Home»Cactus - Succulents»Kalanchoe
Kalanchoe blossfeldiana [ kal - un - KOH - ee , bloss - fel - dee - AY - nuh ] is an herbaceous perennial , very popular succulent hailing from Madagascar .
It ’s a member of the Crassulaceae phratry .
The genus name of theKalanchoe plantcomes from an opaque or vitiated rendering of the Taiwanese name for this mintage of succulent plants .
The specific epithet , blossfeldiana , honor Robert Blossfeld , who was a German gardener .
birth in the late 1800s , his workplace with plants was well known in Potsdam , Germany from 1920 to 1940 .
You may take heed it call by its common names including :
Kalanchoe Blossfeldiana Care
Size & Growth
Kalanchoe plants attain a peak and distribute ranging from 6″ – 18″ inches .
flame Katie ‘s dark green leaves are large , thick , scallop - edged , and succulent .
Its increase habit is erect and multi - bifurcate .
Flowering & Fragrance
This seasonal bloomer grow pretty flower colors in shades of yellow , salmon , cherry and pink .
Kalanchoe flowers turn in large cluster above the leaves .
As houseplants , the peak time is quite long .
Like poinsettias , kalanchoe rebloom in response to shortening day lengths .
The clusters of flowers may last for several weeks .
rich bright Christ Within is crucial for expert bloom .
Eight or ten hr of sunlight and fourteen hours of darkness per 24 - minute hertz over a period of about six workweek encourages unspoiled bloom production .
A stable , warm temperature is also necessary for the best blooming .
Optimally , the daytime temperature should be 70 ° degrees Fahrenheit ( 21 ° snow ) , and the nighttime temperature should be 60 ° degrees Fahrenheit ( 16 ° C ) .
Light & Temperature
flame Katie does well in low ignitor to a full Lord’s Day setting .
As a houseplant , Kalanchoe should be kept in bright collateral sunlight or even in full Dominicus .
As with all houseplants , watch for folio scorching if the plant is subject to full sunlight magnified through a glass window .
Extremes in temperature will cause industrial plant not to flower .
Protect your Kalanchoe from temperature down in the mouth than 40 ° degrees Fahrenheit ( 4 ° C ) .
Just a few minute of this sorting of tingle can obliterate these plants .
flame Katie does good in consistently warm temperatures ranging from 60 ° – 85 ° degrees Fahrenheit ( 16 ° C – 29 ° C ) .
The plant is extremely cold sensitive and can grow well in USDA hardiness zone 7 through 11 .
It is wintertime brave in USDA hardiness zones 10 through 12 .
A S - face windowpane in wintertime is good for this flowering works if indoors .
Watering & Feeding
The water want of this succulent plant are low to restrained , and an occasional deep watering should keep the plant fly high .
It ’s always well to water at earth level or from the bottom for pot plant .
Avoid begin Kalanchoe ’s leaves squiffy as this can kick upstairs rot .
When kept as indoor plant , water the plant exhaustively and allow for the grease to dry out wholly before watering again .
Fertilize gently at the ending of the uprise time of year to prepare the plant for the twelvemonth to come .
During the wintertime and just before bloom metre , you should irrigate a little bit less and inseminate less .
This will spur growth and blooming .
When the plant life is not in bloom , reduce lacrimation to give it a rest .
When keep as a houseplant , you may wish to inseminate Kalanchoe more ofttimes .
employ a well - balanced houseplant fertilizer , or opt for one with a slightly higher phosphorus content .
More P promotes better blooming .
Needing very niggling pee , kalanchoe only call for one light app program of fertiliser each year .
Quarter to one-half durability solutions is recommend .
Only fertilize during period of novel growth , and then do so gently .
Soil & Transplanting
The respectable soil mixture for Kalanchoe is well - draining , open , light , and sandy .
Heavy soil may be amended with cactus premix or sand to provide the necessary drain .
If planting outdoors , dig a hole just deep enough to accommodate the roots .
Pack the soil down lightly all the style around to give the flora solid ground .
If repotting do so in other springtime .
Grooming & Maintenance
These plants bloom indiscriminately , year - round .
To promote advantageously blooming , deadhead the flower when they become worn out .
Consistent deadheading encourage them to bloom more continuously .
During the growing season , pinch back the stems to encourage an attractive embodiment and to promote more flowering .
Cousins of Kalanchoe let in :
How To Propagate Flaming Katy
New plant may be propagate by base cuttings , folio cuttings , and murder plantlets which now and again rise on the margins of the leaf .
Remove the miniature flora and place them in their own potting mix .
Care for them as mature plants .
After a month , resume standard care and showy young bud should eventually appear .
Kalanchoe Pest or Disease Problems
When well - maintain , Flaming Katie is fairly trouble - free .
As with all succulents , you must be on the lookout for scurf , tinge , and mealybugs .
Caterpillars may also be problematic .
Overwatering will cause root word and radical rot .
High humidness level can cause leaf fleck disease .
Is Kalanchoe Toxic Or Poisonous?
allot to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals ( ASPCA ) , all Kalanchoe hold bufadienolides , which is a highly toxic substance .
If ingested , tachycardia , gastric distress , emesis , and diarrhea may result .
Is Kalanchoe Invasive?
Although Kalanchoe may take to the woods cultivation in USDA hardiness zones 10 - 12 , it is not considered invasive .
Suggested Uses For Flaming Kalanchoe
In warm climates , Flaming Katie can grow gayly alfresco all year long .
It may be used as an annual in cooler climates .
When kept alfresco , these succulent plants should be lay in shelter placement .
Strong winds can easily give way the plant or cause it to come down over if potted .
This is because the leaves are so large , thick , and flat .
Kalanchoe may be kept as a houseplant year - stave in cool climates .
commend to employ very well - draining soil and a potbelly allowing for good air circulation around the roots . Clay terra - cotta is best .
As a container plant life , Kalanchoe is an excellent choice on the windowsill , in a sunroom or gracing the patio or porch .
