It’s a good suggestion to make use of a moisture meter so that you’ll know when to water, and this can assist to forestall overwatering and root rot.
Temperature
Indoors or out, these vegetation additionally want nighttime temperatures of a minimum of 60°F. Daytime temperatures round 70°F are perfect, although they’ll tolerate temperatures a lot hotter.
If you happen to’re rising container kalanchoe in areas north of Zone 9 or 10 the place they aren’t hardy, watch out for the onset of cooler climate.
Ensure that to carry potted vegetation into the home or place them in a heated greenhouse earlier than temperatures dip beneath 40°F.
These are robust vegetation, however they’ll’t stand up to freezing temperatures.
Species to Choose
With over 100 species within the Kalanchoe genus, most of those will not be in cultivation. However the ones which are available to the house gardener are nonetheless fairly various.
Listed below are a couple of of the preferred varieties you may wish to go for to develop at residence:
Florist’s Kalanchoe
Ok. blossfeldiana, or florist’s kalanchoe, aka flaming katy, is thought for being one of many best varieties to develop amongst flowering houseplants.
With a max top of about 12 to 18 inches and unfold of a couple of foot, it produces clusters of flowers that could be white, yellow, orange, or pink, relying on the range.
The foliage is fleshy and inexperienced, with scalloped edges.
Keep in mind that when you can power vegetation grown indoors to bloom once more, the method takes about 12 weeks, starting the earlier fall.
You possibly can be taught extra about encouraging kalanchoe to rebloom indoors right here.
Yellow Florist’s Kalanchoe
Yellow-flowering Ok. blossfeldiana vegetation in two-and-a-half-inch containers are out there from Hirt’s Gardens through Walmart.
Or learn extra about caring for florist’s kalanchoe/flaming katy right here.
Mom of Hundreds
Ok. daigremontiana reproduces readily from each cuttings and the little plantlets that develop alongside the sides of its leaves.
It options vibrant inexperienced foliage with saw-toothed edges on fleshy stems.
It’s just like the mom of thousands and thousands kalanchoe however has bigger leaves that develop as much as eight inches lengthy.
Mom of thousands and thousands produces plantlets on the highest of its leaves, whereas mom of 1000’s might develop all of them alongside the leaf margins.
Mom of 1000’s is hardy in Zones 9 to 11. Outdoor it flowers in winter after which dies, producing bell-shaped red-orange blossoms that grasp down in a hoop from a tall stem.
Planted within the floor, it could attain three ft tall. If its pot is massive sufficient and it receives ample mild, it could additionally develop to this dimension in a container.
‘Mom of Hundreds’
Start with a extra modestly sized four-inch pot of ‘Mom of Hundreds,’ out there from Hirt’s Gardens through Walmart.
Study extra about rising mom of 1000’s right here.
Panda Plant
Ok. tomentosa, often known as panda plant, can also be known as pussy ears or chocolate soldier – to not be confused with the columbine cultivar of the identical title, or with the flame violet (Episcia cupreata) which additionally generally goes by this widespread title.
This species is valued for its fuzzy leaves – silvery with chocolate-brown piping alongside the margins – greater than its blooms.
However it could sport clusters of purple-tipped, yellow-green flowers in spring.
These sizable succulents are an acceptable accent for gardens and borders in Zones 11 to 12, they usually additionally provide indoor attraction as houseplants.
They will develop three ft tall and two or three ft huge below perfect situations.
Panda Plant
Two-inch pots of Ok. tomentosa are out there through Walmart.
Study extra about rising and caring for panda plant right here.
Upkeep
You possibly can take away any lifeless leaves or spent flowers each couple of months. You possibly can prune these vegetation to form them for those who like.
Solely lower a couple of inches from the highest of any stems which have grown lanky, and needless to say that is sometimes an indication of insufficient mild publicity.
If you happen to’re rising in containers, chances are you’ll must repot yearly or two, relying on how briskly your chosen selection grows.
Search for roots peeking out the underside via the drainage holes, and ensure to solely transfer to a pot that’s one dimension bigger.
These succulents don’t thoughts being just a little root certain, and in the event that they get a bit cramped, they only received’t develop as massive or as shortly.
Ensure that to maneuver your vegetation indoors within the winter properly forward of frost for those who dwell in a area with chilly winters, or if a uncommon chilly snap is within the forecast.
They’ll tolerate drought, however frost and freezes will kill them.
If you happen to can’t transfer the vegetation as a result of they’re rising within the floor, row cowl or plastic may assist stop an surprising freeze from claiming the vegetation.