Kalanchoe plants

Kalanchoe blossfeldiana  is most commonly known just as Kalanchoe (cal-an-KO-ee) and is another easy to grow, succulent type houseplant that we see in garden centers and florist shops in the winter time.  Kalanchoe has large, glossy green leaves with scalloped edges that grow on a compact, sturdy plant.  When I say sturdy, I'm referring to the stems. While the leaves themselves look quite sturdy, they are fairly brittle and will crack and break easily if handled too roughly.

A common name for Kalanchoe is Flaming Katy, because it bursts into bloom with large umbels of brightly colored flowers in red, yellow, orange, white, and a variety of pink and purple tones.  We most commonly see them in garden centers only when they are in full bloom - Kalanchoe is one of very few succulents that are grown primarily for their blossoms.

When purchasing a plant, look for one where the leaf edges are firm and unbroken, and the majority of the flower buds have not yet opened.  That will allow you to enjoy the blossoms for eight to twelve weeks after bringing your Kalanchoe home, if you keep the expended flower stalks trimmed off (deadheaded).

Kalanchoe does best if the soil is kept just slightly moist, allowing the soil surface to dry slightly between waterings while it is in bloom.  Do not allow the soil to dry out completely.  After blooming, Kalanchoe benefits from a period of rest, during which time watering is kept to a minimum.  Kalanchoe is a true succulent and stores water in its leaves.  The leaves will begin to shrivel and turn yellow if underwatered. 

Kalanchoe must be planted in a pot with drainage holes and in a well-draining potting mix, such as a mixture of two parts all purpose potting mix and one part coarse, irregular sand or perlite.  It will suffer from root rot if overwatered or in a pot with poor drainage.

Bright light to full sun will keep Kalanchoe the happiest and it is quite content with average room humidity.  Room temperatures should be kept in the 60 to 75 degree range.  Fertilize it about once per month with a balanced houseplant fertilizer from late spring to early fall and then stop feeding during its blooming and dormant times.

Very few pests bother Kalanchoe.  White, fuzzy patches on the under side of the leaves or where they attach to the stems is an indication of mealy bug infestation, which is the most common pest of Kalanchoe.  If the plant wilts and you don't believe watering to be the cause, root mealybugs may be sucking on the roots.  You can inspect for these by gently removing the plant from its pot, shaking soil away from some of the roots and looking for tiny white patches.  Mealybugs can be controlled by washing them off with a good stream of water from the shower or hose.  Dabbing leaf mealybugs with a cloth soaked in rubbing alcohol is also effective.

In the spring, I move my Kalanchoe outside to a spot that receives morning sun and afternoon shade.  I leave it there as long as nighttime temperatures stay above 50 degrees.  It rewards me by turning its scalloped leaf edges a beautiful red color and then it may reward me even further by blooming for me in the fall and winter. 

Getting Kalanchoe to re-bloom can be a bit of a challenge.   I have much better luck with that when I expose my Kalanchoe to the natural changes in daylight and temperature outdoors, but with diligent care, you can encourage Kalanchoe to re-bloom without moving it outdoors.

Beginning in late September or early October, keep your Kalanchoe in a dark room or cover it with room-darkening fabric for 14 hours each night.  You need to be very careful with the fabric, as any tension on the leaf edges when you place or remove the fabric can break the tender tips off your Kalanchoe leaves.  During this time of forced darkness, water the plant only minimally to keep the leaves from shriveling and turning yellow and do not fertilize it.  Once flower buds have set, you can stop the light / dark routine and just resume normal care of your Kalanchoe. 

Flowering outside of the forced greenhouse conditions that brought you that initial beautiful bouquet of flowers is going to be erratic at best and it's unlikely you'll ever encourage that same heavy bloom in the home setting.  But, Kalanchoe is a beautiful foliage plant and if it occasionally rewards you with some flowers, consider it a bonus.