How to care for a Kalanchoe
How to care for a Kalanchoe If you're new to houseplants, the Kalanchoe is a great one to start with. They are easy to care for and can tolerate a variety of environments. Kalanchoes are very low-maintenance plants that grow beautiful flowers! Kalanchoes grow many different colored flowers, so there is always a Kalanchoe with colors that works for you and your living spaces! The best part of these plants? They grow best if you forget about them! It's better to forget to take care of these plants for weeks at a time than to water them every single week.
In this plant care guide, we will look at the basics of taking care of a Kalanchoe, so that you can keep your plant healthy and looking beautiful!
These are the topics we'll look at in this plant care guide:
Let's answer these questions and learn how we can take care of your Kalanchoe to help it thrive!
How often should I water my Kalanchoe?
The Kalanchoe is a succulent-like plant with thick, fleshy stems and leaves. These stems and leaves store a lot of moisture, so they can keep themselves hydrated for several weeks before it needs to be watered.
The frequency of watering will depend on the type of Kalanchoe you have, as well as the potting mix and container size. Most Kalanchoes need to be watered every one to two weeks. It's important to let the potting mix dry out completely before watering again. If you're unsure whether or not your plant needs water, try sticking your finger into the potting mix. If it feels dry to the touch, it's time to water your plant.
What type of light does a Kalanchoe need?
Kalanchoes might need to be watered as if they're succulents, they don't enjoy the bright direct sunlight a regular succulent likes. Kalanchoes prefer bright, indirect sunlight. If you can't provide bright, indirect sunlight, they will also do fine in an area with filtered sunlight or partial shade. Avoid placing your Kalanchoe in direct sunlight, as this can scorch the leaves. If you notice the leaves of your Kalanchoe starting to turn yellow, it's an indication that it's getting too much sun. Move your plant to a location with less direct sunlight.
The Kalanchoe prefers a bright spot because this helps it to get enough energy from the sun to grow its colorful flowers.
What type of soil should I use for my Kalanchoe?
We've already discovered that the Kalanchoe is a plant that loves to dry out. To help with this, we'll need a type of soil to help keep the plant on the dry side.
The best type of soil to use for a Kalanchoe is a well-draining potting mix. You can find well-draining potting mixes at your local garden center or nursery. If you're using a commercial potting mix, be sure to add extra perlite to increase drainage.
You can also make your own soil mix by using together equal parts of perlite, peat moss, and regular potting soil. This soil mix will keep the soil light and airy, hold onto moisture for a few days, but also drain excess moisture to the bottom of the pot quickly.
What is the best way to fertilize my Kalanchoe?
Fertilizing your Kalanchoe is important for keeping it healthy and encouraging growth. Use a balanced houseplant fertilizer and apply it according to the package directions. It's best to fertilize your Kalanchoe every two to four weeks during the growing season.
The easiest fertilizer to use is a liquid fertilizer your add to the water when you water your plants. Your Kalanchoe can absorb this type of fertilizer quickly and it's easy to control the dosage of your fertilizer. By controlling the dosage of the fertilizer, you're less at risk of overfertilizing your Kalanchoe and accidentally killing it.
Can I move my Kalanchoe outside in the summer?
When you live in a place that gets nice and warm in the summer, you might be wondering if you can move your Kalanchoe outdoors. If it stays above 17℃ (60℉) during the night, you can keep your Kalanchoe outdoors!
When you choose to keep your Kalanchoe outdoors during the summer, there are a few things to keep in mind. Be sure to acclimate it to the outdoors slowly over seven to ten days. Start by placing it in an area with indirect sunlight for a few hours each day. After 7 to 10 days, you can keep your Kalanchoe outdoors overnight. Be sure to bring your Kalanchoe back indoors before the first frost of the season. Also, if you live in an area that can get quite a bit of rain, even during the summer, it might be better to keep your Kalanchoe indoors or place it in a spot that's covered during the rain.
When is the best time to prune my Kalanchoe?
Pruning your plant is important to keep it healthy and promote growth! The best time to prune your Kalanchoe is in the spring before new growth begins. Use sharp, clean shears to remove any dead or dying leaves, stems, and flowers. You can also use pruning to shape your plant and encourage new growth.
Pruning is important for your plant's health because dead or dying foliage attracts pests. Leaves and stems that aren't quite dead yet, also use precious energy from your plant. By pruning these dead and dying stems/leaves, you help to give the energy back to your plant to grow new leaves.
How can you propagate your Kalanchoe?
When you're pruning your Kalanchoe, you can also decide to take some cuttings to propagate your plant. Like many succulents, a Kalanchoe is easy to propagate! You can propagate your Kalanchoe by cutting part of the stem off, letting it dry in the (indirect) sunlight for 2 days, and then sticking it in the soil. After a few weeks, new roots will have started growing from the cutting and you'll have successfully propagated your Kalanchoe!
How often do I need to repot my Kalanchoe?
You'll need to repot your Kalanchoe every one to two years, when the roots start to become pot-bound, or when the potting mix starts to decompose. Repotting a Kalanchoe is easy once you know what to do. Just remove the plant from the pot, loosen the potting mix with your fingers, and replace it in a new pot that's one size larger. Be sure to use a potting mix that drains well.
When repotting, make sure to acclimate your Kalanchoe to its new pot slowly over seven to ten days. To acclimate it to its new environment, place the Kalanchoe in a partially shaded area and water it sparingly at first. Gradually increase the amount of water you give it and move it to a brighter location over a week or two.
Be sure to only repot your plant to a pot that's one size larger and not more than that. If you repot your plant in a pot that's too large, it's easy to overwater your plant. The extra soil will stay moist for much longer because your plant isn't big enough to absorb it all from the soil. This puts the roots at risk of developing root rot.
Why has my Kalanchoe stopped blooming?
If you've been taking care of your Kalanchoe for a few months, perhaps even a few years, you might notice if your Kalanchoe stops growing. You've done everything right, but it just doesn't want to keep growing. But why?
There are a few reasons why your Kalanchoe may have stopped blooming. These are some of the reasons why your Kalanchoe might have stopped blooming:
- It's not getting enough sunlight
- It's not getting enough fertilizer
- It's too dry
- It's currently fall or winter
If it's currently fall or winter, your plant is resting and will start to bloom again in the spring. But if that's not the case, you can help your Kalanchoe to bloom again!
How can I get my Kalanchoe to bloom again?
You'll know your Kalanchoe isn't getting enough light if the plant starts to grow towards the light. If your Kalanchoe is getting enough light, the flowers will be straight up, because it's getting plenty of energy from the sun to grow. Your plant will look like it's stretched out. You can help it by putting it in a brighter spot. Just make sure it's not exposed to direct sunlight for more than 2 hours per day.
If it's currently spring or summer and your Kalanchoe is getting enough sunlight, you might need to fertilize your plant more. It's probably just starved for nutrients and will need a boost to start blooming again. Use a balanced houseplant fertilizer and apply it according to the package directions. It's best to fertilize your Kalanchoe every two to four weeks during the growing season.
Finally, your plant may just need a little extra TLC. Make sure you're watering it when the soil feels dry to the touch and pruning it in the spring to encourage new growth.
Conclusion
If you're ready for beautiful colors on a plant that you don't have to spend a lot of time on, you're ready to take care of a Kalanchoe! Caring for a Kalanchoe is easy once you know what to do. Just be sure to give it bright, indirect sunlight, water when the soil feels dry to the touch, and fertilize every two to four weeks during the growing season. If you notice the leaves of your Kalanchoe starting to turn yellow, it's an indication that it's getting too much sun. Move your plant to a location with less direct sunlight. With these tips, your Kalanchoe will thrive in your house!
Thank you for reading this post! I hope it helps you to keep your plants healthy and beautiful! If you're looking for more guides on specific plants, you can always request a plant guide to get a guide for the plant you have trouble with.
Tags: drought-loving, flowers, beginner-friendly
Posted on: Oct 15, 2022
