. But the red ones, but the hybrids, just like all other colors (white, yellow, pink, orange) - die of stasis after flowering ... I lost white and yellow, and red still re-rooted, but it has been over a year sticks out in the form of a half-dead stamen. Suspicion of hybridity is caused by those that bloom too luxuriantly in the form of completely little bush. This is for the reds. And all the other colors are definitely hybrids.

Victoria: My Kalonchoe (Dutch) has been growing for the third year already, but at the same time every year in May I cut new cuttings from the old plant and plant them in ordinary garden soil - this is very important - not store-bought! By November the plant becomes lush bush and begins to bloom, in April the second flowering, and after it I immediately cut off the cuttings, throw out the old one, and so on every year.

Agave: The year before last I bought 3 pieces from one delivery: white, yellow and red. White and yellow after flowering did not even start growing, they immediately bent. And the red one suffered, withered, lost leaves, I cut it off and re-rooted it - it still barely grows. I decided for myself this way - which bloom very magnificently with small sizes of the plant itself - all hybrids. But the red ones are still more or less tenacious. And in "normal", "grandmother's" Kalanchoe, flowering is not so luxurious, but it has absolutely crazy growth energy and vitality. My mother once, when moving, threw Kalanchoe on old apartment. No one lived there, and six months later I needed to go there. The unfortunate Kalanchoe, not watered for half a year, waved up to the top of the window, like a huge bunch of bald pasta with leaves at the very top. But in any case, it is necessary to re-root: if a hybrid, try to save at least something. And if "normal" - so that it does not stretch out in the form of a long pasta.

Agave: But in general, it is not difficult to care for Kalanchoe - water when the soil in the pot dries out confidently, it is better to dry it out than to pour it. The sun, if possible, in the morning or in the afternoon, if it gets hot at noon, keep it not on the windowsill, but under shade - blinds, tulle, etc.

Kalanchoe - care - in the Encyclopedia section indoor plants.

Kalanchoe - how to care after flowering

Question: What to do after Kalanchoe blooms, when it has branched out like a tree and is almost bald. Can it be cut and how to do it?

Agave: Kalanchoe can be cut as you like! You can cut the cuttings and stick them in the same pot, you can even leave one stump - it will sprout and curl up. The only thing - this applies to the usual Kalanchoe Blossfeld, which blooms red. Any hybrids such as white, yellow and pink after flowering can be completely bent.

Nathanella: There are only two options for how to deal with a faded Kalanchoe:

1. Cut cuttings, root them and get a new plant. It will bloom when it becomes old enough, i.e. probably in a year. Ideally, Kalanchoe Blossfeld is a tall erect plant (50 cm) with a non-branching stem, so pinching does not work. We sell Dutch copies, which are apical cuttings from a mature plant. Making them bloom is not difficult, the main thing is to observe the light regime.
2. Try to arrange a "dark" for an adult plant and get a flowering bush. Kalanchoe is a short day plant, i.e. in order for the bush to bloom again, it should be darkened from about 17 pm to 9 am the next day. Light day should not exceed 8-10 hours. This simple procedure should be done within a month and then Kalanchoe will bloom again. But first you need to remove the old flower stalks.

Tip: "dark" can be arranged with a dark plastic bucket. After flowering, cut off the flower stalks and put the plant on a shady windowsill, almost do not water for a month, then move it to a bright place and start watering and caring as usual. Well, do not forget that Blosfeld's Kalanchoe is still succulent plant, so you should take care of it like a succulent.

Question: My Kalanchoe has already faded in the second round, it seems to be no longer going, so it's time to send it to rest. I know that I need to cut it. Just want to know specifically what to cut and how much to cut?

Buttercup: Trim flower stalks. But the height of the bush is whatever you want.

Land for Kalanchoe

Question: What land is best for Kalanchoe?

Agave: I have absolutely all Kalanchoes planted in the same purchased land with coconut washcloth (fibers) and foam, all on the balcony in the "lace" shade. At the same time, tubiflora, fedchenko, laciniata - grow like undermined. Blossfeld, tomentosa "Panda" and Fang - slowly. A small tomentosa "Chocolate" half-dead. If you have one with a jagged edge and with many children along the edge, then it is very unpretentious, it grows almost in clay.

devi: I have traditional recipe soil for succulents: 3 parts Terra Vita universal soil (green bag) + 1 part coconut substrate (from briquettes) + 1 part zeolite granules. Excellent composition, porous, dries quickly.

How to transplant Kalanchoe

Question: How to transplant Kalanchoe correctly, is it possible to transplant flowering Kalanchoe?

natalie: When you buy a flowering Kalanchoe, it can only be transplanted using the transshipment method. Water the Kalanchoe and crimp the pot so that the earth lags behind the walls of the pot. Take a new pot and if you increase the holes in the bottom of the pot. For example, if you have three holes, make 6 or 8 with a hot knife. If the holes are large, put a circle on the bottom mosquito net, then drainage 2 cm of foam, wine cork or expanded clay. Remove the plant from the pot and plant the Kalanchoe in a new pot. Now fill the voids with fresh earth. Try not to tamp the ground, but tap the pot. When it is completely filled with earth, place the Kalanchoe on the windowsill. The first two days, shade during those hours when the direct sun shines. Do not water for 3-4 days! Then water as normal.

How to water Kalanchoe

Question: I bought a Kalanchoe, crossed it, 4 days have passed, how do I water it now?

devi: If Kalanchoe blooms, water a little more often than non-flowering, but the line is very thin. It is necessary to water so that the top of the earth becomes completely dry, inside (if you stick your finger in) it also feels dry to the touch, but not too dry, do not overdry to the state of dust, when the pot is completely weightless. Look at the weather too, sometimes the earth dries up quickly (when it's hot, sunny days in summer or very warm in winter), sometimes it dries for a long time, especially in autumn - at the end of August, September. Kalanchoe is a succulent, the leaves are dense, storing moisture, but the leaf mass is large, the need for water is higher than that of cacti or, for example, agave (aloe), especially during flowering.

How to make Kalanchoe bloom

Question: Now in early February there are 3 bushes in one small pot, about 13-15 cm high, so thin with small sheets. The last time I transplanted was a year ago. What to do next with it - and put it on rest without a transplant, after cutting it off, or transplant it into a new land, and then put it in darkness a month later?

Koza Nostra: Put for a month (until the end of February) in a dark place, for example, under a box (you can still pluck the tops for children) and do not water. Get out of there shrunken, wrinkled. First put in the old place and spray. Then, after 10 days, start watering and set it so that, in addition to lighting, a little natural light it fell on him (it is possible under ajar blinds). If nothing starts (this is unlikely), pour a solution of potassium humate and superphosphate on it (the latter is better in boiling water - then cool).

Kalanchoe is a long-day plant: that is, it accumulates some necessary substances while a long light period, and then blooms, as a rule, on a waning day. If it generates other necessary substances in the required amount, then flowering is repeated after short span. For flowering, they need two components: the first is gibberellin, it accumulates on a long day and persists for a long time. It can also be introduced artificially. The second component is formed during a short dark period of time. And the flowering mechanism itself starts just after a short dark period. In February, the day will already actively go up.

Anyuta: allow me a small addition - the plant should stand in complete darkness and completely dry- otherwise it will stretch.

Tanya: Usually they buy flowering Kalanchoe, but literally a year later the owner receives a completely different plant: it is larger, the leaves take on a different shape, the plant stops blooming. Therefore, after flowering, all flower stalks are cut off. The shoots that have started to grow are pinched. When new shoots grow from the place of pinching, they are pinched again at the level of 3 pairs of leaves. And they do it all the time. The last pinching is done in November. From now on, the plant is kept in the light for 8 hours a day, then closed with an opaque cap (it can be made of cardboard, it should cover the plant and the pot). About a month later, buds appear on Kalanchoe, and it is no longer necessary to cover the plant with a cap.

You can try another way. After flowering, all flower stalks are cut off and the plant is placed on a dark windowsill. For a month, almost no watering, then rearranged in a well-lit place and watered sparingly. The change of light and water regimes stimulates the formation of buds. Kalanchoe must have a dormant period, usually in early spring.

Reproduction of Kalanchoe

Question: How to propagate Kalanchoe?

Tanya: The easiest way to propagate Kalanchoe is by cuttings - cut off about 5-7 cm from the end of the shoot if the branches are thin, or slightly longer so that there are 3-4 leaves on the handle. Tear off the bottom two sheets and place the cutting in water, in a small glass. Do not put in a large jar - the water will turn sour. It is advisable to change the water every two days for fresh, boiled water. It is important that the stalk stands in a bright place, not on a cabinet shelf, but on a windowsill. It is better, of course, to root Kalanchoe in spring or summer, but you can also in autumn or winter, just put it under a lamp.

Anyuta: One of the ways of rooting succulents - a dried cutting is strengthened above the water so that it does not touch the water roots that do not appear. After a week or two, the plant is ready for planting in the ground. Sometimes Kalanchoe forms aerial roots, especially if high humidity air, these can be immediately planted in the ground.

Vikusya: You can root a Kalanchoe cutting in sand or vermiculite, or a mixture of sand and vermiculite. But, the pot must be covered with a jar or placed in a bag so that there is high humidity. And be sure to ventilate for 20 minutes 2-3 times a day.

Question: I planted two processes of Kalanchoe in the sand, questions:

1. How often do you water the sand so that it does not rot and let the roots go? One sticks out above the ground by 5 cm, the second by a maximum of 7, so there is nothing to cut.
2. If by October-November it takes root, is it necessary (before winter) to be transplanted into the ground?
3. Does it make sense after such stress to shorten his day?
4. What height to wait to start pinching?
5. Should such young ones also hibernate in winter, or should they be watered more often than adults?

Buttercup:

1. It is necessary to water the sand after drying, but it is better to spray it so that the sand is wet. Place in a bright place, but not in direct sunlight.
2. If rooted, you can transplant into a small pot.
3. To shorten the day - according to the circumstances: it will be good to gain growth - it is possible, no - it is not specially necessary. In winter, the daylight hours are so short.
4. The height of the flower is determined by yourself, to your liking.
5. If the cuttings are strong, then it will be possible to arrange a rest for them in the winter.

In almost every apartment you can find a flower such as Kalanchoe, which many people use for decorative and medicinal purposes. This is enough unpretentious plant, which is easy to care for at home, but for this you should follow certain rules. Only in this case, Kalanchoe will delight its owner with bright pink flowers, but its flowering period is not too long.

In this article, we will try to figure out how to care for Kalanchoe at home so that it decorates an apartment or house for as long as possible.

Plant features

This flower is native to Madagascar island, but it can be found almost throughout Asia. It grows well both in greenhouses and at home. This plant belongs to the Crassulaceae family. With thick stems and leaves, it is able to accumulate moisture and long time do without watering. The thin film on them prevents evaporation. All these points should be considered while caring for this decorative creation.

Kalanchoe: home care

The principles of care are as follows:

Watering

A flowering plant does not have any major watering requirements, even prefers a little drought. Of course, in hot weather, Kalanchoe should be watered as often as possible, but in winter, the frequency of watering is reduced to once every two weeks. It should be remembered that stagnant moisture contributes to the appearance of rot, which can even destroy the plant.

It will be better if the flower pot, in addition to the earth, contains drainage, which will keep the soil in optimal condition. Watering the plants is carried out not only from above, but also into the pan.

Lighting and temperature conditions

Flower care includes proper lighting and the necessary temperature conditions. Unlike most indoor plants, flowering Kalanchoe loves direct sunlight. In winter, he prefers to be at rest and is transferred from a sunny window to a dark one.

Surprisingly, in order for the plant to begin to bloom, it is necessary reduce the length of daylight. IN vivo this happens with the onset of winter, therefore, Kalanchoe begins to bloom in cold period. If the grower wants this to happen at another time of the year, it is necessary to artificially reduce daylight hours to 10 hours. To do this, you can put a tight bag on the pot or put it in the closet at a certain evening time and take it back in the morning.

An important point in care is the temperature regime, which also differs in summer and winter. In warm weather, the flower can be in a room with a temperature of +18 to +28 degrees, and in winter it easily tolerates cooler conditions with a temperature of +10 to +16 degrees. Decorative Kalanchoe even a warmed loggia or balcony is to your liking.

Kalanchoe transplant

For comfortable living at home, this plant needs to be transplanted, as its root system grows very quickly. This must be done in April-May, during the intensive growth of the flower. Daylight hours should be 12 hours and, if necessary, create additional lighting.

For transplantation, a new pot is used, which should be much wider than the previous one, and the composition of the earth should remain the same. The flower should be removed from the container very carefully so as not to accidentally damage the earthen ball.

Blooming Kalanchoe does not impose special requirements on the quality of the soil, so it can be great both in dense and loose earth . It's good to add more sand. When preparing the soil for a flower transplant at home, it should be disinfected.

top dressing

In order for Kalanchoe to bloom magnificently and beautifully, it is necessary to fertilize it correctly and in a timely manner. This must be done once a month. It is best to feed the plant with fertilizer for succulents, however, the use of complex additives guarantees abundant flowering.

Fertilizer is applied very carefully, since an excess amount of recharge contributes to the abundant growth of green mass, but you can not wait for flowers. It is best to make half the rate indicated on the package.

Disease protection

Care for Kalanchoe at home includes protection from various diseases. Although this happens quite rarely, you should be prepared for anything.

If the leaves of the plant are covered with white, gray or brown spots, this indicates that a change in care is required. For example, spots appear due to excessive soil moisture, so moisture should be reduced. Excessive fertilizing can also affect their formation, in which case they stop using fertilizers or change the soil.

Often indoor flowers are attacked by aphids, due to which the leaves begin to turn yellow and fall off. To cure the plant, the affected areas are cut off and treated with a preparation for these insects or a soapy solution.

Reproduction methods

Care for Kalanchoe includes its reproduction. This plant can also be purchased at a flower shop, but it often happens that after purchase it starts to wither and hurt. The easiest way to breed it yourself, and you can do it in different ways:

• by dividing a large bush;
• rooting cuttings;
• planting a separate sheet;
• sowing seeds.

At home, a large bush is divided in the case when it is necessary to refresh it. But a divided flower may not take root or it will take a long time to recover.

The simplest and most common method of propagation is the rooting of the cuttings. The roots of a small stem are formed very quickly, which allows it to easily take root in a new pot. After about a month, the bush becomes very lush.

From the parent plant, you can pinch off not only the stalk, but also the leaf. It takes root as quickly as the stalk, only reaches the desired size in a year.

At home, this decorative flower is propagated using seeds, which are very small in such a plant, which makes it difficult for them to land.. They are laid on the surface of the soil, slightly pressing into it, but in no case sprinkling them. The pot is then covered with glass or plastic bag. To create comfortable conditions for seed germination, diffused sunlight is made, small ventilation is carried out and the container is placed in a warm place. After the seed sprouts, the glass or bag is removed, and the pot is placed in a sunny place.

pruning

Is it necessary to prune Kalanchoe during flowering? Only if it was attacked by pests or the flower got sick. This is done very simply - the diseased areas are cut off at the junction with healthy ones.

Since flowering greatly weakens the plant, it is necessary give him rest periods. For this, the following activities are carried out:

• cut off all flower stalks;
• the pot is placed in a cool shade;
• the plant is not watered for about 1.5 months.

After a dormant period, Kalanchoe is returned to its usual place and fertilized.

Topping

Does Kalanchoe need pinching? The fact is that the plant often does not bloom again. The problem may lie in the thinning of the shoots due to poor intake of minerals. This can cause them to dry out completely. That's why pinch kalanchoe.

You can pinch off weak shoots with anything, but you need to do this slowly and very carefully. If this happened, the wound is cured by sprinkling it charcoal or ashes.

Thus, we figured out what Kalanchoe is, home care for which does not cause any difficulties. This plant can do well for a long time without special care at the expense of our own reserves, but in this case it will not be so lush and healthy.