Plant Spotlight: Kalanchoe
The Kalanchoe genus includes more than 100 species of plants that are native to Madagascar. They are known for their hardy, oval shaped, scallop-edged leaves; and the bright clusters of the colorful blooms are quite attractive as well. They bloom in a variety of colors and shades ranging from red and pink to orange and yellow. I think the flowers look like little starbursts, but that’s just me!
Kalanchoe blossfeldiana is the scientific name for the common Kalanchoe houseplant. It is named after Robert Blossfeld when he discovered the plant in its native tropical Madagascar. In their native habitat, the Kalanchoe grows in extremely dry temperatures, meaning they don’t need a lot of watering. They are a popular houseplant due to being drought tolerable and easy to grow. If you don’t live in a tropical or subtropical area, don’t worry! You can still grow a Kalanchoe inside as long as it has access to a natural light source.
The basics to keep your house-Kalanchoe healthy and happy can be broken down into four categories: light, water, soil, and temperature.
Light: Make sure your plant has access to a lot of bright-indirect light. But make sure to keep it away from hot windows or it can burn.
Water: In the warmer months, make sure to water your Kalanchoe every two weeks. And make sure your container has drainage holes as water backup in succulents can cause mildew. For this reason, you’ll want to wait until the soil is completely dried out before watering again.
Soil: You’ll want to use potting soil mix for houseplants with good drainage. Some people use a 50/50 mixture of potting soil and succulent and cactus soil mix. Both options are fine as long as you keep a close eye on the soil aeration.
Temperature: the rule of thumb is “if your home is comfortable to you, then your plants should be fine too.” Be mindful of direct heat or a/c blowing from the vents to prevent freezing or burning your plants.
To wrap it all up, caring for a Kalanchoe plant is not so scary after all! Maybe send a decorated Kalanchoe to your friend with the “budding” green-thumb. Or let our highly-qualified team help you find the right houseplant for your home. Come shop in-store at our convenient metro location on Rockwell and Northwest Expressway.
