When Kalanchoe blooms at home. Watering for Kalanchoe blooming in order to bloom

Kalanchoe, as a separate culture, began to spread widely in the 80s of the last century. At this time, scientists managed to obtain stable terry hybrids, which today are called Kalanchoe Kalandiva. These potted plants have a lot of subspecies and they all amaze with their external beauty.

On glossy bright green leaves, an air cap consisting of multi-colored flowers seems to be floating. Since the plant does not need special care, and refers to long-flowering plants, today interest in this culture remains very high.

Having bought a beautiful Kalanchoe in the store, everyone hopes that this plant will bloom every season. However, this does not happen. After a long flowering kalanchoe does not bloom, begins to stretch, the leaves become very rare. What's the matter?

Why does Kalanchoe start growing up and stop blooming?

There are several reasons due to which the plant does not produce flowers. The main ones are:

• Ignorance by the owner of the flower of the technology of growing the plant. Indeed, in the store, the seller said that this pot culture does not need special care.
• There is not enough light for flowering. As a result, the shoots begin to stretch, they simply do not have enough strength to begin to form inflorescences.
• Very often, when we come to the store, we see flowering bushes. It seems to us that this culture blooms constantly. But this impression is deceptive. To get this look, flower suppliers, before sending them to the store, achieve the appearance of buds, by ordinary forcing.
• A small plant with a small root system is planted in a transportable pot. The soil in it contains special fertilizers that are valid for only two months. Such a Kalanchoe is kept for several days in a short daylight hours, usually 10 hours. Bushes begin to lay flower buds.
• When such a plant turns out to be in good home conditions, where normal lighting and temperature are created for it, it continues to bloom, thanks to the nutrients remaining in the pot.

To see the flowering bush again, help the plant, it should gain strength and begin to bloom in good home conditions.

How to care for Kalanchoe after flowering

Home conditions allow you to create an optimal environment for the flower. After the flowering period is over, it is required to remove the remaining old peduncles.

To appearance Kalanchoe remained attractive, it is necessary to remove excess shoots. Having created the structure of the plant you need, you will need to constantly monitor Kalanchoe, and pinch off unwanted emerging shoots in time.

With the onset of spring, when flowering stops completely, you need to water, much less often. The fact is that the roots of Kalanchoe begin to rot due to high humidity soil. This is the most common reason when Kalanchoe begins to wither, once in excellent home conditions. The plant needs watering when it dries out. upper layer soil. In the summer months, watering Kalanchoe should be done depending on the elasticity of the leaves.

Kalanchoe transplant

If necessary, in summer period, the plant can be transplanted. This is necessary when the pot becomes small. The signal is an earthen clod, braided with roots.

For Kalanchoe it is better to choose ceramic dishes, with a maximum diameter of 18 cm. The plant does not really like to coexist with other home crops, the exception is succulents.

To obtain decorative composition, Kalanchoe with different colors, can be planted in several pots. Moreover, the care of the plant will not change.

You can transplant Kalanchoe into the soil intended for succulents by adding a little finely sifted sand.

How to achieve flowering Kalanchoe in good conditions?

When the complete withering of the inflorescences occurs, the entire summer period, Kalanchoe needs feeding.It must be performed twice a month, using for this ready mixes used to feed succulents.

• After 30 days, after the full completion of flowering, the plant must be cut;
• If these are young bushes, pinch out the strongest points of growth;
• In an adult plant, lignified shoots are cut, achieving the desired crown height.

As a result, Kalanchoe will not stretch. Before flowering, the number of shoots will increase, the tops of which will be decorated with emerging buds. They begin to form only when the duration of daylight begins to decrease. For middle lane this period begins in October and lasts until mid-March.

For a plant during this period you need to create a comfortable temperature:

• Night 20°C
• Daytime 27°C

Moreover, if at night the temperature is above 20 degrees, there will be a delay in the appearance of buds.

Kalanchoe does not like drafts very much, he is afraid of the cold. For this reason, the plant does not need to be placed close to heating appliances, as well as near the doors leading to the balcony, or next to the window.

What should be the lighting of Kalanchoe

To make it bloom home plant, it is very important to create appropriate lighting for Kalanchoe.

When the plant is at rest, from March to September, in the morning and in the afternoon, should be the most intense lighting. In the hottest midday time, so that the plant does not get burned, it must be placed in the shade.

In autumn and winter period natural light is always insufficient, so additional shading is not necessary. If it is cloudy outside or Kalanchoe is on the north side, it is necessary to mount additional lighting.

Sufficient level of illumination can be determined by the state of the leaves of the plant and its shoots:

Plant varieties affect bud formation. With limited light the plant needs a maximum of 24 days to start a new kidney.

Subject to all the rules, at the very beginning of winter, the plant will begin to bloom and will please the eye for 11 weeks.

If you take care of the plant and maintain the technology described above, you can achieve constant flowering of Kalanchoe. It will constantly grow and please the eye.

Flowering Kalanchoe is a wonderful indoor plant that has not only decorative qualities, but is also a natural antiseptic. This makes it very valuable for applications in traditional medicine. Kalanchoe flowering, which is located in the house, purifies the air of pathogenic bacteria. The juice of the plant contains vitamins and minerals. Before using room kalanchoe plant for medical purposes, it must be left without watering for a week. Then the leaves are cut and aged for a week in the refrigerator, after which the juice is squeezed out of them. This plant refers to succulents. Its varieties may different height. On the edges of the leaves of some representatives (Kalanchoe Degremona) there may be buds with roots. As they mature, they fall off and germinate. The inflorescences of the plant are umbrella-shaped and can be of any color. How indoor flower The most commonly used is Kalanchoe Blossfeld. Caring for these plants is not too burdensome.

Care

This plant is unpretentious. It likes good lighting with a short exposure to direct sunlight. Kalanchoe does not require a lot of moisture, but watering should be systematic. In winter, it can be reduced. AT summer time A guideline for the onset of the moment of watering is the drying of the soil.

During the growing season, the amount of fluid increases. This representative of the flora grows remarkably in dry air, so it does not require mandatory spraying. Once a week, flowering Kalanchoe should be fed with fertilizers (liquid for succulents and cacti). After the plant has faded, it is necessary to cut the stems, remove dry and damaged shoots and give it necessary form. Next, for Kalanchoe, you need to create peace for one month by reducing watering and placing it in dark place. Every year in the spring, you need to replant the plant in new ground. The soil should be well-drained, loose and breathable.

reproduction

This representative of the flora reproduces by cuttings from leaves and stems, buds and seeds. The best way is to plant buds in prepared soil. Seeds to be sown in early spring. They are not sprinkled with earth - they create greenhouse conditions, cover with glass, carefully water and ventilate twice a day. After the appearance of sprouts, the glass is removed. After a while, the strengthened shoots are transplanted into a pot. To ensure splendor, several ripe sprouts can be planted in one container. In order for the flowering Kalanchoe to grow better, the tops of young plants should be pinched.

Pests and diseases

This plant is most often affected by mealybugs, spider mites and scale insects. In the fight against them, washing the foliage and shoots with soapy water, as well as spraying with insecticides, helps well. Against the mealybug and scale insects, wiping the affected areas with 70% alcohol perfectly helps. Kalanchoe is also susceptible to fungal diseases: powdery mildew and various rots. If signs of the disease are found, the plant must be treated with special fungicidal agents.

On the windowsills of many flower growers in the flower collection there is such an original and beautifully flowering succulent as Kalanchoe. However, it is not always possible to wait for a beautiful and long flowering, as they promise in the store. To solve the problem, it is worth finding out the reasons why Kalanchoe does not bloom.

Becoming the owner of a succulent perennial, beginner growers expect lush and long flowering, as described in the literature or was told to them in flower shop. But in reality, it sometimes happens that Kalanchoe does not bloom and stretches upwards. There are a number of reasons that explain the current situation, which are associated with improper conditions of detention and care errors.

Conditions of detention

For the full development of the succulent, evidence of which is flowering, it is necessary not to violate the maintenance regulations:

• Lighting. Succulents are not picky about lighting. However, the lack of light leads to the stretching of the shoots and the expenditure of all the forces of the plant on this process.
• Temperature. If you do not let the plant rest, providing the necessary temperature regime within 20 - 25 ° C, Kalanchoe may not have enough energy to bloom.
• Humidity. Kalanchoe does not need spraying, but requires periodic wiping of the shoots from dust, which makes it easier for the plant to breathe.

Unsuitable soil for growing

In specialized stores, shipping containers with Kalanchoe are filled with a poor substrate enriched with special hormones that do not act for long, but stimulate the laying of buds by keeping the perennial in short daylight hours for 2 to 3 days. After the flower moved to the apartment, where it is created the necessary conditions content, the succulent continues to bloom, expending vitality, while being in poor soil, which adversely affects the onset of the flowering phase in the next season.

The main mistakes when leaving

If the flower is created optimal conditions content, then the reason for the lack of flowers on Kalanchoe may lie in improper care.

• Overflow. The florist waters the succulent too often, accumulating moisture reserves in the leaves.
• Deficiency or excess of nutrients. Failure to carry out fertilizing with a content of phosphorus and potassium causes a lack of nutrition for the succulent to form buds. And an excess of nitrogen can lead to an intensive increase in green mass to the detriment of budding and flowering.
• Lack of timely cuts. After the peduncles dried, they were not removed in a timely manner and summer pinching was not carried out, which did not allow the shoots to stretch.
• No dormant period. After flowering, the plant was not provided with a stagnation period lasting for 2 months.

How to make a plant bloom

Kalanchoe is a plant with a short daylight hours, the flowering phase of which falls on the winter period.

If you do not know how to make Kalanchoe bloom again in the summer, then follow these recommendations:

1. After the inflorescences wither and the stagnation phase, it is necessary to feed the succulent twice a month with phosphorus-potassium fertilizers, which stimulate budding and long flowering. It is also recommended to resume normal watering.
2. When new shoots are formed, they should be removed, and last year's ones should be pinched off to the length of two buds.
3. When new shoots with 3 pairs of true leaves develop on the pinching sites, it is worth re-pinching, which will make it possible to become the owner of a lush bush with a compact crown.

To bookmark buds, it is necessary to provide Kalanchoe with a short daylight hours by covering the plant in the afternoon carton box. It is also possible from sunlight hide a pot with a representative of tropical flora in a closet.

Proper flower care

To observe the lush and long flowering of an inhabitant of the tropics every year, it is necessary to study all the nuances of caring for a succulent.

1. How to care for Kalanchoe after purchase. If a blooming succulent was purchased at the store, then after the grower brings it home, you should quarantine the flower for 30 days and wait for the end of flowering, after which a transplant from a shipping container with poor soil is required. Under the quarantine regime, Kalanchoe should be isolated from others indoor plants and systematically inspect for the presence of diseases and pests.
2. Watering. The irrigation regime for Kalanchoe provides for a procedure in the spring and summer within 2 times a week. In winter and autumn, water the flower should be no more than 1 time per week. Too much moisture can lead to the development of gray rot and the future death of the flower in the absence of timely treatment.
3. Feeding and fertilizer. Before flowering, top dressing, which includes phosphorus and potassium, should be carried out twice a month. Fertilization is not carried out during the dormant period. As nutrient complexes, you can use liquid agrochemicals for flowering plants, a large assortment which is presented in specialized flower shops.

Blooming Kalanchoe: transplant

The plant should be transplanted after the end of flowering and the removal of faded inflorescences, when the roots completely braid the earthen clod.

The procedure is carried out according to the following scheme:

1. A low container with a diameter of 20 cm is selected.
2. A drainage layer is placed at the bottom.
3. To get loose soil mixture with a slightly acidic reaction, turf is mixed, leaf ground, humus, sand, charcoal, pine bark in a ratio of 3:2:2:2:1:1.
4. The drainage layer is slightly crushed with a substrate, onto which Kalanchoe is rolled over and sprinkled with the rest of the soil mixture.
5. The soil is compacted and lightly watered.

Protection against diseases and pests

A healthy lush bush is rarely affected by harmful organisms. However, with regular overflows, the development of a fungal disease, gray rot, may begin.

At the first sign you need:

• remove Kalanchoe from the ground;
• inspect its root for the presence of pathogens;
• remove the affected parts;
• transplant the plant into a fresh substrate;
• then treat the bush with a fungicide.

Among the pests that can attack the succulent, there are mealybug, aphids and spider mite which must be controlled using insecticidal preparations according to the manufacturer's instructions. Spraying should be carried out outdoors, previously covered with an earthen clod with a cloth or other material that will protect the substrate from pesticides.

Kalanchoe after flowering

When Kalanchoe completes flowering, it is necessary to carry out cardinal pruning. Peduncles should be removed in such a way that there are practically no parts left from them that can rot. All old and bad looking shoots are also cut off. At the same time, watering and fertilizing are reduced, after which the succulent is provided with a dormant period lasting for 2 months.

So, despite the fact that Kalanchoe is considered an undemanding crop, to ensure its beautiful and long flowering, it is necessary to properly care for the plant and provide right conditions content.

Kalanchoe is a succulent with thick green leaves and bright pink, white, yellow, crimson flowers. It belongs to the Crassulaceae family, requires minimal watering, calmly tolerates the absence of fertilizers, and is rarely affected by pests. In general, caring for Kalanchoe at home is not difficult, and even a novice grower can acquire it without fear.

And Kalanchoe can look different, because as many as 200 species are combined in this genus! Some of them are especially decorative and bright colors, others - medicinal properties.

At home, most often grown:

• Kalanchoe Blossfeld - different decorative. Forms a compact bush, blooms with elegant inflorescences-umbrellas. A well-known variety series - Kalanchoe Kalandiva is characterized by double flowers.
• Kalanchoe Degremona - is medicinal, the juice from its fleshy leaves is used to heal wounds, get rid of a cold, etc. Refers to bryophyllums (viviparous Kalanchoe, breeding "children").
• Kalanchoe pinnate is also a medicinal bryophyllum. Its oval leaves with vein patterns resemble feathers, which is how the species earned its name.
• Kalanchoe Mangina (Mangini) is a decorative bryophyllum with long shoots that form an ampel bush. It blooms with bright red bell flowers.
• Kalanchoe tubiflora (tubiflora) is an interesting bryophyllum with narrow leaves tucked inward and with many "children" along their edges.
• Kalanchoe dissected - the so-called "deer horns". Produces long shoots with dissected narrow leaves, shaped like deer antlers.

There are many other species, for example, Kalanchoe felt, Kalanchoe paniculata, etc., but they are grown much less frequently.

However, you can grow any Kalanchoe at home, adhering to certain rules care. They are almost the same for both flowering and deciduous species of this wonderful plant.

Lighting and temperature

Like most succulents, Kalanchoe needs good lighting. Of course, you can put the plant in a shaded place, but then its stems will stretch, and flowering in general will be a big question.

When grown at home best windows for Kalanchoe - eastern and western. And in the winter and at all - southern. In the summer with southern windows you need to be careful. In the heat, with intense solar radiation, Kalanchoe leaves may acquire a reddish tint, but some flower growers even like such metamorphoses. So - try.

At home Kalanchoe conditions grown in pots on windowsills or on the balcony - in balcony boxes

An important note: the laying of flower buds in Kalanchoe occurs with a short daylight hours (lasting about 8-10 hours). But this “day” should be bright, ideally sunny. Then more flower buds will form, and the color of the flowers will be more saturated.

Like many succulents, Kalanchoe develops best with moderate warm temperatures. In summer, the ideal mode is 23-25°C, in winter - 11-16°C. But rather bold variations in one direction or another from the theoretical ideal are also possible. In winter, nothing will happen to Kalanchoe even with short-term drops in temperature to 8 ° C, of ​​course, provided that the plant is kept “semi-dry”. And in summer, even temperatures above 30 will not harm him, if you do not allow the earthen coma to dry out.

Therefore, as soon as the air warms up to 10 ° C in spring, you can take Kalanchoe in a pot to a balcony or courtyard. And keep the plant there until autumn, until, again, the temperature drops below 10°C. Some flower growers plant it in the summer open ground in the garden, and in the fall they dig it up and move it back to the pot.

In summer, Kalanchoe can be planted in the garden - right in the open ground. Or take pots of succulents out into the yard.

Watering and fertilizing

In their kalanchoe leaves able to retain water and gradually spend it on personal needs. Accordingly, the plant does not need abundant frequent watering. Excess moisture will only contribute to root rot. Especially often, the death of Kalanchoe from overflow occurs in winter after heavy watering of cold soil that does not have time to dry out.

Therefore, in winter, Kalanchoe is rarely watered at home, waiting for the soil in the pot to dry out almost completely. This is one of essential rules succulent care! Particular care should be taken in cool winter conditions, for example, on a balcony. In summer, in the heat, they water more often, but they also focus on the condition of the soil and the dried top layer.

Kalanchoe has a negative attitude to abundant frequent watering, so it should be watered only after the top layer of soil has dried.

Kalanchoe is also not demanding on fertilizers. It is advisable to feed it during budding and flowering, using any fertilizer for flowering houseplants. During the growing season, you can apply universal fertilizer. It is enough to fertilize Kalanchoe once a month, using half the dose recommended by the manufacturer. And during the dormant period, any top dressing should be completely abandoned.

To feed Kalanchoe, half the dose of fertilizer indicated by the manufacturer is sufficient.

Soil and transplant rules

The best soil for Kalanchoe is slightly acidic or neutral, well-drained and permeable to water. Ideal for these purposes:

• soil for succulents;
• universal soil + sand.

Young, fast growing plants, transplanted every year in spring new pot, 1-2 cm larger than the previous one in diameter. Adult Kalanchoes that have reached optimal height, transplanted 1 time in 2 years.

When planting (transplanting) Kalanchoe, a drainage layer is required, which will protect against stagnation of water at the bottom of the pot and, as a result, from the possibility of root rotting for this reason.

Transplant process step by step:

• water Kalanchoe in an old pot;
• after a few minutes, carefully remove the plant;
• gently shake off the old earth from the roots;
• prepare new ground, in its structure and properties, it should be similar to the old soil;
• prepare a new pot (which may be slightly larger or the same size as the previous one);
• fill the bottom with 1-2 cm of drainage and a small layer of new soil;
• put the root ball in the pot, fill the new soil into the gaps formed along the walls of the pot.

In the new soil, the transplanted Kalanchoe takes root in about 1-2 weeks.

For transplanting Kalanchoe, you can use the usual universal soil, adding to it not a large number of sand

Trimming and shaping

All Kalanchoes tend to stretch and grow over time. Of course, for some time after the purchase, Kalanchoe looks like a miniature squat bush (and even then, if it is properly looked after), but gradually, at home, the decorative effect of the plant decreases. The stems are pulled out, the leaves become smaller.

To prevent this from happening, Kalanchoe must be formed by trimming and pinching.

Pruning of Kalanchoe is carried out immediately after it has faded. Cut off faded flower stalks and shorten the stems. In place of the cuts, new shoots will appear, which can also be pinched for further branching.

Usually pruning and shaping of Kalanchoe is performed in spring / summer. Then, by autumn, many young shoots grow on the plant, ready to give flower stalks. If you plan to stimulate the plant to bloom at another time (this is possible by artificially reducing daylight hours, it is written about this later - scroll down the page), then pruning should be stopped a couple of months before the start of stimulation.

reproduction

Kalanchoe can be propagated in several ways:

1. "Children" (only bryophyllums)

They are fully formed plants, only small, but already having leaves and roots. Maternal bryophyllum pours these "babies" anywhere, even in nearby pots with other plants. And the new settlers quickly take root, forming whole families of new young Kalanchoes.

Reproduction of Kalanchoe-bryophyllums by brood buds

2. Apical cuttings

Universal way, suitable for any kind. And lets get the grown-up the fastest flowering plant. apical stalk cut off from mother bush, dried for 1-3 days and buried in the ground. From above they do not cover with anything, water a little bit after drying the topsoil. Or put the cut stalk in the water. Kalanchoe gives roots easily, even in winter.

3. Leaf cuttings

A universal method similar to the previous one. The leaf is buried in the ground, it gives roots very quickly. After a while (you'll have to wait!) A shoot begins to grow from a buried leaf - a new full-fledged Kalanchoe. With viviparous Kalanchoe, you can do it differently: put a leaf on the ground vertically, then “babies” will quickly appear from the sinuses.

4. Seeds

Seeds are spread on the surface of moistened soil, covered with glass, put in a warm, bright place. After a few days, shoots appear. Propagation by seeds is the most time-consuming method of propagation of Kalanchoe, but it also takes place. Especially if you want to grow a rare variety from which there is no way to take a cutting or "baby".

How to make Kalanchoe bloom

To understand how to care for Kalanchoe at home and achieve flowering at the same time, let's turn to botanical reference books. In its homeland (Madagascar), Kalanchoe blooms at the end of the African summer, when sunny days become short. Accordingly, this succulent is genetically programmed to lay flower buds in conditions of short daylight hours. In our latitudes, its natural flowering occurs in December - May.

Interesting fact:

With the right conditions and care, Kalanchoe Blossfeld can bloom almost all year round.

However, in the store you can buy a flowering Kalanchoe in a pot at any other time of the year. How did the producers take care of such a plant that they managed to knock down its biological clock? The secret lies in the artificial reduction of daylight hours to 8-10 hours. The remaining 14-16 hours of Kalanchoe are placed in pitch darkness. This mode is maintained for 4 weeks, during which flower buds are laid.

The same can be reproduced at home. For this, in certain time cover Kalanchoe with a box, a tight bag or put the plant in dark closet. And after 14-16 hours - expose to light or remove shelter. For example, at 5 pm, a bag is put on the plant, and removed at 7 am. And so 4 weeks.

You can stimulate Kalanchoe to bloom even in summer, for example, by a certain date. Why not?

In the period of preparation for flowering, the following conditions will be ideal:

• short daylight hours;
• high level of illumination, direct sunlight is welcome;
• cool;
• poor watering.

After a month of such preparation, a set of buds and during flowering, there is no need for a short daylight hours. But it is desirable to provide coolness - so the flowers last longer. Watering can be increased, that is, switch the mode from "meager" to "moderate". And admire the flowering, which can last 3-4 months!

Blooming Kalanchoe is an unforgettable sight!

To encourage the plant to bloom during long period, old withered inflorescences are removed. In their place, new arrows with buds grow.

Care after flowering

When is the last kalanchoe flower wither, home care for him is changing. There comes a dormant period - the time during which the plant regains strength and prepares for the new season of vegetation and flowering.

In preparation for the dormant period, faded flower stalks are cut off and the stems are shortened, that is, they are pruned. Then Kalanchoe is placed in a cool, shady (but not dark!) Place. This may be the corner of a loggia, a cold northern window sill, etc.

Conditions for care during this period:

• lack of direct sunlight;
• poor watering;
• coolness (11-16°C ideally, but variations are possible).

In about a month of such content, Kalanchoe is completely restored. And then you can, if you wish, do forcing again and get re-flowering in 2.5-3 months.

And now we invite you to watch a video that tells how to grow Kalanchoe:

Kalanchoe blooming today is very popular with lovers of decorative succulents, which are also useful. The juice from the leaves of the plant has healing properties for human health. Kalanchoe care at home is not difficult, it is important to know the features of its cultivation.

There are a large number of species and varieties of Kalanchoe. Only a few of them are grown at home. Of particular interest are several plant varieties.

• Kalanchoe Blossfeld is the most common type, which is presented in most flower shops.
• Dergemona is a demanding plant that is more suitable for an experienced grower. It is often referred to as "room ginseng".
• Rosalina - elegant terry variety, characterized by unpretentiousness. To form new buds, wilted flowers must be removed from the peduncles.
• Kalandiva - the variety is very different rapid flowering, not even at ideal conditions. Despite the high decorativeness, the plant is very unpretentious.

Whatever variety of Kalanchoe is chosen, it is necessary to create the necessary growth conditions for the flower, which will allow it to remain in good condition for a long time. Even unpretentious varieties quality life must be ensured.

Basic requirements for growing Kalanchoe

In general, in cultivation of Kalanchoe there is nothing complicated. In order for a flower to grow successfully, it needs a regular change of pot as it grows, timely watering and care. Do not expose the plant to extreme lows and highs in temperature. For a flower, normal room temperature is optimal, but you should not put it near the battery and on a cold windowsill.

In winter, the temperature should not be below 12-15 degrees. Not being too picky about light, Kalanchoe can grow well even in rooms that are not suitable for other plants due to their shading. The flower does not need sunlight, and it feels great even with an ordinary lamp. daylight, delighting with rapid flowering.

Plant care at home

To create optimal conditions for Kalanchoe, you should familiarize yourself with the basic requirements of the plant and recommendations for caring for it. With good maintenance, it can bloom all year round.

Soil and pot requirements

Soil for Kalanchoe requires slightly acidic. If you use a ready-made substrate for succulents, which is sold in garden stores, you need to dilute it with fine sand by 1/5 part. It is better, of course, to prepare the soil yourself.

To do this, mix in equal parts the following components:

• humus;
• sand;
• charcoal;
• turf.

Additional fertilization when preparing the soil for Kalanchoe is not required, since at first the plant will be provided nutrients, which are rich in coal and humus, and then regular feeding will compensate for their lack.

The pot for the plant requires a wide and deep enough so that the roots do not tuck. You can use plastic or ceramic dishes. It is better to use a new container or one that has been frozen outside during the winter. Without this, it is highly likely that the flower may get sick due to fungal spores left on the walls of the pot after the last plant.

Watering, feeding and fertilizing

Despite the fact that the plant is native to dry areas, at home it needs to be regularly watered with settled water at room temperature. Kalanchoe consumes more water in summer, less in winter. Watering is carried out not according to the regime, but as needed. The fact that it is time to water the plant is determined by the moisture content of the topsoil. If it's dry, it needs to be moisturized.

They spend it by watering the flower along the edge of the pot. You can also immerse the container with Kalanchoe in a jar of water for 20 minutes so that the soil can be saturated. If the soil is wet, it should not be watered in reserve, as this will lead to the death of the flower due to rotting of the roots. The plant does not tolerate waterlogging at all.

Top dressing is necessary only in the spring and summer. It is held once a week. For the flower, special top dressing for succulents is used. You can also use complex mineral fertilizers for indoor plants and a solution of rotted bird droppings, which is diluted in a ratio of 1:30.

Location, lighting and air humidity

It is optimal to choose a place for a flower that is light, but without direct sunlight. The optimal length of daylight hours is 12 hours, and therefore in autumn and winter it is necessary to keep Kalanchoe in a room with the greatest illumination. It is impossible for the flower to be exposed to drafts, which are fatal to it.

Dry air is not dangerous for the plant, since Kalanchoe easily survives a moisture deficit. At the same time, culture can tolerate high humidity
air, but not soil.

Flowering and pruning Kalanchoe

Kalanchoe blooms in autumn and can last for a month, and in some varieties for two months. After all the flowers have withered, if necessary, pruning of the plant is carried out. It is necessary to do this, since in a year the flower is able to add up to 30 cm in height and width and become very voluminous. Also, uncontrolled growth leads to a deterioration in its appearance.

Young plants at the time of active vegetation are pinched to give them attractive shape. For this purpose, the top 2 leaves are removed from the shoots. The procedure is carried out for several years, until the flower becomes the way they want to see it. Sanitary pruning involves the removal of 1/5 of the number of leaves and shoots.

When forming Kalanchoe in the form of a tree, only one of the strongest shoots is left on the plant, and all lateral ones are cut off. The top of the main stem is not pinched with such pruning.

Advice. After flowering, flower stalks must be removed. For a month: set the plant on a shady window sill, do not water. Then move it to its original place, provide watering, and it will bloom again.

Transplant at home

Transplantation of young plants is carried out annually, as their development is very rapid, and they need a constant increase in the area of ​​the pot. After 3 years, Kalanchoe develops more slowly, and she only needs a transplant once every 3-4 years, since root system, even an adult plant, continues to grow and at some point outgrows the pot. If Kalanchoe begins to turn yellow, most likely, an increase in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe pot is urgently required. The optimal transplant time is the beginning of spring.

At the bottom of the pot, a drainage layer of expanded clay is made 2 cm thick. Then the soil is poured. The plant is transplanted by transshipment, trying not to disturb the already existing clod of earth. After the flower is transplanted, it is watered abundantly. Further watering is carried out in the same way as always.

After the purchase, it is necessary to transplant Kalanchoe into a new pot, regardless of the season, but only after the plant has completely faded. If the condition of the plant is deteriorating rapidly, and it must be urgently transferred to another pot, it is necessary to part with the flowers. Cut them off with sharp scissors.

Features of reproduction of Kalanchoe

At home, the reproduction of Kalanchoe is very simple. If the bush is in good condition and properly cared for, then a new plant can be obtained by cutting or rooting a leaf.

The stalk is cut from a young shoot so that it has at least 3 leaves. Use sterile scissors for cutting. The cut stalk is placed in water. So it will release roots much faster, and the process of its development will be easier to control than when planting in the ground immediately after cutting. As soon as the roots grow to a length of 2-3 centimeters, the cutting is planted in soil suitable for Kalanchoe.

When propagating with a leaf, a well-developed leaf with a petiole is taken and dug into a moist soil suitable for Kalanchoe. Next, it is important to ensure that the soil does not dry out. If everything is done correctly, the plant will release the roots in 2 weeks, and in a month a rosette of small leaves will appear. Care for Kalanchoe after rooting as an adult plant.

Pests, diseases and treatments

There are not many diseases that affect Kalanchoe. Most often, against the background of excessive moisture, bacterial infections can be encountered. After watering is normalized, the disease is eliminated. Pests sometimes become a serious problem for the grower.

With proper care, Kalanchoe at home grows and reproduces beautifully, delighting the owner with a beautiful and lush bloom. Don't Forget the Value medicinal properties kalanchoe.