Grow Kalanchoe

Kalanchoe are bright and cheerful succulents with thick green leaves and vivid pink flowers. They are very easy to care for and can be grown indoors or outdoors, as long as they are in relatively warm conditions and have exposure to sunlight. Like many succulents, kalanchoe need minimal watering and can actually suffer if over-watered. Because kalanchoe are so easy to care for and are resistant to many diseases that harm more delicate plants, they are great low-maintenance plants to keep in your house or even give out as seasonal gifts.

Steps

Planting Kalanchoe

  1. Make a root cutting from an existing plant. The best way to grow a kalanchoe plant is to take a cutting from a fully grown plant, then and planting the cutting to grow a new kalanchoe. Use a sharp pair of gardening shears to snip off a branch of a fully grown kalanchoe branch. Remove all the leaves on the lower 2 inches (5.08 cm) of the branch except for 2 leaves.[1]
  2. Let the cutting dry for 3 days. After you make the cutting and remove most of the leaves, place the cutting on a paper towel and leave it out for a few days to dry. This process of drying the cutting is called “callusing.”[1]
  3. Dip the end of the cutting in rooting hormone. Once the cutting has dried, dip the end that you cut in rooting hormone. Rooting hormone stimulates the cutting so that the roots develop more quickly and healthily.[1]
  4. Place the cutting in the soil. Fill a small pot with drainage holes in the bottom with well-drained soil. Then make a hole in the soil with a pencil or pen. Take the dried cutting and place it in the hole you made, letting the top of the cutting poke out.[1]
    • It’s essential to get well-drained soil for your cutting so that the soil doesn’t trap too much moisture. You can find well-drained soil at gardening stores, and can even find soil that is formulated especially for succulents.
    • Only dunk the cutting once in rooting hormone. Using too much rooting hormone can have a negative effect on the growth of the plant.
  5. Wet the soil and cover the pot with a plastic bag. Once you stick the cutting into the soil, lightly water the soil until it is barely moist. Then take a large plastic bag, cut some slits in the top, and place it over the pot to completely cover it.
    • Using the plastic bag to cover the pot helps make a humid environment for the cutting so that it flourishes and grows.
  6. Place the pot in direct sunlight and water occasionally. After you place the bag over the pot, put the pot on a table or windowsill in direct sunlight. Check the soil about once a week and water lightly if the soil is dry, replacing the bag back on top of the pot after watering.[1]
  7. Take the bag off the top after 2-3 weeks. After 2-3 weeks, the roots should start growing. At this point, you can take the bag off the top of the pot, still keeping the pot in a sunny place and watering about once a week when the soil is dry.[1]

Caring for Kalanchoe Plants

  1. Give kalanchoe enough sunlight. Kalanchoe need plenty of sunlight, no matter if you are growing the plant from a cutting or have bought it fully grown. If you are growing the kalanchoe inside, place it in a south-facing window in winter for direct sunlight, and in an east or west window for bright indirect sunlight in the summer.[2]
  2. Keep kalanchoe in moderate to warm temperatures. Like most succulents, kalanchoe grow best in moderate to warm temperatures. Kalanchoe do well in typical household temperatures, but if you are growing kalanchoe outside in pots, take them in whenever the temperature drops below 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees C).[2]
  3. Water kalanchoe about every week and a half. Kalanchoe need a very specific amount of water so that they receive the proper nourishment but don’t suffer from overwatering. When the soil is dry, water the plant deeply until water comes out of the bottom holes of the pot and pools in the drainage tray. Remove the tray from the bottom and pour out the water, then place the tray back under the pot. Allow the soil to dry completely, about a week and a half, then water again.[3]
  4. Fertilize your kalanchoe once a month. Though kalanchoe are relatively self-sufficient plants, they do benefit from occasional fertilizing. Use a balanced, organic fertilizer such as a 20-20-20. To apply the fertilizer, follow the instructions on the label, making sure not to apply more fertilizer than the label advises.[2]
    • If you buy your plant from a store, it should come fertilized and you shouldn’t have to worry about it for a couple of months or so.

Protecting and Pruning Your Kalanchoe Plant

  1. Keep your plant out of the rain. If you are keeping your kalanchoe plant outside, make sure to put it in a well-protected area so that it isn’t exposed to rain. Rain can oversaturate the plant and even kill it.[1]
  2. Clip off dead flower stalks. Once your kalanchoe has bloomed, keep an eye out for dead stalks or foliage. If you any dead growths, clip them off carefully with a pair of sharp shears right below where the dead growth starts.[1]
    • Reduce the amount of watering you give the plant for a couple of weeks after cutting dead growths.
  3. Use all-natural insecticide alternatives to combat bugs. Though kalanchoe are generally resistant to disease and most insects, if they are being raised outside they can be damaged by certain bugs such as aphids and spider mites. Combat insects by applying an organic insecticide spray according to the packaging.[4]
    • You can also make your own all natural insecticide by mixing a few drops of dish soap, a few drops of canola or sunflower oil, and a liter of water (33.8 ounces).[5]
    • To apply, spray the plant directly on the affected area where the bugs are attached to the plant.

Tips

  • If you are trying to encourage blooming, make sure that your plant gets about 12 hours of darkness from late fall to early spring, which is the blooming season.
  • If you see your plant looking spindly and sickly, it may not be getting enough light. Move it outside in the sunlight or to a spot with plenty of light.

Things You’ll Need

  • Small clay pot
  • Organic well balanced fertilizer
  • Sharp gardening shears
  • Rooting hormone

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 https://dengarden.com/gardening/How-to-Grow-Kalanchoe
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 https://www.todayshomeowner.com/how-to-grow-flowering-kalanchoe/
  3. ↑ https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/kalanchoe/growing-kalanchoe-plants.htm
  4. ↑ http://www.krismers.com/Kalanchoe_care.pdf
  5. ↑ http://www.drought-smart-plants.com/pest-control.html

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