Kalanchoe (Flowering Kalanchoe) Cutting Propagation Methods and Detailed Growing Precautions

Kalanchoe is mostly propagated by cuttings, and there are two cutting methods: leaf cuttings and terminal bud cuttings. Generally, leaf cuttings and tissue culture are mostly used for producing mother plants, while terminal bud cuttings are mostly used for potted flower production. Below, let us take a look at the cutting propagation methods for Kalanchoe!

Kalanchoe Cutting Methods

1. Leaf cuttings: Remove a whole leaf (the larger the leaf, the better), place it in a shady spot to let the wound dry. After several hours, insert the petiole completely into a moist substrate. If the petiole is too short, part of the leaf can also be inserted into the substrate to replace the short petiole. At this stage, it must not be too wet, to avoid the leaf becoming diseased and rotting. After cutting, place it in a spot with slightly weak sunlight, with the temperature kept between 20-25°C. After 3-4 weeks, the root system begins to establish. At this point, it can be placed under full sun and given low-concentration fertilizer. After another 7-10 weeks, seedlings differentiated from callus tissue can be seen. When the seedlings grow to 15-20 cm, they can be separated from the leaf and grown independently, while the leaf can continue to produce seedlings. The separated seedlings can be used as mother plants for producing rootless cuttings.

2. Terminal bud cuttings: Insert the prepared rootless cuttings directly into a flower pot filled with substrate, keeping the substrate moist. The substrate is generally a mix of peat and perlite at a ratio of 7:3, with the substrate pH adjusted to between 5.5-6.0. Growers can adjust the ratio according to their own water quality, production variety, and production season, or add vermiculite, sand, and other soilless substrates to achieve a well-drained substrate with moderate nutrient content. In addition, the light intensity should not be too strong; keep the temperature between 20-25°C. Roots will form in about 2-3 weeks, after which it can enter production-period management. Terminal bud cuttings are generally mostly used for potted flower production. (Note: Kalanchoe is a typical long-day flowering plant. During cutting propagation, the daylight period must be longer than 12.5 hours. When propagating by cuttings in winter, supplemental lighting must be provided.)

Kalanchoe Cutting Methods

1. Cutting time: Leaf cuttings of Kalanchoe can be carried out throughout the year, but summer and autumn are best. Before cutting, first prepare a cutting bed. The cutting substrate is fine river sand or well-drained sandy loam.

2. Cutting method: On the second day after Kalanchoe cuttings are taken, spray the cuttings once with a mixed solution of 0.1% sucrose and urea. Because Kalanchoe is a succulent plant with a relatively high water content in its body, it should not be watered too frequently at ordinary times. If the substrate is too wet, it easily causes root rot. Usually, water once every 2-3 days. On rainy days, be careful to prevent rain exposure. Roots can form after about half a month, and after 3-4 weeks, small tiller buds can grow from the callus tissue at the base of the petiole. After the tiller buds emerge from the soil, spray once with a mixed solution of 0.2% potassium dihydrogen phosphate and sucrose.

3. Post-cutting management: Spray once every 10 days with 0.5% foliar nutrient solution for flowers. After one and a half months, they can be potted and transplanted. The potting soil is best as well-drained, loose, fertile sandy loam. After potting, water once every 2-3 days. In winter, if the temperature is lower than 5°C, move them indoors to overwinter.

Kalanchoe Growing Precautions

1. Suitable temperature: Kalanchoe likes a warm environment. Too cold or too hot is not good for its growth. During the day, its temperature should not exceed 30°C, while at night it should not be lower than 18°C. If the temperature is too high or too low, it will enter a dormant state, that is, stop growing. Therefore, when growing Kalanchoe, avoid exposure to direct sunlight in summer, and in winter place it indoors to prevent it from freezing.

2. Sufficient water: Kalanchoe is a drought-tolerant plant, and its water demand is relatively low. Watering only twice a week is enough. It should be noted that if you water it at noon, be sure to keep the leaves of Kalanchoe dry before nightfall.

3. Sufficient sunlight: Kalanchoe prefers to grow in an environment with sufficient sunlight. If it is kept in a shady environment for a long time, it cannot carry out normal photosynthesis and therefore cannot grow normally. At the same time, this will cause Kalanchoe to drop leaves or fail to bloom. Therefore, in general seasons, we can place it in a sunny spot, but in summer avoid exposure to direct sunlight.

4. Moderate fertilization: The growth of any plant cannot be separated from an appropriate amount of fertilizer, and Kalanchoe is no exception. Only when it has sufficient nutrients can it grow normally. During the growth period of Kalanchoe, we should fertilize it once every two weeks, which helps promote its growth needs.

Kalanchoe Cutting Propagation Methods and Kalanchoe Cutting Precautions

Kalanchoe is a low-growing clump, evergreen all year round, and can be planted in spring, summer, and autumn. Kalanchoe has a long flowering period, abundant flowers, and extremely high ornamental value. Today Xiao Qi wants to shareKalanchoe cutting propagation methodsand Kalanchoe cutting precautions.

I. Kalanchoe Cutting Propagation Methods

① Leaf cuttings: Remove a whole leaf (the larger the leaf, the better), place it in a shady spot to let the wound dry. After several hours, insert the petiole completely into a moist substrate. If the petiole is too short, part of the leaf can also be inserted into the substrate to replace the short petiole. At this stage, it must not be too wet, to avoid the leaf becoming diseased and rotting. After cutting, place it in a spot with slightly weak sunlight, with the temperature kept between 20-25°C. After 3-4 weeks, the root system begins to establish. At this point, it can be placed under full sun and given low-concentration fertilizer. After another 7-10 weeks, seedlings differentiated from callus tissue can be seen. When the seedlings grow to 15-20 cm, they can be separated from the leaf and grown independently, while the leaf can continue to produce seedlings. The separated seedlings can be used as mother plants for producing rootless cuttings.

② Terminal bud cuttings: Insert the prepared rootless cuttings directly into a flower pot filled with substrate, keep the substrate moist, and the light intensity should not be too strong. Keep the temperature between 20-25°C. Roots will form in about 2-3 weeks, after which it can enter production-period management. Terminal bud cuttings are generally mostly used for potted flower production. Kalanchoe is mostly propagated by asexual methods. In addition to cuttings, tissue culture is also often used for propagation. Cuttings can be divided into two cutting methods: leaf cuttings and terminal bud branch cuttings. Generally, leaf cuttings and tissue culture are mostly used for producing mother plants; terminal bud branch cuttings are mostly used for potted flower production. In potted flower production, rootless cuttings are generally inserted directly into the final pot in which they are to be grown, so the growing substrate and the cutting substrate are the same: a mix of peat and perlite at a ratio of 7:3, with the substrate pH adjusted to between 5.5-6.0. Growers can adjust the ratio according to their own water quality, production variety, and production season, or add vermiculite, sand, and other soilless substrates to achieve a well-drained substrate with moderate nutrient content.

Note: Kalanchoe is a typical long-day flowering plant. During cutting propagation, the daylight period must be longer than 12.5 hours. When propagating by cuttings in winter, supplemental lighting must be provided.

II. Kalanchoe Cutting Precautions

1. Use clean yellow sand, sandy loam, or nutrient soil as the medium, preferably disinfected with 0.1% potassium permanganate solution.

2. Pinch off a 6-10 cm long branch section, which must include more than two leaf base segments. When taking Kalanchoe cuttings, the cuttings should be cut as evenly in height as possible. The lower end of the cut is generally slanted, preferably about 2 mm from the lowest bud eye, which is good for rooting. The upper cut should be flat and at least 4 mm from the highest bud, to avoid the upper cut drying out and discoloring after water loss, causing cutting failure.

3. Insert Kalanchoe branches directly into the medium. An insertion depth of 1/2 to 2/3 is better. Firm the medium and water thoroughly once. Afterward, just keep the medium moist. Do not water too much or spray too much water, because it easily causes the succulent leaves and stems to rot.

4. After Kalanchoe cuttings are taken, if conditions permit, they can be covered with plastic film to keep warm and moist, which can promote rapid rooting of the branches and ensure the survival rate.

5. Newly cut Kalanchoe cuttings should avoid strong light, preferably under scattered light conditions. After cutting, do not fertilize the cuttings for the time being.

6. Kalanchoe cuttings root readily, and roots can form in about one week. After new axillary buds and leaves grow, they can be transplanted.

The above isKalanchoe cutting propagationcontent sharing. Friends who grow Kalanchoe can try cutting propagation. We hope it is helpful to everyone.

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