How to grow Kalanchoe blossfeldiana? A detailed guide to the latest cultivation methods
Kalanchoe blossfeldiana, also known as dwarf kalanchoe, is a perennial succulent herb with opposite, plump, juicy, easily broken leaves; it bears terminal cymes with flowers in orange-red, yellow, red and other colors. The Kalanchoe blossfeldiana plant has a short, compact form, a long flowering period, abundant blooms and high ornamental value. Today let's take a look together with the editor at how to grow Kalanchoe blossfeldiana.
Choosing a flower pot
For growing Kalanchoe blossfeldiana, a small, well-ventilated pot is best; for loose, breathable sandy loam, Kalanchoe blossfeldiana grows best when cultivated in a well-ventilated earthenware pot, but it does not look attractive placed indoors, so it can be slipped inside a plastic or porcelain pot, or planted directly in a small purple-clay pot or plastic pot. When growing Kalanchoe blossfeldiana, place a layer of crushed charcoal pieces or crushed hard plastic foam pieces at the bottom of the pot to improve ventilation. Although it is not very particular about soil, it is prone to root rot in heavy clay, and grows best in loose, breathable, fertile, slightly acidic sandy loam. For home pot cultivation, it is best to mix leaf mold and garden topsoil in equal amounts, then add 5% to 8% sand as the growing and care soil. During cultivation, add a little bone meal or NPK compound fertilizer as a base fertilizer.
Water control
Moderate water control makes Kalanchoe blossfeldiana lush with leaves, and more phosphorus and potassium makes the flowers brightly colored. Kalanchoe blossfeldiana is a succulent plant, containing a relatively large amount of water in its body, so it is fairly drought-tolerant and afraid of waterlogging, and grows well under the dry air conditions of high-rise buildings. In spring and autumn, water thoroughly about once every 3 days after the potting soil dries, and keeping it slightly moist is usually enough. In summer, water less, preferably once every 5 to 7 days. For Kalanchoe blossfeldiana grown outdoors, keep it out of rain during the rainy season; too much water easily causes root rot, leaf shedding and even death. With proper water control so that the potting soil alternates between dry and moist, the branches will be lush and the flowers abundant. In winter, after moving it indoors, it is best to water in the afternoon with water close to room temperature, about once a week.
Reasonable fertilization
Kalanchoe blossfeldiana likes fertilizer. For young seedlings, 15 days after potting and planting, or for old plants, 15 days after division, apply 2 to 3 times a nitrogen-based liquid fertilizer to promote stem and leaf growth. After flowering, apply one nitrogen-based liquid fertilizer to promote recovery and vigor. At other times, except for stopping fertilization in summer, only NPK compound fertilizer may be applied. When fertilizing, do not get fertilizer on the leaves, otherwise the leaves and flowers are prone to rot. If the leaf surface is accidentally soiled, rinse it off with water. Kalanchoe blossfeldiana has a long flowering period, so the rule of not fertilizing during the flowering period should be broken: apply a dilute NPK fertilizer or 0.2% potassium dihydrogen phosphate solution once a month, so that later flowers do not become smaller and paler due to lack of fertilizer.
Light control
Kalanchoe blossfeldiana likes a sunny, well-lit environment. Except for slight shading in the afternoon at the height of summer, it should be placed in a sunny spot at all other times. It needs at least 4 hours of direct light each day to grow healthily and vigorously.
When growing Kalanchoe blossfeldiana on a building balcony, turn the flower pot 180 degrees every 15 days so that it receives light evenly, avoiding a lopsided crown and reduced ornamental value. Although it can also grow in semi-shade, the stems are thin, the leaves are thin, the flowers are few and the color is pale, far less luxuriant than in a sunny spot. If it is too shady, it not only easily drops leaves and produces no flowers, but even a whole plant already in bloom, if placed in shade, will have duller flower color, and then the flowers will drop and wither and turn yellow.
Suitable temperature
The most suitable temperature for growing Kalanchoe blossfeldiana is 15°C to 25°C. Above 30°C growth slows and it enters a semi-dormant state; below 10°C growth stops; below 8°C the leaves turn red and the flowering period is delayed; below 0°C it is easily killed by frost. Therefore, to grow Kalanchoe blossfeldiana well, it is necessary to create a small environment that is warm in winter and cool in summer. In the afternoon at the height of summer, avoid strong direct sun and place it in semi-shade with plenty of scattered light, such as under a large tree, under the eaves or on a north-facing balcony. Pay special attention to ventilation and cooling; water can be sprinkled on the nearby ground, but not on the whole plant.
After the Start of Autumn, from late August to early September, it can gradually be exposed to sunlight, and from October it should receive more sunlight to promote its transition from vegetative growth to reproductive growth. When the minimum temperature drops to about 10°C, move it indoors and place it in front of a south-facing or west-facing balcony so that it gets more sunlight, keeping it at 10°C at night and 15°C to 18°C during the day, and it can bloom in December.