The Kalanchoe plant, most commonly seen as the Florist Kalanchoe (Kalanchoe blossfeldiana), is a popular succulent houseplant native to Madagascar. It is cherished for its thick, fleshy leaves and vibrant clusters of long-lasting flowers in shades of red, orange, yellow, pink, and white. This guide provides the conditions necessary to ensure the plant’s sustained health and repeated blooming indoors.
Establishing the Optimal Growing Environment
Kalanchoes thrive in bright, indirect sunlight throughout the day. A south- or west-facing window is often ideal, ensuring the plant receives sufficient light to support flowering without intense, direct midday sun. Too much direct exposure can scorch the leaves, while insufficient light leads to leggy growth and prevents flower bud formation.
The plant’s tropical origin means it prefers warm conditions, ideally maintaining temperatures between 65°F and 85°F. While they are resilient, Kalanchoes are highly sensitive to cold and will suffer damage if exposed to temperatures below 55°F. It is important to keep the plant away from cold drafts from windows or air conditioning vents, especially during the winter months.
The choice of potting medium and container is tied to the plant’s succulent nature. A fast-draining mix, such as cactus or succulent soil, is necessary to prevent water retention around the roots. The pot must include drainage holes to allow excess water to escape completely. Repotting is generally only needed every one to two years when the plant becomes root-bound, and the new container should only be slightly larger than the previous one.
Watering and Nutritional Needs
Watering a Kalanchoe correctly is the most significant factor in its long-term care, as overwatering is the most common cause of plant failure. The “soak and dry” method is recommended: thoroughly saturate the soil until water drains from the bottom, then allow the top two inches of soil to dry out completely before watering again. This technique mimics the plant’s natural adaptation to dry conditions and prevents the root system from sitting in damp soil.
The watering frequency should be adjusted seasonally to match the plant’s growth cycle. During the active growing period of spring and summer, the plant will require more frequent watering as the soil dries faster. Conversely, watering should be significantly reduced in the winter, as the plant enters a period of slower growth and dormancy.
Kalanchoes are not heavy feeders, but they benefit from supplemental nutrients during the spring and summer growing season. A balanced, water-soluble liquid fertilizer should be applied, diluted to half the strength recommended on the product label. This diluted feeding can be given once every two to four weeks to encourage healthy foliage and flowering. Fertilizing should cease during the cooler months when the plant is not actively producing new growth or flowers.
Encouraging Reblooming and Pruning
Once the initial flush of flowers has faded, the spent blooms and their stalks should be removed through a process called deadheading. This action redirects the plant’s energy away from seed production and back into foliage growth and new bud formation. Use clean shears to cut the flower stalk back to the second or third leaf below the dead cluster.
To maintain a compact and bushy shape, light pruning can be performed by trimming leggy or overgrown stems just above a leaf node. This encourages the plant to branch out, resulting in a fuller appearance. Major shaping should occur in the spring, but light trimming to remove dead or damaged leaves can be done year-round.
Forcing a Kalanchoe to rebloom requires manipulating its light exposure, as it is a “short-day” plant. To stimulate new flower buds, the plant must receive 12 to 14 hours of uninterrupted darkness every day for six to eight weeks. This darkness period is typically started in the late fall or early winter to time for a winter bloom. The plant should be placed in a pitch-black closet or covered with a box from late afternoon until morning, ensuring no light interruption. Once tiny buds appear, the plant can be returned to its usual bright, indirect light location, and regular watering can resume.
Addressing Pests and Diseases
Kalanchoes are generally robust, but they can occasionally be targeted by common houseplant pests, primarily mealybugs and aphids. Mealybugs appear as small, white, cottony masses, often clustered in leaf axils, while aphids are tiny, pear-shaped insects that tend to congregate on new growth and flower buds.
Upon detection, pests can be physically removed by wiping the affected areas with a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol. For more widespread infestations, the plant should be treated with an insecticidal soap or neem oil spray, ensuring that the undersides of the leaves are thoroughly coated.
The most common disease affecting Kalanchoe is root rot, which is linked to overwatering and poor drainage. Symptoms include mushy stems and yellowing leaves. To manage this, the plant must be removed from the wet soil, and any dark, soft roots should be trimmed away before repotting into fresh, dry, well-draining soil. Fungal spots on leaves can also occur due to excess moisture, prevented by watering the soil directly instead of wetting the foliage.