One can say about this flower: how could I live without it! In any case, our mothers and grandmothers cannot imagine how it is possible not to have such a thing in the house useful plant like Kalanchoe. I remember it grew in our house too. And it’s not surprising, because Kalanchoe officinalis used in medicinal purposes: for a runny nose, sore throat, for cuts and burns. In our article we will tell you how to prune Kalanchoe after flowering.
Medicinal Kalanchoe and decorative
Tree of life, room doctor, indoor ginseng- Kalanchoe has received all sorts of names for its usefulness and necessity. And although various types of this plant look different, but they all have healing properties. In total, more than 200 species of Kalanchoe are known in nature. Only a few of them are grown at home. Most often, Kalanchoe pinnate, Kalanchoe Blosfeld, Kalanchoe Daigremont, Kalanchoe uniflora.
But no matter what kind of Kalanchoe you purchase, home care for any representative of this plant is approximately the same. After all, they all belong to the same family - the Crassulaceae. These plants are inhabitants of the tropics. They are adapted to long stays, both in arid conditions and in high humidity. Kalanchoe leaves V favorable periods accumulate moisture, which the plant can then use to survive. Also, this flower does not need to be fertilized and replanted often. We can say that this plant gives us more than it requires from us.
Also for these indoor flowers characterized by resistance to various diseases and pests. In addition, even a plant that has begun to rot or disappear can be divided into cuttings and rooted. It reproduces easily and often independently with the help of children.
But, despite the unpretentiousness of this plant, it is worth remembering how to care for Kalanchoe at home.
Reproduction of Kalanchoe
With duration daylight hours more than 12 hours you will be able to plant the plant. To do this, use the following methods:
Propagation of Kalanchoe by cuttings. Only healthy people are suitable stem cuttings. Carefully separate the base with two leaves from the general bush, planting them in prepared slightly acidic soil.
Do you want to spend for Kalanchoe propagation leaf at home? Carefully remove an undamaged, healthy leaf from the common bush and plant it in new pot with prepared soil.
Seeds. Place the seeds on the surface of the moistened soil (1 part sand and peat each) without covering them with soil. Cover with glass or polyethylene for 10-12 days. When you see the sprouts hatching, remove the “shelter”.
Does Kalanchoe need pruning?
Kalanchoe in progress home grown pruning required. Features of this flowering Kalancho event depend on the type of plant. For example, Kalanchoe Blossfeld tolerates the removal of leaves and shoots well, and it can be trimmed without restrictions, thus giving the bush a “silhouette” that fully matches your aesthetic tastes. This variety can even be shortened to a stump - still, a fresh, renewed plant will soon grow.
But rare species Kalanchoe, in particular, hybrid ones, with yellow, pink and white inflorescences are more capricious, and they should be “cut” with great care, otherwise there is a risk of withering and even death green pets. Usually, only the top of such Kalanchoes is cut off.
Kalanchoe pruning tool
To trim, you must first prepare the tool. Ideal option– a garden knife with a carefully sharpened blade. But an ordinary knife for cutting paper is also suitable, but, again, very sharp and certainly disinfected. It is strictly not recommended to tear off excess leaves with your hands, as this can weaken the green inhabitant of the room.
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Types of pruning Kalanchoe
Thanks to pruning, you can give the plant beautiful shape bush. Pruning also stimulates good growth and flower development.
There are 3 types of pruning:
- Initial;
- For preventive purposes;
- After flowering.
How to form a Kalanchoe bush
Kalanchoe shoots (primarily we're talking about about decorative flower varieties) reach a height of up to 50 cm, but the greatest decorative value is a dense, low bush without bare stems showing through between the leaves. To form such a bush, regular pruning is required from the first stages of the plant’s life. Kalanchoe pruning is carried out using the “pinching” technology - the tip of the shoot with two young leaves is cut off with a sharp knife or blade. It is not recommended to use scissors for this, since they compress the thickness of the fleshy stem, causing severe damage to it. The cuts quickly dry out and tighten. If rot begins to form on them, the affected surface should be treated with potassium permanganate or wood ash.
One of the advantages of Kalanchoe is the fast and easy reproduction cuttings. All pruned shoots are suitable for producing daughter plants. If it was not possible to successfully form a bush, you can simply replace it by placing one of the cuttings in water for 1-2 weeks until the roots appear and planting the resulting plant instead of an unsuccessfully formed or too old one.
Pruning Kalanchoe after flowering
After flowering, pruning of Kalanchoe is done not only to remove excess leaves, but also to free the flower from peduncles. Leaves are removed as with regular pruning: one or two outer ones on the stems.
Before pruning your Kalanchoe after flowering, you need to make sure that all its flowers have completely faded. The flower stalks must be removed at the very base so that the plant does not begin to rot. They must be removed, every single one, after each flowering of the plant.
This procedure stimulates new growth of stems ready for flowering. After pruning the Kalanchoe after flowering, the plant needs a period of rest. This is the time to reduce watering and ensure there is no direct sunlight. The time it takes for the flower to come to its senses again is approximately 20 - 40 days.
It is better to trim leaves and flower stalks in the morning, preferably before noon. Timely pruning Kalanchoe will provide a lush and rich bush with regular flowering. Proper pruning is the health of the flower.
How to prune Kalanchoe to bloom
Pruning is recommended for any of these types ornamental plant as a flowering stimulating measure. The process involves removing excess leaves or diseased flower stalks to prevent the development of diseases and give a neat shape. Since as the stem develops, the upper shoots tend to thin out and become sterile, it is important to know how to properly pinch a Kalanchoe to bloom. These two processes (pinching and cutting) are similar, so they can be combined into one.
First you need to select the weakest tops of the plant, which have not been covered with flowers for a long time. Using scissors or fingers, a small part of the stem is removed with the expectation that the remaining wound will be small. After pinching, the edges of the stems are sprinkled with ash or charcoal.
Optimal summer temperature for flowering Kalanchoe - in the range from 23 to 29 degrees. More high temperature acceptable, but it would not hurt to increase the frequency of watering, since if there are flowers, they may dry out.
Even though plant - tropical, low temperatures it tolerates well. In winter and autumn, at temperatures above 10 degrees, it is quite possible to expose it to fresh air.
However, given the harsh climate of many areas of our country, during the cold season it will be safer indoors, away from sudden frosts and freezing winds.
After frostbite, only the root may remain alive. You will have to cut off almost everything except the root, and then wait for a miracle to happen and shoots to appear.
Lighting
The Kalanchoe houseplant is quite unpretentious in care, including regarding lighting. It can be placed almost anywhere in the room that receives direct sunlight. Favorable conditions can be called both partial shade and diffused light.
Direct sunlight most of the time safe and even recommended, How best option lighting. Direct rays are dangerous from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. from March to September.
The fact is that the leaves contain a lot of moisture and therefore can get burned from intense lighting. These burns can cause growth to stop. At the very solar time During the day, bright but diffused light is recommended.
If sufficient lighting, the leaves should have a reddish outline. Otherwise, when there is not enough light, the stems stretch and the leaves noticeably turn pale.
Watering Kalanchoe
How often water the Kalanchoe at home?
Kalanchoe - succulent, that is, it is able to accumulate moisture and in this way survive drought. You don’t have to worry too much if you forgot about watering once.
But excessive watering is harmful. You need to water so that the water completely wets the ground, and drain off the excess.
In hot weather, you can increase the frequency of watering, but still monitor excess water.
In winter, twice a week will be enough.
Excessive watering leads to rotting of the roots, the formation of mold and fungi.
The bay is detected by the following signs:
- The leaves turn pale and wither.
- appear on the leaves dark spots with yellow edges.
- The earth doesn't dry out.
The danger of flooding primarily lies in the fact that all negative processes occur at the bottom of the pot (out of sight), and the consequences appear very late, when a rescue operation may no longer help.
Before starting a life-saving operation, you should find out reasons for the gulf so as not to make the same mistake after recovery.
The reasons for the flood may be the following:
- the plant was not replanted from purchased soil, which was too moisture-intensive;
- the soil in the new pot turned out to be unsuitable;
- excessive frequency of watering;
- the pot is in a too dark and humid place;
- no drainage;
- The pot is too spacious.
How to save:
Humidity
in summer no need for spraying, and in winter it is even dangerous.
To rid the leaves of dust, as well as to prevent some diseases and pests, it is recommended to wipe them with a damp cloth.
Fertilizers
No need for abundant feeding – it is enough to fertilize every month.
There are no special requirements for fertilizers. Use regular fertilizers for succulents and cacti.
Excessive fertilizing is even harmful, and in winter it is completely dangerous to fertilize.
Trimming
Pruning is necessary for flowering. How undercut Kalanchoe? Moreover, it should be drastic - the peduncle should be removed as low as possible to prevent rotting of the remaining part.
Flowering greatly weakens the plant, therefore, all tarnished and dried parts should be cut off immediately upon detection.
Photo
How to prune Kalanchoe:
How to pinch Kalanchoe: 
Care after purchase
For indoor flowers, and especially for decorative Kalanchoe very important good care at home. First landing(transplantation) Kalanchoe requires special attention. Immediately after purchase, the plant should be transplanted into another pot with new soil.
Most likely, it has long outgrown its old pot, but remained in it for economic reasons. The soil should be changed, since it is unknown what its composition is. For cultivation, pots with a diameter of 9 to 18 cm are used.
The most common sizes are 12-15 cm. The pot should not be too large, as this can cause flooding and death. But a pot that is too small will not be so critical.
The worst that can happen is the plant will not bloom.
Transfer
Kalanchoe grows very quickly and therefore it is very important to replant it in a timely manner.
It is advisable to do this at least once a year, at the end of March.
Each new pot should be 2-3 cm larger in diameter than the previous one.
Replanting must be done very carefully so as not to damage the fragile stems and leaves.
The optimal soil composition should include turf soil, leaf soil and sand in equal proportions.
How to properly care for blooming Kalanchoe at home?
Keeping a Kalanchoe alive is fairly easy, but in order for it to bloom as often and as long as possible, additional knowledge and effort will be required.
Flowering conditions
Flowering begins in November and ends in March, when the dormant period begins.
Conditions for keeping Kalanchoe for abundant flowering:
- Water moderately and correctly - moisten the soil no more than once a week. Do not wet leaves and flowers. Make sure there is no excess liquid.
- Proper lighting. That is, provide good access to the sun, but do not leave it in direct rays for too long. A normalized light regime is very important for flowering.
In winter, daylight hours should be extended by artificial lighting up to 12 hours, and in summer shorten with a canopy or moving to a dark corner.
- Protect from cold and drafts.
- Fertilize only from June to November no more than 1-2 times a month.
- Trim old leaves and flower stalks.
Pruning Kalanchoe blooming
Is it necessary and possible to produce pruning Kalanchoe? Appearance pests or diseases sometimes forces pruning during flowering.
The process is quite simple - you just need to cut off the diseased areas at the junction with the healthy ones.
How to prune Kalanchoe after flowering?
Flowering greatly weakens the plant.
In order for it to bloom in the future, it needs to have a period of rest.
How to trim correctly decorative kalanchoe at home? To do this:
- all flower stalks are cut off;
- the pot is moved to the shade with coolness;
- not watered for 1.5 months.
After a period of rest plant returned to the old place and with early summer fertilize.
How to form a crown?
Formation of Kalanchoe– it’s a simple and lengthy matter.
How to form Kalanchoe? All that is required is to pinch off the tips of the shoots as they grow.
How to form a Kalanchoe flower if it has stretched out? Shoots that are too elongated need to be plucked off more radically, while sprinkling the cuts with ash or charcoal. Thus, volume will gradually appear.
How to pinch Kalanchoe?
So, is it necessary? pinching Kalanchoe? Many owners often complain that their Kalanchoe does not bloom again.
They don't even realize that the lack of variegated buds may be just the least of many problems.
If some owners take a close look at their plant, they may notice thinning shoots. This means that minerals are poorly supplied to this area.
And this can lead to the shoots drying out entirely. It is to solve this problem that we need pinching Kalanchoe.
Weak shoots can be plucked off anything: fingers, scissors, etc. It is advisable to do this slowly and carefully so as not to pinch off excess.
But even if this happens, the wound can be easily healed, sprinkling it with ash or charcoal.
Planting and care in the garden
Few people know that Kalanchoe can be kept not only in room conditions, but also in the garden. However, growing (reproduction) at home much easier than open ground.
How to care for Kalanchoe flower in the open ground? The plant cannot withstand temperatures below zero. The soil must be neutral or slightly acidic in composition with a nutrient layer thickness of at least 12 cm.
The seedlings must have a height of at least 10–12 cm and about 6 developed leaves. Before planting, you should fertilize the area rotted manure, superphosphate and potassium salt.
After engraftment, in July and August need feeding in the form nitrogen fertilizers. The distance between plants is approximately 30 cm, and the row spacing is 50 cm.
Before flowering you need to loosen the soil at least 5 – 6 times.
What to do if it doesn't grow?
In such a situation, the owner should ensure that he follows all recommendations for Kalanchoe care.
It's also possible Kalanchoe does not grow due to existing diseases and pests.
They get rid of diseases and pests by pruning the affected areas and treating them with insecticides.
Useful video
A little about how to properly care for Kalanchoe:
Tell me, what to do with a Kalanchoe that has faded? I heard that the bush needs to be completely cut off, but I feel sorry for it. But also flowering next year I want to see it too. What is the right thing to do?
Kalanchoe, especially flowering varieties, very popular among gardeners. An unpretentious succulent with lush bouquets of inflorescences of the most varied colors and shapes does not require special care, moreover, it has very beautiful view. Such a plant can be used as a holiday gift, or to decorate your home with it. However, despite its unpretentiousness, growing Kalanchoe has one nuance on which its flowering in the future directly depends.
After flowering ends, the bush should rest and gain strength. If you do not provide it with a period of rest, you may not get flowers.
Sending the plant to rest
First of all, when the last buds on the flower stalks wither, they should all be cut off. In addition, it is necessary to completely cut off the branches, leaving stumps no more than 3 cm high. This drastic action helps to rejuvenate the bush and stimulates the formation of new shoots with flower buds.
The cut tops can be rooted in soil or in a glass of water to produce new specimens.
Now the Kalanchoe needs to be provided suitable conditions for relaxation. To do this, send the pot for at least a month and a half to a room in which:
- poor lighting;
- low temperature (up to 15 degrees Celsius).
During the rest period, watering the flower should be sharply limited. It is enough to moisten the soil once every 3 weeks, just to ensure that the roots do not dry out completely.
Second life of Kalanchoe
After the flower has rested for 1.5-2 months, it can be returned to familiar conditions. In the warmth and good lighting the stumps will wake up and begin to actively grow new shoots. Now you need to water regularly, but not too diligently, so that the roots do not rot from stagnation of water.
To make the bush round and beautiful, you need to shape it by pinching the branches after every third row of leaves. If you give Kalanchoe the opportunity to grow on its own, instead of a lush bush, you can get a sloppy, disheveled one.
If, despite rest, the plant is actively increasing its leaf mass, but does not even think about blooming, you can force it to do this by reducing the length of daylight hours. For 4 weeks, the entire pot must be covered with a tight cap from about 17:00 in the evening and kept in this state until the morning. This technique promotes rapid bud setting.
Caring for blooming and faded Kalanchoe at home.
Kalanchoe how houseplant It is very easy to grow, considering that it does not require watering or lighting and is not particularly susceptible to problems and diseases. But when it comes to flowering, especially repeat flowering, things turn out to be more complicated than we thought. After all, we want Kalanchoe to bloom, and not just bush as it pleases. Therefore, in this article, I would like to mention the basic points that will help keep your plant vibrant and its leaves succulent.
Lighting
Kalanchoe is not picky about lighting. Which of course is a plus for those who have a lot of plants at home. You can place it in either sunlight or partial shade or shade. For straight lines sun rays Leaves may turn red. If it is possible to create for him ideal conditions— it’s better to bet on Western or east window. If the flowering of a plant is important to you, it is best to place it in the east or southeast and you also need to add lighting in winter. If Kalanchoe does not get enough sun, it will stretch, the leaves will become smaller and pale, and the lower ones will die. It’s easier to say that the flower will lose its marketable and attractive appearance that it had in the store.
Air temperature
Most of all, homemade Kalanchoe loves temperatures from 23 to 25 in the summer and from 12 to 16 degrees in the winter. But since the plant is unpretentious, it grows well at other temperatures. And if it’s already more than 10 degrees outside, you can put it on the balcony.
Watering
Since Kalanchoe is considered a succulent plant, it can stand for a long time without watering and accumulates water well in its leaves. So, the plant can be left for a month without water until it blooms, and you don’t have to worry about it while you’re on vacation. Just the same, if you water a flower too often, it can harm it. The soil should dry out properly between waterings. Water in winter Kalanchoe is better only once a week, or even twice.
Humidity
Kalanchoe leaves do not need to be sprayed. It is enough to periodically wipe them from dust or rinse them in the shower. This will be enough to prevent any pests like mealybug or spider mite.
Caring for blooming Kalanchoe
In order for the buds to last as long as possible, you need to keep the plant in good light. This will not only prolong their life, but also protect the plant from being pulled out. It is necessary to water as soon as the soil dries well. Kalanchoe blooms for quite a long time. But its flowering may also depend on the species. Some species can bloom for up to 8 months a year. If you have a specific goal - to achieve maximum flowering, it is better to learn more about the species in advance before purchasing.
Read more about what to do if Kalanchoe does not bloom or blooms poorly:
Caring for faded Kalanchoe
What to do to save the plant? After you brought it from the store lush flowering plant It seems like it will always be like this. Yes, this plant blooms well and for a long time. But as soon as you cut off the flower stalks after flowering, troubles begin. According to all the rules growing Kalanchoe, after flowering it should be placed in the shade and watering should be greatly limited. It is these recommendations that allow you to get new ones later lush buds. Since Kalanchoe requires short daylight hours to force buds. For example, in the summer this is difficult. And in winter, in the evenings, we usually have lights on in all rooms. Some gardeners are not too lazy to clean up flower pots in the cabinets after 6 pm and take them out at 8 am. But this takes time and empty cupboards. But this method is very effective, and if you really need new buds, you can always use this method.
Will Kalanchoe bloom again if the above conditions are not met? From my own experience I will say that yes, depending on the type. So my Kalanchoe s yellow flowers Bloomed for the second time on the windowsill in the summer with a bang. But unfortunately, it lost a lot of leaves. I talk about this in more detail in an article with own experience acquisition of Kalanchoe.
Pruning Kalanchoe
Since this plant bushes quite quickly, it needs to be pruned. Then the trunks will not stretch out so much and the leaves will become smaller. After flowering, you need to trim the flower stalks as low as possible. If you prune high under the buds, dark dried sticks will stick out, I was convinced of this myself. Plus it makes the plant weak. You also need to trim not only the tops, but also other weak leaves and parts of the flower. Pinching the tops will also help the bushes become fuller. If you don't take care of Kalanchoe, it can take on the appearance of an ordinary weed; you don't want that on your window, do you?
Transfer
You can immediately plant the cut tops in the ground for rooting. I advise those who have just started Kalanchoe to do this. If after flowering the plant becomes unsightly, you can always grow a new one from the children. Replanting as it grows is also not difficult, you just need to be careful with the leaves and stems, as they are very fragile. By the way, I transplanted flowering plants, since the pots were in very in bad shape upon purchase. This did not affect the flowering at all - the buds pleased our eyes for quite a long time.
Top dressing
Kalanchoe can be fertilized once a month. Is it necessary? In general, yes, it makes the leaves and stems stronger and more beautiful, the plant does not take on the pitiful appearance of a weed. Complex fertilizers also help improve flowering. You cannot feed the plant in winter. For feeding, you can take half the recommended dose per complex fertilizer. Because too much of it can only make it worse.
Well, that’s probably all the points about caring for Kalanchoe. If you still have questions, you can ask them in the comments, and also attach photos to clarify the “diagnosis” of the plant.
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The homeland of Kalanchoe is the island of Madagascar, so the plant ends up on store shelves from abroad. For optimal transportation, it must first be planted in transport soil that has a certain composition. This soil is not suitable for growing plants at home. The substrate must be replaced with a nutrient soil mixture so that the Kalanchoe is healthy and can bloom profusely in the future. How happens for kalanchoe blooming transfer?
Rules for replanting Kalanchoe: time frame, choosing a pot, watering
- The first days after purchase, it is not recommended to touch the plant, but give it time to adapt. 7 days are enough for him to get used to new conditions in order to avoid stress. A pot for the permanent residence of the flower is prepared large sizes than temporary capacity, but it should not be too spacious; prepare drainage (it’s better not to skimp on good material for transplantation - this will help avoid problems with stagnation of water); and earthen substrate. After replanting, you need to water the soil generously so that the water fills the mixture completely and saturates it well. In the future abundant watering do not use - the plant does not like it. It is better to place the flower after transplantation on sunny side, where daylight hours last approximately 12 hours: windows on the east and west sides will be optimal.
- A pot for permanent use is pre-treated with boiling water, and if it was previously used for another plant, then it must be disinfected: it will do simple processing soap. Before filling the drainage and soil, you should treat the container with potassium permanganate or a solution copper sulfate 2%.
- You should choose a pot as follows: lower the old pot into a new container; if it fits in easily, it will suit the plant perfectly, or make sure that the diameter new dishes more than the previous one by a couple of centimeters. Cover the bottom of the pot tightly and high with drainage, which contains clay shards, coarse sand and expanded clay. The drainage layer should be one fourth of the entire height of the dish: this trick will protect root system from flooding inside.
Kalanchoe blooming: leaves fall, what to do
If the transplantation was successful, then after a short amount of time the plant will become green, lush and flower. But sometimes, a year after healthy and abundant growth, many are faced with the problem of fallen leaves and do not know how to deal with it. In most of these cases, Kalanchoe does not look like a well-formed bush, but a tall growing stem with branches, with obvious signs of falling leaves in the area of the root system. There is only one way out: rejuvenate the plant by cuttings.
Peduncles are not a reason to put off cuttings for a plant: the shoots take root wonderfully in an aquatic environment, even with flowers. To give the plant a lush shape and to stop falling sheet plate cut off the apical part of the flower. You don’t need to immerse it in water for a couple of days for roots to appear, but immediately plant it in the ground. Manipulating the cut top will help combat leaf loss and give the plant a new, healthy appearance. The top can be grown separately, like a new full-fledged flower, by transplanting it into a separate pot.
This video presents material on proper care behind the blooming Kalanchoe.
Kalanchoe blooming: replanting, spraying, feeding
You can prepare the soil mixture for replanting yourself, or you can purchase a ready-made one, adhering to the required composition: peat mixture, turf and sand. If you mix the components yourself, then you need to take 4 parts of the total volume of peat base, 2 parts of turf substrate and 1 part of regular sand. 1 kg of the mixture should contain 15 grams of special superphosphate.
Drainage is always poured into the bottom of the pot, followed by prepared soil. Last layer carefully compact and form a mound in the central part of the top layer, where the cut top of the Kalanchoe is placed. Immediately after transplanting, it is necessary to water the root system as much as possible so that the water reaches the drainage layer. When the soil dries out, intensive watering should be stopped.
Lighting also plays a big role in the process of caring for a domesticated representative of the tropics. Temperature must not be violated: optimal temperature with quality care it should be between 18 and 28 degrees warm time year, and 14 - 20 degrees during the cold season. If the readings drop below 10 degrees, the plant may die or become stressed. During the watering process, it is necessary to monitor the soil and water it when it is already dry. Even on hot days, it is enough to water Kalanchoe only a couple of times during the week, because... Excessive moisture harms the plant’s bark system.
Spraying a flower is not prerequisite during the care process, but as a preventive measure it can be used (just not in extreme heat) and avoid treating plants with pubescent leaves. It is recommended to apply fertilizing during the period of bud formation; you can do this during the flowering process. Compounds for succulents are suitable as fertilizers; mixtures for cacti can also be chosen. They are applied in a half dose once for seven days. You should not fertilize Kalanchoe in the cold season, only in cases where it is in dire need of minerals. The first half of spring or summer is ideal for the feeding period.
In this video you can learn how to form a beautiful shape for a Kalanchoe. Don't forget to leave your questions and