The Kalanchoe blossfeldiana is a popular and resilient houseplant. It is highly valued for its thick, glossy green leaves and ability to produce a stunning array of colorful, clustered flowers. These vibrant blossoms, which come in shades of red, pink, yellow, and orange, have made the plant a favorite for adding color to indoor spaces, particularly during the winter months. The main appeal of the Kalanchoe lies in its reputation for having a remarkably long-lasting floral display compared to many other flowering houseplants.
The Typical Duration of Kalanchoe Blooms
Under typical home conditions and with proper care, the plant’s blooming phase generally lasts between six and eight weeks. Some owners report that the display can even extend for several months if the plant is situated in an ideal environment and receives meticulous maintenance.
Kalanchoe plants are frequently purchased from a nursery when they are already in full bloom. This means the overall duration of the flowering that an owner observes may be shorter than the plant’s full potential bloom cycle. The length of the display depends on the plant’s health upon acquisition and the consistency of the care it receives immediately afterward.
Essential Care for Extended Flowering
The Kalanchoe requires consistent and appropriate environmental conditions. The plant thrives in bright, indirect sunlight, such as that provided by an east-facing window, which encourages the flowers to remain vibrant. While it can tolerate a few hours of direct morning sun, intense afternoon light should be avoided as it can scorch the thick, waxy leaves.
As a succulent, the Kalanchoe has low water needs and is highly susceptible to root rot from overwatering. Only water the plant once the top inch or half of the potting soil has become completely dry to the touch. Maintaining cool, stable temperatures can also help to prolong the flower display, with nighttime temperatures near 50°F (10°C) being particularly beneficial.
Removing the spent flowers, known as deadheading, is another practical step to extend the flowering period. By pinching or snipping off the withered blooms, the plant is encouraged to redirect its energy away from seed production and toward maintaining the health of the remaining flowers and stimulating fresh buds.
Forcing Kalanchoe to Re-Bloom
Encouraging a Kalanchoe to re-bloom indoors requires replicating the environmental cues it needs. The plant is a short-day plant, meaning it initiates flower buds only when exposed to a specific period of uninterrupted darkness. Once the current bloom cycle has finished, the process begins by pruning back any leggy stems and removing all the old, spent flower stalks.
The crucial step for re-blooming is subjecting the plant to a strict regimen of 12 to 14 hours of continuous, total darkness every 24 hours. This darkness must be complete and cannot be interrupted by even a brief exposure to artificial light. A closet or an opaque box placed over the plant each evening is typically used to achieve this effect.
For the remaining 10 to 12 hours of the day, the Kalanchoe must be moved back into a location that provides bright, indirect light. This short-day treatment must be maintained daily for six to eight weeks to successfully trigger the development of new flower buds. During this period, both watering and feeding should be significantly reduced, as the plant enters a dormant-like state to conserve energy.
Continue the short-day cycle until you see the first signs of tiny flower buds beginning to emerge from the foliage. Once the buds are clearly visible, the plant can be returned to its normal, bright location and the regular watering and fertilization schedule can be resumed. The entire process, from the start of the darkness treatment to the opening of the new flowers, can take several months.