Kalanchoe Succulent

Kalanchoe is a beautiful flowering plant that is both easy and rewarding to grow indoors or outdoors. They're noted for their fleshy leaves and bloom flowers with bright colors, often red, white, yellow, and several other colors. The sculpted foliage persists after bloom and provides for a beautiful plant.

Kalanchoe plants are special because of the long-lasting flower heads that bloom even in the coldest months of winter. Little maintenance is necessary for kalanchoe care and the succulent has few disease or pest problems, especially when grown indoors.

How To Grow and Care for Kalanchoe Succulent?

Light

Lighting is pretty important for Kalanchoe plants. They do need bright light and can tolerate direct sun most of the time. However, during summer, too intense direct sunlight could cause sunburn to them.

Water

Like other succulents, kalanchoes do not need much water. Water the plant deeply and then allow it to dry out completely before you give it further moisture. Do not overwater, as the roots can be prone to rot.

Soil

Kalanchoes are succulents that grow best in well-drained and well-aerated potting soil or stir in plenty of perlite or sand to improve drainage.

Fertilize once per month during the growing season with houseplant food.

Temperature

Kalanchoes do fine in normal household conditions, but they need to be kept away from drafts. Keep your kalanchoe above 50°F.

Tricking a Kalanchoe into Blooming

Kalanchoes are beautiful soft succulent with unique showy flowers. It's a very diverse genus, so to enjoy the colorful flowers you just need to keep in mind the following tips:

Keep the plant warm and away from drafts. Do not water or feed the plant for 6 weeks, as it is dormant. As soon as you see flower buds, move the plant to brighter lighting and resume watering. Feed the plant in spring and remove spent flowers to encourage new buds.

Is kalanchoe safe for cats and dogs?

Kalanchoe species contain cardiac glycosides and are toxic to animals. Most commonly will cause them to experience vomiting and diarrhea. In rare cases, your pet may experience an abnormal heart rhythm. So be careful!! Make sure to keep your family pet away to ensure it does not eat it.

Related article: Toxic and Non-toxic Succulents for Pets

Can you grow Kalanchoe from cuttings?

Growing kalanchoe from cuttings is an effective way to propagate the plant. Select a healthy, non-flowering stem with at least two leaves for best results. Let the cutting sit out in a warm, dry location to form a callus on the end. Plant the cutting in pre-moistened peat and perlite up to the first leaf.