How to Grow Kalanchoe? A Step-by-Step Guide to Cultivation Methods and Precautions
Kalanchoe is also known as the longevity flower, dwarf kalanchoe, and Christmas kalanchoe. Its natural flowering period usually begins in late December and can last until early May of the following year, which is how it got the name "longevity flower." So how do you grow kalanchoe? Below is an introduction to the cultivation methods and precautions for kalanchoe, a step-by-step guide to growing it.
I. Cultivation Methods for Kalanchoe
1. Choose a suitable soil
Kalanchoe has relatively high requirements for soil, so during cultivation we should choose, as far as possible, a nutrient soil suitable for kalanchoe growth. Only in this way can we promote the growth of kalanchoe and ensure the quality of the flowers it produces. We can evenly mix leaf mold and river sand together, then add an appropriate amount of bone meal to make a kalanchoe fertilizer. It is both economical and rich in nutrients.
2. Ensure sufficient light
Kalanchoe likes plenty of sunlight. If grown at home, it should be placed in a spot with direct sunlight throughout all four seasons, so as to avoid excessive lack of light causing loss of water and affecting growth. In spring and autumn, kalanchoe can be placed in the sun for photosynthesis. In the scorching summer of the north, where light intensity is high and leaf color easily turns yellow, it is advisable to provide appropriate shading around midday, or place it in a semi-shaded spot indoors, but attention must be paid to ventilation and cooling.
II. Precautions for Growing Kalanchoe
1. Watering
Kalanchoe is a succulent plant, so its water requirements during growth are not very high. Although kalanchoe is relatively drought-tolerant, it cannot be short of water during the growing season. Normally, water once every 2 to 3 days. During the vegetative growth stage, the soil must be kept moist, with timely and appropriate watering. In summer, when kalanchoe is in an environment of high heat, strong sunlight, high evaporation, and dry air, water once every evening. In the cold winter, kalanchoe enters its dormant period, so watering should be controlled, or even stopped for a short time.
2. Shading
In the scorching summer of the north, light intensity is high and leaf color easily turns yellow, so around midday it is advisable to properly shade kalanchoe, or place it in a semi-shaded spot indoors, but attention must be paid to ventilation and cooling.
3. Temperature
Kalanchoe is a short-day flowering plant, so the ambient temperature should be maintained above 12°C. If the temperature is too low, the leaf edges will turn red and flowering will be delayed. Flower buds can only differentiate at a temperature of 20°C and 8 hours of sunlight. After the flower buds have formed, according to the plant's light requirements for flowering, in summer let it receive scattered light before 10 a.m. and after 4 p.m. each day, avoid strong sunlight during the midday period, use a shade net to block 40% of the light, and place it under a fluorescent lamp at night as much as possible. In this way, it can continue to bloom in summer as well.
4. Repotting
Kalanchoe is generally repotted once from September to October. Use a potting soil mixed with peat, vermiculite, and garden soil at a ratio of 2:2:1. After repotting, gradually increase light and begin applying fertilizer.
5. Light
Kalanchoe has certain requirements for sunlight exposure; it is not that the longer the light duration, the better. Kalanchoe needs to receive even sunlight, so every so often we should move the position of the pot to ensure the duration of sunlight exposure. If light is insufficient for a long time, it will not only cause the branches to become slender and the leaves to become thin and small, affecting the beauty of the plant's shape, but also reduce the number of flowers and cause leaves to drop in large numbers.
The above is all about the cultivation methods and precautions for kalanchoe. Pay attention to these points, and your kalanchoe will grow very lushly!