Kalanchoe Plants

Kalanchoe Plants – Caring For Succulent Plants

A lot of people know Kalanchoe plants as beautiful indoor plants, but they can be found growing wild in many countries. The greatest number of Kalanchoes species is said to be in Africa – approximately 100 species. A bit lesser number of Kalanchoe species is in Central America, Southern Asia, Australia, Mexico and other countries. Kalanchoe plants like stony slopes, riversides and open places.

Although Kalanchoe plants are tropical plants, they are highly modest plants able to adapt themselves to varied conditions. Consequently, they are often grown as indoor plants. In addition, it is observed that in northern areas with frequent fluctuation of temperature Kalanchoe plants tend to develop new plantlets on the leaves intenser as if trying to protect their species from becoming depopulated.

Kalanchoe Plants – The Conditions You Should Ensure For Your Kalanchoe

When caring for succulent plants – Kalanchoe plants, you do not need any special knowledge and skills. Although Kalanchoe plants love good light, they can manage without it for comparatively long time.

Kalanchoe plants need moderate amount of water, loosen soil and moderate light.

Kalanchoe plants can grow in both very shiny and shady places. However, it is not advisable to keep Kalanchoe plants in dark for a long time due to the fact that the stalk of the plant can start to rot leading to the death of the plant.

Kalanchoe plants must not be kept in rooms with a temperature below 0 degrees Celsius. Kalanchoe leaves are rich in water and they get frozen at such a low temperature. This, in its turn, results in the death of the plant.

Another creditable fact about Kalanchoe plant refers to the resistance to dryness.

Kalanchoe plants are able to not only survive, but also continue to grow even in a completely dry soil.

It is due to the ability of the plants to get moisture from air.

Kalanchoe Plants – The Rest Period

Similarly to a host of other herbs, Kalanchoe plants need rest period. The rest period of Kalanchoe plants growing wild sets in with the change of seasons. If grown indoors, plants need your help. When the plant has faded, you should cut the flowering stems and move the pot with the plant to shady windowsill. You should not water Kalanchoe for a month from the moment the plant has faded. It is enough to humidify the soil just once a month. Afterwards, put the pot in a light place and resume the previous watering system (by moistening the soil only when it has dried up).

Kalanchoe Plant – Replanting And Fertilization

You should replant Kalanchoe plants each year in spring after the rest period. At the beginning you should prepare the substratum by mixing leaf-mould (2 parts), compost (2 parts) and sand (1 part). At the bottom of the pot you should put drainage layer consisting of clay chippings or claydite. It is due to the necessity to protect the roots of Kalanchoe plants from rotting.

Kalanchoe plants should be fertilized once in a month starting from March till August using fertilizer provided for cactus. Kalanchoe Blossfeldiana should be fertilized every 2 weeks using fertilizer provided for flowering plants. Kalanchoe plants must not be fertilized during winter – the rest period of the plants – by letting them rest.

Kalanchoe Plants – How To Care For Them To Retain The Blooming

If Kalanchoe plant grows too high and looks unsightly, you can cut the upper part of it with 3-5 leaves and let it take root. The best time to do this is in spring.

If you buy flowering plant, you should be aware of the fact that after the year the plant will be grown, will not flower anymore and the shape of the leaves will change. But you can avoid that. Firstly, you must cut the flowering stems right after the florescence of the plant and nip off rapidly-growing shoots. If there grow new shoots from the place you nipped off the previous ones, you should repeat the procedure to the third pair of leaves. Perform the actions till November. After that, put the pot with the plant in light place for 8 hours every day. Afterwards, cover the pot in order not to let light to the plant and put the pot in dry, cool place for a month. During that period of time flower buds of Kalanchoe plant develop and you can uncover the pot when they have developed.

If you find the previous method inconvenient, you can try another one. After the florescence of Kalanchoe plants cut all of the flowering stems and put the pot in a dark place. Do not water it for a month. Afterwards, move the pot to a light place and restart to water it moderately. The change of light and water regime usually causes the development of flower buds and Kalanchoe plant blooms again.

image:Flickr.com

Not only Kalanchoe Plants are lovely and beautiful houseplants, but also they are widely used for medical purposes in both traditional and alternative medicine.

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