There is a belief that the home Kalanchoebrings good luck. Most likely, this opinion is related to the useful properties of this plant. After all, the Kalanchoe juice is used not only in medicine, but also in cosmetology. And it has been used for a long time and quite successfully. In addition, this flower is deliciously beautiful, and even care for it is not difficult even for a beginner florist. Kalanchoe refers to a family of stalked plants. Its types are quite diverse: on sale it is possible to meet both miniature specimens (growing only 30 centimeters) and rather large flowers (up to 1.5 meters). Blossoms Kalanchoe more often in winter, but there are species that throw out buds twice a year. Duration of flowering is different: from 2 weeks to several months. The homeland of Kalanchoe is considered to be South Africa, and to be more precise - the island of Madagascar. It is in these parts that this plant is found everywhere. The Kalanchoe grows pretty quickly: if you create all the necessary conditions for it, then in a couple of months a small stalk stretches to 30-40 centimeters. Choosing a Kalanchoe, it is best to give preference to a plant with only buds blooming and with fleshy, "juicy" leaves.
Types of Kalanchoe
In the genus there are about 200 species of Kalanchoe. Let's look at the most popular ones.
- Kalanchoe of Blossfeld
It is considered one of the most beautiful speciesKalanchoe. Miniature room bush, reaching 45 centimeters in height. Has smooth leaves of dark green color. The edges of the leaves are wavy. Throws a lot of tubular umbrella inflorescences. The color of the Kalanchoe flowers is varied: yellow, pink, red, orange;
- Kalanchoe Kalandiva
Created artificially, the progenitor was a kindBlossfeld. In contrast to the above-described variety, it has shorter peduncles and is abundant and long (up to six months) blooming. The color of the buds of this species of Kalanchoe can be different: from white to bright red;
- Kalanchoe Mangina
A feature of this species in the form of its inflorescences. They look like miniature bells. The Kalanchoe of Mangin grows in a small bush, reaching no more than 15 centimeters in height;
- Kalanchoe Degremona
Decorative-deciduous home look. Has a straight stem and gray-green leaves of triangular shape, growing to a length of up to 10 centimeters. The edges of the leaves are jagged, separate buds (babies) are formed between the prongs, which eventually disappear and immediately take root in the soil. Does not bloom.
- Kalanchoe pinnate
This species is considered to be the most enduring. Can reach 1.5 meters in height. It has light green jagged leaves, blooms with large bells. The color of the Kalanchoe flower is quite interesting: white color turns greenish, and then - into pink. Propagates the same way as Degremona - throwing children in the ground. Kalanchoe pinnate is most often used for medicinal purposes - it is its juice that is sold in pharmacies.
Cultivation at home
Lighting Successful cultivation of Kalanchoe in many waysdepends on the lighting. Remember - this plant loves the sun in both winter and summer, so it's best to place it in a bright place. Kalanchoe is not afraid of direct sunlight, but at noon it is desirable to cover it from the summer heat. Especially if the plant "lives" on the southern window. In the warm season, the flower will feel great in the open air: on the balcony or veranda. In winter, the Kalanchoe needs a moderate temperature of air: 12-15 degrees. When the duration of the light day decreases, it is advisable to organize additional artificial lighting for the Kalanchoe (morning and evening) with fluorescent lamps. This is especially important during the flowering period: when there is a lack of sun, the leaves of the plant become pale, and the buds themselves can fall off without having time to open. Watering and top dressing In the spring and summer of Kalanchoe, regular watering is necessary. Watch for the state of the soil - once the top layer has dried, arrange the water treatment procedures. Top dressing is carried out every 8-10 days, special mineral fertilizers are used. Fodders designed for cacti or succulents are suitable here. With the onset of autumn, the watering and top dressing of the Kalanchoe is gradually reduced. In winter, the plant does not need fertilizer at all, but watering should be done once every two weeks (when the earthen will completely dry out). Kalanchoe well tolerates dry air, but periodic spraying it does not hurt. For spraying, as for irrigation, only room-temperature water of room temperature is used. Transplantation is carried out exclusively in the spring (April-May). Young Kalanchoe transplant annually. The dishes are chosen for a size larger than the previous one. Adult flowers need "resettlement" only if the soil is replaced (once every 2-3 years). When transplanting necessarily used drainage - the thickness of the layer at least 2 centimeters. The soil for Kalanchoe should be slightly acidic or neutral (pH 5.5-6.5) and consist of sand, humus, turf and leaf earth. For adult plants, you can use a commercially available soil mixture intended for succulents. For young flowers it is desirable to prepare the substrate yourself: 4 parts of turf ground, 2 parts of deciduous and one part of sand and rotted peat. For better growth, bovine manure and horny shavings are added to the mixture. Reproduction Blooming Kalanchoe reproduce in several ways. Even the old fallen leaves can be tried to root - in some cases the procedure is quite successful. If such a sheet is planted in the ground and covered with a glass jar, after a couple of weeks, it will already start the roots and begin to develop. For fast rooting, you can use a special powder - corn root. This method is also suitable for propagation by cuttings. Seeds of Kalanchoe planted in the middle of winter, for this use a light hardwood substrate. Seeds are placed on a layer of soil, sprinkled lightly on top and covered with glass, then with paper. In a room where young plants will live, the air temperature should not exceed 18 degrees. Crops must be ventilated twice a day: morning and evening. To water the Kalanchoe seedlings water is used at room temperature (preferably rain or thawed). As soon as the seedlings appear, the glass and paper are removed. Approximately in early May, the saplings will already have several leaves. At this time, they need to be transplanted into seven-centimeter pots, 3-4 pieces each. In July, when the plants are well rooted, the tops are plucked to create a beautiful shape. On a permanent residence, young Kalanchoe "move" in August. Pots are selected according to the size of the flower. Next year (at the same time), you can wait for the first flowering.
Pests and diseases
The Kalanchoe plant is resistant to diseases andpests. Usually it suffers from lack of light (in summer) - the plants are too stretched, the leaves become pale and transparent. And from excessive heat (in winter) - leaves Kalanchoe dry and fall off. When excessive watering and humidity on the stems and leaves appear brown spots or mold. The most dangerous pests for Kalanchoe are mealy moth, spider mite and scab. To combat them, special tools are used, which can be purchased at a flower shop. It is quite easy to recognize pests. The mealy worm and the scabbard leave behind whitish streaks and dots, both on stems and on buds. Spider mite literally sucks life out of Kalanchoe: leaves start to dry, and around the crown and on flowers you can see a thin, barely noticeable spider web. If you notice that after a profuse flowering Kalanchoe is bare and stretched, do not worry - this is not a disease. Here the usual pruning will help: shorten the stems and root them in the same pot. So we examined the peculiarities of growing this useful and beautiful flower. Now the choice is yours! But remember, having bought a house plant, even such unpretentious as Kalanchoe, do not forget about it! After all, without proper care, you will never get the pleasure of its flowering. We advise you to read: