What to Do If Your Kalanchoe Grows Too Tall? Learn the Correct Way to Handle It

1. Pinching Out the Growing Tips

Pinching out the growing tips is meant to encourage branching, so the amount of flowers will be greater, and the plant will not grow for no reason. This is a way to make it more compact. Generally, we should pinch out the growing tips relatively early. At this time, there is no need for backup seedlings. It is usually done one month after the cuttings have taken root. When it grows to about 4 to 6 cm, it can be pinched out. Of course, if the variety we are growing is one that grows very tall, we need to pinch out the growing tips even earlier.

2. Removing the Top Buds

This operation requires backup seedlings, and generally we wait until the plant grows to about 10 cm. We usually leave 3 to 5 pairs of leaves, remove the top buds, and then cultivate it again. This way it will grow better.

3. Thinning Out the Branches

This means cutting off the branches that are relatively clustered together. In addition, the weaker branches can also be cut off. This way, the light penetration inside will be stronger, the branches will grow faster, and there will not be many pests and diseases. Generally, we cut off the weak ones and keep the strong ones, so the flowers will be more compact. Otherwise, there will be more side branches, the nutrients will not be concentrated, and it will be prone to leggy growth.

4. Notes

Because its old plants will age, have weaker disease resistance and lower differentiation ability, and it is difficult to control their shape well, it is best to re-propagate by cuttings every two to three years. However, we cannot directly remove it from the roots; we need to decide based on its own condition. Operations such as pinching out the growing tips and removing the top buds also need to stop according to the condition of the flower buds. Generally, we should stop this operation one month before the initial buds appear, so that the flowers will not develop abnormally.