Author of the article: Anna Vladimirovna | Updated: 11/15/2021
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For such a native of a warm country in the world as Kalanchoe, in order for it to grow comfortably in your home, it requires not only normal care, but also replanting the plant according to all the rules. Find out what the features of this process are, how to prepare the ground and much more right now.
General information
This beautiful perennial herbaceous crop appeared in our country, where it came from the tropics of Australia and America, the islands of New Guinea, Madagascar, and the Moluccas. At home, this flower has a decorative value; it grows quickly and blooms in winter.
In addition to selecting a certain temperature regime, humidity level, lighting and watering, the plant needs to be replanted. It is held in the spring. Young specimens need to be replanted every year, adults - once every 2 - 3 years. It is worth taking the choice of a pot seriously - it should not only be more spacious than the existing one, but also ideally made of glazed clay. This will allow the plant roots to breathe normally. Good drainage will also be required - the layer thickness is more than 2 cm. The degree of acidity of the soil is required with a pH value of 5.5-7.0.
Optimally, this is a substrate consisting of turf and leaf soil, sand and humus, taken in equal proportions. The replanting procedure is required for Kalanchoe as its root system grows. But if you expose a crop that is blooming to it, your pet will inevitably experience severe stress. The result will be the falling of buds and prolonged difficult acclimatization. Therefore, it is advised to postpone replanting until all the flower stalks have withered and been cut off.
Classification and description of the succulent Kalanchoe pinnate
Plant classification
Scientific name: Kalanchoe pinnata Synonyms: Bryophyllum pinnatum, Cotyledon pinnata, Crassula pinnata, Verea pinnata, Vereia pinnata Common name: Kalanchoe pinnata Family: Crassulaceae Subfamily: Kalanchoeae Genus: Kalanchoe
This species is native to the Indian Ocean islands, particularly Madagascar. There, Kalanchoe pinnata is a common weed growing on river banks, various wastelands and thickets in arid and humid regions, at an altitude of 1400 meters, in the foothills and along mountain slopes.
Throughout the world, Kalanchoe pinnate is used as a medicinal plant and grown in gardens as an ornamental flower, which is why it is called the “Plant of Life” or “Miracle Leaf”. This has led to the fact that this plant can be found everywhere in Africa, Asia, and both continents of America.
The Latin epithet for this species, "pinnata", comes from the adjective pinnatus, meaning "winged" or "feathery". Also in the literature, this succulent can be found under the name Bryophyllum pinnatum . In everyday life, this flower is also often called “Livebearer”; in Western countries it is called “Cathedral Bells”.
Kalanchoe pinnate is a perennial succulent plant, has few branches, and is half a shrub. The stems are erect, ascending, 0.5–2 m long, up to 2 cm in diameter. The color of the stems can be simple, spotted or with red stripes.
Kalanchoe pinnata has thick, oval, toothed leaves that are found only at the upper end of each stem. Leaf color ranges from dark green to light green.
Each pair of leaves has two leaflets growing opposite each other, and successive sets grow in an X shape, crossing each other. The length of the sheet can vary from 5 cm to 25 cm, and the width from 2 to 7 cm.
With enough sunlight, the leaves turn light green, almost light yellow in color with dark red edges. The leaves have the amazing ability to produce shoots at their edges.
In spring, the plant blooms flowers that hang down in clusters. The flowers are bell-shaped, drooping, reddish-purple in color, opening in the form of large spreading panicles. Fruits up to 1.5 cm long.
Kalanchoe pinnata is a succulent plant distinguished by the abundance of miniature shoots that form along the edges of its leaves, a common feature with other members of its genus. The shoots fall and take root, forming many new plants in one place. Due to its rapid spread, this species is considered invasive in many regions.
How to prepare the soil
What soil is best for your pet? When transporting a plant for the purpose of its subsequent sale, it is kept in a mixture of peat and coconut fiber. Such soil for Kalanchoe is unlikely to be suitable for growing a flower at home. It will need nutritious, loose soil, the optimal composition of which should be maintained during subsequent transplants.
For Kalanchoe, soil with a certain level of acidity is ideal, which is achieved by adding lime or dolomite flour to the soil. The soil mixture for the plant must be able to pass oxygen and moisture, provide sufficient nutrition to the root system, and not contain components that are dangerous to your beauty. It is advised to purchase a soil mixture for flower crops, diluting it by a quarter with sand. You can use soil for succulents. When making your own soil mixture, garden soil, coarse sand and humus are taken in equal parts. For an ideal structure, add 1 part of a mixture of expanded clay or brick chips and crushed coal.
As practice shows, a mixture of 4 parts of purified peat with 2 parts of turf soil and 1 part of river sand is also good for the plant. Before transplanting, it is recommended to steam the soil or warm it in the oven. This procedure will help protect the plant from dangerous pathogens of fungal infections remaining in the humus. Make sure there is good drainage as well. It should be created from small expanded clay or crushed brick. After transplantation, the crop needs to be fertilized 2 times a month until the arrival of autumn. They will allow your pet to quickly adapt to the new soil composition.
Features of keeping Kalanchoe at home
In most cases, Kalanchoe is a flowering plant. But some species do not have flowers or bloom very rarely, for example, Kalanchoe tomentosa, Kalanchoe laciniata. Flowering and non-flowering Kalanchoe species require the same growing conditions.
Kalanchoe can bloom from the beginning of winter until the end of spring
Watering the plant
Watering is carried out once every three days. Allow the soil to dry out between waterings.
How to determine whether the soil is dry or not? Place your finger on one phalanx in the soil; if the ground is dry, it’s time to water the Kalanchoe.
Water more often (every other day) only in hot weather, and in winter water less often - once every 10-14 days. When watering Kalanchoe, follow the rule: it is better to underwater than to overfill. The plant is afraid of high humidity. Spraying is also not recommended.
Temperature and lighting
Favorable temperatures in summer should be 23–25°C, and in winter – 12–16°C. Kalanchoe can withstand temporary cold temperatures of up to 10–15 degrees, but will die at temperatures below 5°C. The home healer will easily tolerate the heat - during this period, water it more often (every other day). Place the plant pot on an east or southeast window .
Pruning Kalanchoe
Special attention is paid to the formation of a Kalanchoe bush. In order for Kalanchoe to have a well-groomed appearance, in the spring the elongated stems of the plant are cut in half. In the first half of summer, shoots are pinched. After flowering, remove all faded flower stalks.
Feeding Kalanchoe
The substrate in which Kalanchoe grows is fed once a month. For tropical residents, fertilizers for cacti and succulents are suitable, for example, Agricola or Florovit fertilizer, which are sold in bottles in gardening stores and have a liquid consistency. Such fertilizers are diluted with water in a certain proportion, which is indicated in the instructions. However, excess fertilizer will destroy the Kalanchoe. In winter, feeding is stopped.
Transplant instructions
All manipulations must be carried out carefully. Before starting the process, the degree of the stems and roots of the plant is inspected. Because the root system is sensitive to excessive watering and stagnation of moisture. If rot or mold is detected, these parts of the rhizome are removed, and the remaining areas are treated with crushed coal. In cases where the stem has already been damaged, the shoot should be cut below the damaged tissue.
This way, its viable part can be used as a cutting and a flower can be planted. When replanting, the crop is removed along with a lump of soil, being careful not to harm the roots. Shortly before transplanting, the plant is watered abundantly. Then the lump is carefully moved onto the drainage sprinkled with soil, filling the cavities around the flower. Compaction is carried out, leveling the surface, and mulched with a layer of small shell rock, pebbles or large wood chips.
Proper transplantation of Kalanchoe will prevent moisture loss, prevent mold from developing, and prevent falling leaves and children from coming into contact with the surface and taking root. If you neglect these recommendations, after a while you will need to replant the plant, because numerous small rosettes will appear under the adult specimen. They will not only grow, but also take away moisture and nutrients from the main bush.
Beneficial features
Kalanchoe has a number of medicinal properties, so the juice of the plant is often used in medicine to treat various diseases.
The main medicinal properties of the juice:
- Kalanchoe juice is often used as a medicine that has an anti-inflammatory effect. The juice can be used to heal damaged areas of the skin, such as burns, frostbite and ordinary wounds.
- In traditional folk medicine, the juice of the plant is used for various infections and colds.
- The flower can get rid of warts, acne and even boils, so if you have such diseases, it is recommended to use Kalanchoe juice.
Other things to consider
When replanting Kalanchoe, it should be taken into account that it is carried out only when the roots of the plant completely entwine the earthen ball. Even a novice gardener can visually determine this - roots will begin to break through the drainage holes in the pot, and the soil will become compacted and impoverished.
A new pot, where the soil for the plant will be placed, should be purchased 2 cm larger than the old one. Experts consider the optimal container size to be 12–18 cm. Here it is important to take into account the varietal characteristics of a particular flower. Flowering species do not tolerate the proximity of other crops. But if a wide pot was chosen for replanting them, then it is easy to solve the situation with the growth of the green part of the bush and its reluctance to bloom.
It will be possible to plant several young rosettes to the Kalanchoe. From felt varieties or Kalanchoe Lucia, it is possible to create entire indoor gardens that imitate the rocky desert of southern Africa or Madagascar. It is better to prefer a pot made of unglazed ceramics - in it the crop will breathe, and excess moisture will be removed from the ground naturally. Before placing the flower in a new container, it must be doused with hot water and disinfected with a solution of potassium permanganate.
If your specimen is large in size, then you do not need to shake it off the soil. It is best to transplant by transferring from an old pot to a new one. The level of the soil mixture should be 2 cm below the edge of the container. After replanting, water the flower and add more soil if necessary. If the plant does not feel well after all the manipulations are completed, it is recommended to feed it with a special fertilizer for succulents.
Pests and diseases of Kalanchoe pinnata
- Powdery mildew . Your flower may be susceptible to this disease if it is in very wet soil and has poor ventilation. Furry white spots may appear on the undersides of leaves and stems. Applying a baking soda solution several times a week will solve this problem.
- Late blight . High indoor humidity can also cause gray or brown spots to appear on the leaves and stems of your succulent. If a disease is detected, you should immediately stop moisturizing. To combat the disease, use fungicides according to the instructions on the package. Consider moving the Kalanchoe pot to more favorable conditions and change the frequency of watering.
- Pests . Kalanchoe pinnata can be attacked by insects such as mealybugs, aphids, spider mites, scale insects and other pests that feed on the foliage. To remove mealybugs, treat the succulent with mineral oil. The scale is removed with a cotton swab soaked in medical alcohol, and then be sure to treat the plant in soapy water. You can get rid of mites and aphids using a soap solution or dishwashing detergent, spraying it from a spray bottle.
Preparatory work
Before transplanting the plant, it is necessary to carry out a number of preparatory work. Prepare a substrate, some sand, drainage and water. Select the size of the pot into which the flower will be transplanted. If the pot has been used, be sure to wash it with laundry soap and disinfect it with a solution of manganese or a 2% solution of copper sulfate for a couple of hours. Wash the new container with soap and keep in boiling water for two hours. Use only when the container is completely dry so that the root structure of the plant does not begin to rot.
Common problems when growing
The most common problem is yellowing of the foliage. This can happen for several reasons:
- Insufficient lighting. If the plant doesn't get enough light, it may wilt over time.
- Insufficient humidity. This problem is especially acute in winter, during the heating season. When the air in the room is very dry, you need to humidify it or spray the plant with water.
- Excessively frequent watering. Usually this problem also occurs in winter, since in the cold season Kalanchoe needs much less water than in summer.
Folk signs
Kalanchoe is suitable for breeding for energetic and purposeful people. This is the kind of flower that will be conducive to achieving success and conquering new heights.
But for those who suffer from indecision, it would be useful to place a flowerpot with a succulent in their home. This will help you gain confidence in your abilities.
If you have problems in your family life, place a pot of flowers on the windowsill, and your feelings with your spouse will get a second wind. And for unmarried people, the fleshy leaves will help attract a groom.
If you notice that the Kalanchoe has begun to fade, you should know that damage has been caused to you or your home.
Common mistakes
The plant will bloom and quickly grow green mass if it is watered correctly
It is important to take into account the time of year, the characteristics of the variety and the age of the succulent, and the substrate used. This culture suffers less from a lack of care than from an excess
The main disorders that negatively affect Kalanchoe:
- waterlogging of soil or air;
- lack of moisture;
- watering with cold or hard water;
- non-compliance with the regime depending on the growing season.
The combination of high humidity and low temperature in the room causes rotting of the root system and above-ground parts. Externally, the problem manifests itself as putrefactive spots and an unpleasant odor from the soil substrate. These conditions are suitable for the development of fungal diseases that are difficult to cure.
With prolonged or systematic moisture deficiency, the leaf blades will decrease in size, become limp, turn yellow, and begin to fall off. Spraying the aboveground part with water from a spray bottle and systematically but moderately moistening the soil will help solve this problem.
Kalanchoe should be watered in accordance with the needs of the plant in a given period of time. The recommended frequency of the procedure is conditional; you should focus on the succulent’s need for moisture. Use soft water, room temperature or slightly warmed. In summer, spray additionally with a spray bottle, but not during flowering.
