Kalanchoe 'White Maiden': An Introduction to the Kalanchoe Plant in the Crassulaceae Family

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Kalanchoe 'White Maiden' is a plant in the Crassulaceae family, Kalanchoe genus. It is native to South Africa. The leaves are covered with a light white powder, and the flowering period is from December to April.

Morphological Characteristics

The rhizome is upright, cylindrical, smooth and hairless with white powder, and the stem is hollow. The leaves are opposite, flat, racket-shaped, with irregular serrations along the leaf margins, and the leaf edges are rounded and curved; under strong light the leaf margins turn red, and the leaves are covered with a light white powder. The inflorescence is clustered, the flowers point downward, and the flowers are pink, like upside-down wind chimes. The flowering period is from December to April. Cross-pollination.

Propagation Methods

Kalanchoe 'White Maiden' can be propagated by beheading cuttings and by division. Stem cuttings are very simple: take healthy old stems, let them dry, and insert them into slightly moist sandy soil. In a cool, ventilated place they will basically develop roots after more than 20 days. Do not water frequently during cutting, otherwise the stems easily rot. Cuttings should be taken in spring and autumn. Sometimes long roots also grow between the leaves.

Growing Environment

It likes a sunny, cool and dry environment, tolerates partial shade, fears waterlogging, and avoids muggy, humid conditions. It has the habit of growing in the cool season and going dormant during the high summer heat. In an environment with very ample sunlight and a certain temperature difference, the leaves of Kalanchoe 'White Maiden' take on a beautiful pale purple-pink; if the sunlight is moderate, the temperature difference is insufficient, or watering is slightly too frequent, Kalanchoe 'White Maiden' takes on a blue-green color; if it lacks sunlight for a long time, Kalanchoe 'White Maiden' will become leggy. The leaves turn green and spread out, the powdery bloom decreases, the spacing between leaves lengthens, and its ornamental value is greatly reduced. This phenomenon occurs mostly in indoor growing environments because glass blocks ultraviolet rays; a grow light can be used to improve it.

Care Methods

Kalanchoe 'White Maiden' is a relatively easy-care, robust variety, and disease problems are fairly rare. Its growing season is summer. The soil mix needs to use a well-draining medium; you can use 60% peat or coco coir plus about 40% porous granules (cinder, vermiculite, volcanic rock, akadama, etc.). The optimum growing temperature is about 16 degrees Celsius. In summer, when grown outdoors with strong sunlight and high temperatures, shading is needed. Water thoroughly only after the potting soil has dried out completely.

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