One of the more attractive flowering succulent houseplants, the kalanchoe (Kalanchoe spp. ), is hardy in USDA plant hardiness zones 10 to 12. If properly cared for, they produce months’ worth of vibrant flowers when cultivated inside. If you get one of these well-liked holiday plants as a present, make sure to give it lots of sun and minimal water.
Is it possible to grow kalanchoe outside?
The succulent perennials of the Kalanchoe family are typically kept as houseplants, but they can also be grown outdoors in areas with warm or mild winters. To grow outside, you must ensure that the kalanchoe plant you select can survive as climate requirements differ by species.
A kalanchoe is it a houseplant?
It grows well indoors in cactus mix potting soil and prefers bright indirect light. If frost doesn’t affect it, kalanchoe can thrive both indoors and outdoors in a variety of climates.
Are kalanchoe plants sun-dependent?
In broad sun and on well-drained potting soil, kalanchoe thrives. Kalanchoe can easily withstand high indoor light levels. However, in low light situations, plants often become spindly. If you overwater kalanchoe, it could suffer damage. Between waterings, allow the soil to gently dry out. Every month, fertilize living things that are actively growing with any indoor plant fertilizer. 45–65°F at night and 50–70°F during the day are the ideal ranges. Flowers live longer under cool nighttime temperatures.
The inside will shine with this Kalanchoe (Kalanchoeblossfeldiana) cultivar with orange flowers. Clemson Extension’s Barbara H. Smith, HGIC
How long do kalanchoe plants remain inside?
As long as you continue to provide your kalanchoe the nutrients and water it needs to thrive, it will continue to grow. These plants can live for six or seven years on average, although as they age, they can become lanky in pots.
Size
You can estimate the plant’s final height once it flowers by looking at the pot. A 6-inch potted kalanchoe will grow to a height of about 12 inches. Additionally, 2-inch and 4-inch pots of kalanchoes are available. The dish gardens are the perfect place for the 2-inch pots.
Exposure
The kalanchoe like to grow in a room in your house that receives lots of direct sunshine. Since these plants dislike direct sunlight, leaving them in the sun all day may limit their growth.
Keep the plants away from the windowpanes so they don’t get burned by the hot surface.
The brighter and more vivid the blossoms are, the more sunlight you offer your kalanchoe. Low light levels cause the flower buds to not open and the leaves to become spindly. Make sure to purchase a kalanchoe that is already in bloom if you’re buying one for a room with limited lighting.
Kalanchoes can they survive indoors?
- Full sun and 14 hours of complete darkness are required for re-blooming.
- Soil: Draining well
When given the proper conditions, kalanchoe is quite simple to cultivate indoors. It requires a temperature of between 60 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit and grows to a size of 12 by 18 inches. Also necessary are low humidity, four hours of direct sunlight, and 14 hours of darkness every day for six to eleven weeks. It should be planted in soil that drains effectively since root rot can result from overwatering or allowing the soil sit in moisture. It only needs periodic, thorough watering, just like other succulents.
In their natural bloom cycle, the plants are typically marketed in the winter or early spring. Although the flowers survive a long time, you can clip the heads once they start to fade so you can better appreciate the succulent leaves. Whether growing indoors or outdoors, this plant will benefit from a lot of strong sunlight to stay healthy throughout the summer.
Sharing kalanchoe with friends is enjoyable because it thrives on cuttings and occasionally even develops new buds on the leaf margins. You may quickly establish a collection of free plants thanks to the large selection of kalanchoe colors and flowers offered.
Where do you put kalanchoe indoors?
- By cutting off portions and planting them in the ground, you can grow more kalanchoes.
- To encourage a rebloom, keep kalanchoe in the dark for 14 hours each day.
You know those beautiful plants in the grocery store or garden center with the rubbery leaves that keep catching your attention? It’s likely a kalanchoe, also known botanically as Kalanchoe blossfeldiana, which is pronounced “kal-an-coe-ee.” It’s a great option if you want a low-maintenance houseplant that provides you with both lovely greenery and vibrant blossoms. In addition to blooming for a very long time, kalanchoe plants also aid to filter indoor air. In a nutshell, it’s a fantastic plant!
Where to Grow Kalanchoes
Give kalanchoes that are kept as indoor plants the brightest light you can for as long as you can because they love the sun. Although a west-facing window will do, a south-facing window is preferable. Keeping kalanchoes away from drafty windows and doors is important since they dislike the cold.
For the summer, why not bring your beloved kalanchoe outside? Set it outside where it will receive morning sun but protection from the harsh afternoon sun once the temperature at night is above 65 degrees F. (which are a bit too intense for plants used to softer indoor light). Bring your kalanchoe back inside once the weather starts to cool off once more.
How to Plant a Kalanchoe
1. Pick a pot that is no broader than the root ball of your fresh kalanchoe by more than 2 inches. Ensure that it has drainage holes as well.
2. Add Miracle-Gro Cactus, Palm & Citrus Potting Mix, which offers the superior drainage your new plant baby needs, along with some food to help it start growing strong, to the pot until it is about 1/3 full.
3. Carefully take the kalanchoe out of its container and set it in the new one so that the top of the root ball is about an inch below the rim (to leave room for watering).
4. Add more potting soil and carefully massage it into the area around the root ball.
5. Give your kalanchoe plenty of water, let it drain, and then relocate it. To prevent moisture from dripping onto your furniture, make sure to set the pot on a saucer.
How to Water a Kalanchoe
Since kalanchoes are succulents, they don’t require consistently moist soil because they store water in their leaves. In fact, you don’t want the stem of your new kalanchoe to decay because it will happen in wet soils. Watering kalanchoes is best done by poking your finger into the soil every few days. It’s time to water when the top 2 inches of soil are completely dry (not just somewhat dry). If you’re watering indoor plants, you usually only need to do it every two or three weeks, but be sure to check often. When growing kalanchoe outdoors in the summer, be sure to transfer it indoors if the weather prediction calls for several inches of rain. It’s important to keep in mind that the plant will develop more slowly in the winter, requiring fewer waterings overall.
How to Feed a Kalanchoe
Your kalanchoe needs to be fed, just like you do, in order to be healthy. After a month of planting, it will begin to growl in hunger. What follows will sate its craving: Miracle-Gro Succulent Plant Food is a specially developed product that gives succulent plants exactly the proper kind and amount of nutrition straight away. Apply only as usual, directly to the soil and water. For smaller pots, use two pumps; for larger pots, use five pumps (over 6 inches in diameter). Remember to read and abide by the instructions!
How to Grow More Kalanchoes
Like many succulents, kalanchoes are incredibly simple to propagate, which is just a fancy phrase for growing additional plants from your original. Simply break off a portion of leafy stem (not a flower stem) and place it in a pot of dry soil after letting it dry out for a few days. You can start watering when you notice new leaves forming at the base of the stem or leaf and the tiny plants resist a little when you give them a gentle tug (which indicates they have formed roots). The outcome? a ton of awesome gifts for your friends that you can give for free.
How to Prune a Kalanchoe
The main reason you should prune your kalanchoe is to keep it neat. Deadheading is the practice of removing flowers after they have dried, along with any stems or leaves that are wilted or browned. Once it has finished blooming, you might also want to give your plant friend a size and form cut. Feel free to trim each stem back to just above a leaf if it becomes too lanky or becomes too large for their container; they will grow back.
How to Get a Kalanchoe to Rebloom
This small science experiment is entertaining! A kalanchoe plant is like an amaryllis in that it needs at least 14 hours of darkness for 6 weeks straight to trigger flowering. Reduce watering and feeding during the overnight period (6 PM to 8 AM) and place it in a closet or cupboard. You ought to start to notice the first signs of vibrant blooms after six weeks. After that, you can resume leaving your kalanchoe outside at night. Of course, you can always start afresh with a new plant that is in bloom if this seems like too much trouble.
How is kalanchoe maintained?
- To blossom, kalanchoe requires lots of light. A sunny window should be near the potted plant. Keep the plant warm; optimal conditions are between 55 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit (13 to 29 C).
- Plant in well-drained, aerated soil that contains 40% perlite and 50% peat moss.
- Colder temperatures are intolerable to it. Keep plants away from windowsills that are cool or drafty.
- To plant the kalanchoe, use a clay pot because the roots can be rather delicate.
- Kalanchoes don’t require a lot of water, just like other succulents. In between waterings, let the soil dry out. Avoid overwatering as this might cause the roots to rot.
- During the blooming season, give kalanchoe around one feeding each month.
- Deadhead or pinch back flowers to promote additional blooming. Reduce watering and give the plant a break after deadheading.
- The majority of kalanchoes will bloom again between fall and spring, typically during shorter days and longer nights.
- Take a leaf cutting and soak it in water until roots grow to propagate the plant. Replant in soil after that.
What is the lifespan of kalanchoe flowers?
A kalanchoe will flower more if all those tiny flowers are deadheaded. Cut away blossoms at the cluster’s base using a clean, sharp pair of scissors. Kalanchoe has lovely succulent foliage that you may exhibit among other houseplants when it is not in flower.
You must deceive your kalanchoe plant into blooming for you by subjecting it to lower light levels that simulate shorter days. It is referred to as a “short-day plant” because of this, just like your Thanksgiving cactus. Plan this for when the seasons change and the days start to become shorter in the late fall. Water the plant less, if at all, over the period of about a month. Limit the amount of light the plants receive to eight or nine hours per day. For the rest of the time, you can store it in a closet in perfect darkness. Once you notice blossom buds, reposition the houseplant in the bright light it was previously in. You can continue to water the plant.
How often should Kalanchoe be watered?
Between 60 and 75 degrees, warm, dry temperatures are ideal for kalanchoes. Every eight to ten days, water, watering in the mornings from the bottom. You’ve overwatered if the leaves are drooping. If that happens, wait a few more days before watering again.
Does kalanchoe grow in the shade?
Beautiful kalanchoes come in a variety of flowering forms. If kept in full sun or a bright area that receives a few hours of direct sunshine, it will blossom profusely. With its thick, dark green foliage, it will amuse you if you position it somewhere shaded.
Can kalanchoe be grown outside in the direct sun?
A popular succulent over the holidays is the kalanchoe plant. It features blooms that are red, pink, white, or yellow in contrast to typical winter-blooming plants. The blooms are modest, while the foliage is big and lustrous. Although this plant may be grown indoors in any zone, it is hardy in USDA zones 10 and 11. Also, if you have pets, kalanchoe is toxic. Let’s look at some of the expanding requirements for this plant.
Watering Requirements
The amount of water needed by this plant to survive is moderate, but during the winter it will require even less. Ideally, you should wait until the soil is just beginning to dry out before giving the plant extra water. In fact, it should feel completely dry to the touch before being watered throughout the winter. If you think about watering this plant every two weeks, it will survive.
Light Requirements
Although it won’t usually thrive in direct sunshine, kalanchoes prefer to receive natural sunlight that is rather bright. This is so that the leaves won’t burn from too much sunshine, especially in the afternoon. It will benefit from full sunshine during the growing season, but make sure to give it early sun. With light coming from a south-facing window, it will thrive.
Temperature Requirements
Some plants can’t survive in freezing conditions, but because this is a succulent, it will thrive in warmer climates. I’ve discovered that the blooms on the plant tend to be fuller when the weather is warmer. Having stated that, this plant does not enjoy the extreme cold. It’s likely that kalanchoe plants won’t thrive outdoors if you reside in a region where the average annual low temperature is lower than 55 degrees Fahrenheit.
Soil and Fertilizer
You can choose to use standard potting soil, which is available from any gardening center, when you plant one of these wonderful succulents, but I prefer to mix this soil with a succulent or cactus mix because it works well with this sort of plant. To prevent the plant from being excessively wet and developing root rot, the soil must have good drainage. This is a plant that responds well to fertilization and will thrive with a small amount of compost in the spring. A slow-release fertilizer will be effective during the summer, when plants are actively growing. In fact, you could elect to fertilize your plants with liquid every other week.
Propagating the Plant
If this plant needs to be multiplied, you can either start a new plant from seeds, a division, or a stem cutting. Since it can take some time for seeds to take root, not many gardeners use it. If your plant is becoming too big for its container, you can divide it. You can split the plant in half rather than transplanting it.
Cut a portion that is four to five inches long if you chose to utilize cuttings. After being stripped of its leaves and submerged in water for about three weeks, the cutting should start to take root. Keep misting the plant as it develops. Regardless of the technique, propagation should be carried out in the spring or summer.
Will My Kalanchoe Reflower?
A Kalanchoe’s flowers will only persist for around 8 weeks, but you can try the suggestions below to make your Kalanchoe bloom once more.
- Keep your plant outside in the summer.
- As the temperature outside starts to dip in the Fall, bring everything inside.
- Place during the day in a cool, well-lit area when indoors.
- Stop feeding and less frequently water your Kalanchoe plant.
- For at least a month, your plant needs 14 hours every night in complete darkness in order to reflower.
- Place your Kalanchoe plant in a closet to keep it away from artificial light and in complete darkness.
- By the time you see flower buds forming eight weeks later, you can resume feeding and watering more frequently.