Prune your Kalanchoe like this, and buds will cover the branches until you can hardly see the leaves
Kalanchoe (Kalanchoe blossfeldiana) has bright, gorgeous flowers and a long bloom period, and it is easy to keep alive, so many people like to grow a pot of it. During cultivation, it needs patient management; watering, fertilizing and so on all require mastering the right methods, and pruning is also very important. Below we introduce the pruning methods for kalanchoe. Proper pruning can keep kalanchoe blooming continuously, with more and brighter flowers!
How do you prune kalanchoe?
(1). Kalanchoe is generally pruned in spring and autumn; before flowering, prune the branches roughly before September, which can provide sufficient nutrients for kalanchoe to bloom and avoid nutrient consumption. After flowering, the spent flowers need to be pruned promptly to avoid consuming nutrients, which prepares it for the next bloom.
(2). Overly dense and overly long branches need to be pruned; generally, branches longer than 12cm need to be cut short promptly. At the same time, old, weak and diseased branches, as well as yellow and withered leaves, also need to be cut off together. Prune starting from where the branch joins the main stem, which allows the branches and leaves to be evenly distributed and well ventilated. Leaving them on will only affect the ornamental value and also consume the plant's nutrients, which is bad for flowering and plant growth.
(5). After cuttings have taken root and survived, wait until the plant has grown to about 5CM, then cut off 1 pair of new buds at the top. Depending on the growth situation, pinch-pruning is needed, which can suppress the apical dominance of kalanchoe and prevent overly vigorous growth at the top.
(3). Kalanchoe needs pruning after the flowering period; generally choose the 2nd week after the flowers fade. First prune off the old branches and spent branches directly, then cut off the flower buds that cannot bloom, otherwise they affect the plant's growth. Also prune the flowering branch off between the 1st pair of leaves and the 2nd pair of leaves. After pruning, spray water on the wounds, which helps recovery and continued growth.
(4). The height of the pruned plant needs attention; leave at least 5cm. For the 1st pruning, leave at least a height of 5CM; for normal pruning afterward, generally maintain a height of 12cm. Prune off the part of the plant above 5CM before flower buds appear. This benefits the plant's photosynthesis and can produce enough nutrients.