I know I have shared these colorful plants with you before, but they just outdid themselves this year, so I had no choice-had to sing their praises again.
Kalanchoe blossfeldiana is native to Madagascar and is what’s known as a glabrous succulent; that is, it has a lack of hair or fuzz on its leaves, which are smooth and glossy. The leaves are thick and waxy, different to many succulents whose leaves are thick and fleshy but not shiny. The blooms come in clusters and the plant will bloom more than once a year if you deadhead the spent blooms at the end of the bloom stem right on top of a large pair of leaves.
I find that they do better with a bit more watering, especially as the buds are forming. The blooms last a long time with regular watering while they are blooming. These started this show of color February 12 and have continued to add more flowers and are still going strong.
This variety of kalanchoe is a popular plant in florist shops that I suspect are enjoyed as a gift until the flowers fade, and then the plant probably gets thrown away. And that is too bad, because this little plant will serve you well all year with some pruning, sunlight, and attention. In warmer climates they are many times planted in the ground and in some cases act like a perennial that comes back next year. Hybrids come in yellow, gold, white, many shades of pink, orange-reds, and flowers with single and double petals.
Even when not blooming, they will make a more compact, fuller plant with pruning from time to time. New plants can also be started with cuttings from the parent plant. As with all succulents, let the cutting dry out for a day before planting.
So if you receive one as a gift or buy one, don’t give up on it after the blooms are gone. It can deliver years of bright pleasure, even in the dead of winter.
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