What is the proper method for caring for a kalanchoe?

1. 88

   DonnaCosmatoposted 12 years ago

   What is the proper method for caring for a kalanchoe?

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2. 82

   Golfgalposted 12 years ago

   Kalanchoë, is a genus of about 125 species of tropical, succulent flowering plants in the Family Crassulaceae.  As a tropical, it will not tolerate low temperatures, so if you live in a seasonally cold area, the Kalanchoe can come inside for the winter.  It will continue to flourish inside in a southern exposure window.  Feed it monthly with fertilizer for succulents and it will continue to bloom for you.  Do not be afraid to prune it to thicken it up if the stems are too spindling. I like to repot annually to freshen the soil and increase the size of the pot or split if you can to manage the root system.  Using a fresh potting soil is important.  Plants can get buggy if left unattended and repotting keeps the numbers way down.  Take your old soil outside and give it to the garden.  Overwatering and underwatering are the culprits for plant management.  The climate in your home changes with the seasons, it becomes dry in the winter and maybe too cold in the summer if your like your AC on a low temperature.  Your tropicals like it hot and moist.  Keeping them in a window in the bathroom is good too. The humidity from showering is delightful to the tropical plants.  Put your finger in the pot, if it feels wet, do not water it until it feels dry again.  Could be every other day or daily if outside in the summer.  Could be only weekly or every 10 days in a cooler environment.  So each house will have varied micro climate that once you understand the needs of yoru plant, can be managed accordingly.

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