How to Grow Kalanchoe
Kalanchoe blossfeldiana
Kalanchoe is a popular flowering succulent prized for its clusters of long-lasting blooms in vibrant reds, pinks, oranges, and yellows. It thrives in bright indirect to direct light, requires infrequent watering (only when soil is dry), and is very forgiving of neglect. To encourage reblooming, provide 14 hours of darkness daily for 6 weeks after flowers fade. Mildly toxic to cats and dogs.
Yearly Lifecycle
Care Essentials
Feed every two weeks with a diluted balanced liquid fertiliser during spring and summer. Stop feeding entirely in autumn and winter when the plant rests.
Watch For
- Mealybug
- Powdery mildew
- Root rot from overwatering
- Aphids on flower stems
Pet Safety
Care Requirements
Light
Bright indirect to direct light
Thrives in bright light including some direct sun. A south or west-facing windowsill is ideal. Needs short days (14 hours darkness) for 6 weeks to trigger reblooming.
Watering
Infrequent, let soil dry
Water thoroughly only when the top 2-3 cm of soil is dry. Reduce to monthly in winter. Never leave water in the saucer as this causes root rot quickly.
Fertilizing
Diluted feed fortnightly, spring-summer
Feed every two weeks with a diluted balanced liquid fertiliser during spring and summer only. Stop feeding entirely in autumn and winter when the plant rests.
Pruning
Remove spent flower clusters
Cut spent flower stems back to the nearest pair of leaves to keep the plant tidy and encourage new growth. Pinch leggy stems to promote compact shape.
