HOW DO YOU CARE FOR KALANCHOE?

• Sun: Kalanchoe likes to be sun-kissed. Pick a spot that enjoys direct, but not intense sunlight.
• Soil: Use succulent or cactus soil with around 60% peat moss and 40% perlite so drainage is adequate.
• Water: Like its sister succulents, kalanchoe is drought tolerant because it holds water in its fleshy leaves. Water kalanchoe only when the soil a few inches down feels completely dry.
• Temperature: Kalanchoe prefers an environment similar to its native home: sunny climate with warm temperatures between 60 and 85 degrees F.
• Fertilizer: Promote flowering when the kalanchoe is active—typically spring and summer—by removing spent flowers and adding a balanced fertilizer rich in phosphorus. Tip: Don’t fertilize in late fall or winter when the plant is dormant (i.e., resting and renewing for its next growth spurt).
• Pruning: Trim the branches after flowering to promote more flowering and new growth. 

PROBLEMS WITH KALANCHOE > SOLUTIONS.

• Mushy leaves, root decay > Let the soil dry out and water less often.
• Wilted, shriveled leaves > Water more often, but only when top few-inches of soil is dry.
• Powdery mildew, leaf spot > Water the roots instead of the leaves.
• Burned leaves > Move to area with less intense, yet bright sunlight.
• Leaves remain small > Perhaps repot in larger container.
• Leggy stems > Move the plant so it receives more direct sunlight without the need to stretch.
• Brown spots, root burn > Perhaps fertilize less.
• Cottony masses, white specs under leaves > Probably aphid sap-suckers, mealybug masses, spider mites, or even scales that wreak havoc on the leaves and potentially kill the plant if not treated. (A worthwhile topic for a future blog!)

SUCCULENT MARKET OFFERS TWO SPECIES OF KALANCHOE.

1. Paddle plant kalanchoe (Kalanchoe Thyrsiflora)

2. Panda plant kalanchoe (Kalanchoe Tomentosa) ... including a bulk-purchase option.

Both are domestically grown and nurtured with three generations of knowledge!

P.S. If you missed our earlier blog about "What's a Kalanchoe and How to Pronounce It," check it out here.