The latest care method for kalanchoe: grow it this way and the leaves get bigger than your palm
Kalanchoe is a potted plant I personally love very much. Its flowering period is around the Spring Festival, and when a pot of kalanchoe is in full bloom at Spring Festival, you have flowers to enjoy throughout the whole holiday. But the kalanchoe I grow always looks a bit wilted, so I specifically asked the flower shop owner for leave and consulted him about a few little tricks.
Fertilizing: Although kalanchoe is a plant that likes fertilizer, note that it is best not to fertilize in summer, when it is in its dormant period under high-temperature conditions. We can just put a few granules of slow-release fertilizer in the pot.
Light: Many friends find that the leaves of the kalanchoe at home do not grow large and the stems grow very tall. This may be caused by too much watering or too little light. If this balance is not handled well, it easily becomes leggy. Friends who usually cannot judge it well can use chlormequat to help control it. When spraying, use only a small amount, otherwise it will grow very short; after use, the leaves will become large and thick and the plant shape will look very nice.
Kalanchoe likes cool conditions and fears heat. In summer it needs shading. If sunlight shines directly on it, the leaves turn gray and white, affecting their appearance. With proper care during the dormant period, the leaves will grow very large.
Watering: Kalanchoe is relatively tolerant of drought and fears waterlogging and standing water. In summer it does not need much watering. Water again after you see the potting soil turn white and dry out completely. If the potting soil stays moist for a long time, it easily becomes leggy, and the leaves and stems will be relatively weak. Not only does it look bad, it is also prone to root rot and black rot.
Pinching: If you want kalanchoe to grow well, proper pinching is essential. Pinching kalanchoe is very simple: just remove the topmost tender buds and two large leaves, and keep the height of the kalanchoe below 15cm. This lets the kalanchoe grow into a horizontally spreading "short, plump, and sturdy" plant. Do not throw away the removed branches; stick them into soil and they will quickly take root and sprout, growing into new plants.