By Becky Mendez, Bexar County Master Gardener
December 2023
During the winter, garden beds are resting, and many flowering perennials are dormant. Now is a good time to add beauty and color to our homes and indoor spaces with a variety of potted plants.
While there are many perennial plants to choose from that thrive indoors, the kalanchoe succulent stands out due to its abundant blooms. Of the many different variations of the kalanchoe, the flowering type known scientifically as the Kalanchoe blossfeldiana, is very popular. This plant’s origin is in China, southern Africa, and Madagascar. It was brought to Europe in 1930 by the German seed merchant Robert Blossfeld, which is where this species gets its name.
These bushy succulent plants have thick, dark-green fleshy leaves and can grow from 8 to 15 inches tall. Their flowers, which vary in shades of red, orange, yellow, pink, and white, are arranged in dense clusters along long stalks. Although the kalanchoe can be grown outdoors, they cannot tolerate temperatures below 45 °F. As such, it is usually easier to maintain it as a houseplant, particularly in the winter months.
Growing a Kalanchoe as a Houseplant
Kalanchoes can be started from seeds, but it is easiest to start with a small kalanchoe from a nursery or from a tip or leaf cutting taken from an existing plant. If you start with a tip cutting, set aside the cutting for 2-3 days.
Then place it into a pot with pre-moistened cactus/succulent soil. Make sure the pot has an adequate drainage hole. Place your potted seedling next to a south-facing or west-facing window which receives bright, but indirect sunlight. Full sunlight may wilt or burn the kalanchoe’s leaves. The indoor temperatures for your potted plant should be at a normal room temperature.
Although succulents need less water, do not allow the soil to dry out completely between waterings. When you put your finger in the soil, if the top 2 inches of soil are dry, then it is time to water. Indoors, this means you will only need to water about every 2 or 3 weeks but be sure to regularly check the soil.
Always empty the drainage from the pot’s saucer after watering. The roots of the seedling should start growing in 2 to 3 weeks, and soon new leaves will appear.
Once you feel that your plant is established and growing actively, it will benefit from a high-nitrogen water-soluble fertilizer once per month in the spring and summer.
Keeping a Kalanchoe Blooming Year-Round
Did you know that you can coax a kalanchoe houseplant into blooming any time of year? Wintertime is the recommended time to try this, so you will have spring flowers. This method takes a little work, but it is worth it.
Here is how:
By nature, kalanchoe is photoperiodic, which means that it measures the length of the days and nights to determine when to bloom. Since the potted kalanchoe is indoors, changes in the length of day and night cycle can be simulated by placing the potted plant in a dark area, like a closet, for 14 hours each night (e.g., 6 PM to 8 AM.)
Then the kalanchoe should be returned to its location by the window for the remaining 10 hours. This adapted cycle for the kalanchoe plant should continue for at least 6 weeks.
After 6 weeks, flower buds should begin to appear among the leaves. At this point, you can remove the kalanchoe from total darkness and leave it out at night again.
Soon the kalanchoe plant will be flowering. The abundant blooms will last from two to three months!
When the flowers dry up, you can deadhead them.
Caring for Your Kalanchoe
Remember to re-pot your kalanchoe annually as doing so will encourage growth and fullness. The rule of thumb is to increase the container size by one size larger when you re-pot the plant.
Keep in mind that kalanchoe plants can attract pests. Mealybugs, aphids, and brown scale are the most common insect pests of the kalanchoe. First, isolate any plant that is infested. Control mealybugs by wiping them off with alcohol using a cotton swab.
Brown scale can be removed by gentle scraping. For aphids, simply dilute one tablespoon of liquid dish detergent in one quart of water. Spray or wipe the solution on the leaves of the plant.
Caution: Be aware that kalanchoes are poisonous for pets.