How to Care for Kalanchoe + Solutions for Kalanchoe Problems
by Lynn KirkJul 10, 2021
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.