Proper pruning of the Kalanchoe bush. How to prune Kalanchoe after lush flowering

Kalanchoe - rich flowering plant with lush pink inflorescences. It refers to succulents. The flower is used in traditional medicine, so its cultivation is not only decorative, but also practical function. Kalanchoe is unpretentious indoor plants, but sometimes there are problems with its flowering. You can make Kalanchoe bloom at home by observing the light and watering regime, composition earthy coma, the presence or absence of pests, humidity.

After the end of flowering, you need to remove all the flowers. Cut off unnecessary shoots, giving the plant a neat look. Break off the elongated top. Watch for new shoots to appear and pinch them properly. If you do not pay attention to these aspects of caring for Kalanchoe, then the flower will take on a sloppy look and refuse to bloom.

After processing the crown at the end of the flowering period, it is necessary to wait for the formation of new shoots and their slight growth. Remove top leaves.
After the appearance of fresh shoots (up to the third pair of leaves), remove their upper parts.
With the following processes, perform the manipulations described in paragraph No. 2. The result should be a bush with a compact crown, ready to form buds.
If the plant has not bloomed before March, it is permissible to make another pinch. This will awaken the bloom.

Violation of the light regime in Kalanchoe

Kalanchoe is a sun-loving flower. But the successful growth of its green part and lush flowering depends on a clear rationing daylight hours. In winter, it should be brought closer to 12 o'clock with the help of electric light. In summer, the flower can be covered with a paper bag to remove extra light hours.

In winter, water the plant rarely, as the top layer of the earthy coma dries significantly. Frequent moisture can lead to unnecessary Kalanchoe activity during this period, which will prevent it from blooming in the spring.
In summer, the flower should be watered abundantly a couple of times a week. Check the dryness of the earth to the touch. Lack of water will cause the plant to weaken, which will prevent the formation of buds.

Kalanchoe becomes vulnerable to harmful insects from overflow. Weakens root system leaves lose turgor. It can settle spider mite, tomentum, aphid. You can save a flower by processing it by special means against pests.

Humidity for Kalanchoe

The plant is suitable for dry air. It does not need to be sprayed, as Kalanchoe can wither from this. Spraying is permissible only with excessive dryness of the air, but it should be carried out moderately.

Video about caring for Kalanchoe at home

From all of the above, it follows that in order to make Kalanchoe bloom at home, it is first of all necessary proper care behind the plant, so we recommend that you watch this video about home care

Grow beautiful bush Kalanchoe is quite simple - for this he needs to create optimal conditions for growth, so that the shoots do not stretch, and the leaves become large and healthy. And to form the crown of the plant, giving it an attractive shape, will help correct pruning. This procedure is associated with some risk, so you should familiarize yourself with the algorithm for its implementation in advance so as not to destroy the plant and not disrupt its life rhythm.

What types of Kalanchoe require pruning?

Kalanchoe is a genus of tropical succulents that includes decorative floral and decorative leafy species grown in room conditions. Blossfeld's Kalanchoe (Kalanchoe blossfeldiana), reaching half a meter in height, has received wide recognition from gardeners. The decorative value of this plant lies in the abundant long flowering. small flowers collected in inflorescences. After flowering, the plant also looks quite attractive due to the fleshy, glossy dark green leaves. A dwarf variety of this species is Kalanchoe kalandiva with racemose inflorescences.

Kalanchoe Degremont received vernacular name "living tree"due to the species unique to plants vegetative propagation- live birth. Along the edges of it leaf blades small viable layers with roots and shoots are formed, quickly rooting in the ground after falling off. This type of Kalanchoe is a typical succulent, has a colorful appearance due to the erect stem and fleshy jagged gray-green leaves, bordered by young seedlings. Like Kalanchoe Blossfeld, this species is also pruned to form a dense, branched bush.

How to form a bush?

Kalanchoe shoots (first of all, we are talking about decorative flower varieties) reach a height of up to 50 cm, but the densest low bush without bare stems translucent between the leaves is of the greatest decorative value. To form such a bush, regular pruning is required from the first stages of the plant's life. Pruning of Kalanchoe is carried out according to the "pinching" technology - they cut off the top of the shoot with two young leaves with a sharp knife or blade and. It is not recommended to use scissors for this, as they squeeze the thickness of the fleshy stem, causing severe damage to it. Sections quickly dry up and tighten. If rot begins to form on them, the affected surface should be treated with potassium permanganate or wood ash.

One of the advantages of Kalanchoe is that it is fast and easy breeding cuttings. All pruned shoots are suitable for obtaining daughter plants. If it was not possible to successfully form a bush, you can simply replace it by putting one of the cuttings in water for 1-2 weeks before the roots appear and planting the resulting plant instead of an unsuccessfully formed or too old one.

There are such types of pruning Kalanchoe at home:

initial;
preventive;
pruning after flowering.

Initial pruning

The secret of the attractive appearance of Kalanchoe lies in the correct formation of the aerial part immediately after the engraftment of the cutting or the germination of the seed. The first pinching is carried out when the plant releases 2-3 pairs of leaves. It is important to remove the apical bud of the plant, since it produces the auxin substance that keeps the lateral buds dormant. When the top is removed, the lateral buds "wake up" and begin to grow actively, Kalanchoe becomes branched.

Lateral shoots are also pinched, leaving several pairs of leaves. Sequential pruning leads to the fact that the plant forms many branched stems. Such a bush should be fed and allowed to gain vegetative mass so that it blooms in the future.

The initial pruning is the most milestone the formation of the aerial part of Kalanchoe, without which the plant will have elongated shoots and an uneven crown. Next, they carry out preventive pruning of leaves that prevent growing peduncles from straightening out or that have lost their attractiveness due to improper care.

After flowering

Flowering Kalanchoe lasts 4-6 months and stops gradually. Care after flowering involves the removal of flower stalks, but before that you need to make sure that there are no unblown buds left on them. Peduncles are removed at the very base of the stem, leaving no petioles, which can become a source of rot. The procedure is not postponed, if the inflorescences are not removed in time, Kalanchoe may not bloom next season.

Flowering depletes the plant, so faded inflorescences are removed, the soil is replenished with minerals, making fertilizer. The end of flowering is right time to remove old shoots and pinch young ones. The bush is cut to approximately 2/3 of the height, leaving a small part of the vegetative mass and forming a compact crown. Without pruning, Kalanchoe may not bloom, since new buds are laid only on the tops of young shoots. After that, the plant is transferred to a dark, cool place, providing it with peace and stopping watering. Such a "quarantine" should last 14-20 days, after which Kalanchoe again activates growth and gains vegetative mass.

After flowering, Kalanchoe kalandiva is recommended to be cut almost at the very root, leaving a few centimeters of the aerial part. New shoots develop from buds laid at the very bottom of the stem. Such pruning is mandatory, since this subspecies of Kalanchoe quickly grows after the inflorescences wither and sheds the lower leaves, losing its decorative effect.

Pinching the plant is not carried out in winter, so as not to accidentally remove the tops of the shoots, which will give rise to new inflorescences. At correct formation crowns and good care Kalanchoe bush will bloom in the middle of winter.

Pruning and pinching are not burdensome, but very important events for the formation of a flower bush. If you cut the Kalanchoe correctly and on time, this will not only help it to acquire a beautiful shape, but also heal and rejuvenate it.

The main methods of plant formation

Pruning Kalanchoe pursues, first of all, the goal of giving a neat shape to the bush, and also creates more favorable conditions for the development and growth of the flower. The juice accumulated inside the plant is distributed evenly along the stems and foliage. As a result, the plant acquires a healthier, “juicier” appearance, its resistance to diseases and attacks of insect pests increases.

decorative target pruning is also important. With the exception of a couple of species - pinnate and Degrimona - the flower is grown as a compact and attractive, luxuriantly and beautifully flowering plant. Almost all of its varieties are characterized by rapid growth of shoots. Pruning and pinching prevent the stems from randomly branching and help form Kalanchoe in a neat, rounded shape that is pleasing to the eye.

The purpose of the trimming and pinching procedures:

Before pruning or pinching, you should accurately determine the crop variety - Kalandiva or the Blossfeld variety perfectly tolerate even intensive pruning, but rare hybrids that bloom in yellow, pink, white are much more sensitive to it. An incorrectly performed procedure can destroy them, so more often only a neat pinch of the top is used for them.

pruning

This procedure is of three types:

initial - carried out immediately after young plant took root and moved to growth;
preventive - helps to form nice shape, and also contributes to the healing of the flower due to the removal of diseased and old shoots;
after flowering - this frees the bush from wilted peduncles, which become "provocateurs" of rotting stems. In addition, such pruning helps to get lush flowering next year.

When cutting a flower, not complicated, but mandatory rules must be followed. They help even a novice florist to carry out the procedure in the least painful way and with maximum benefit for the plant.

Pinching

The procedure means pinching off the tips of the shoots of the flower as they grow. This helps the bush grow dense, forms its neat shape.

The cuttings obtained after pinching are good for plant propagation - they quickly and easily take root in water or moist soil.

Features of the trimming procedure

The rules for trimming Kalanchoe at home are different for different varieties. In particular, Kalanchoe Blossfeld (has a bright red bloom) tolerates the removal of not only leaves, but also side shoots in any quantity. Even a bare "stump" of a flower will start new shoots and gradually become covered with young foliage. It also “favorably” refers to the radical pruning of Kalanchoe Kalandiva.

For work, use sharp knife, scissors, pre-disinfected with alcohol.

Pruning is carried out in the morning or in the evening to avoid bright rays of the sun on the plant. After the procedure, a lighted place is chosen for the flower, but without direct exposure to solar ultraviolet light, so that Kalanchoe does not move into rapid growth, losing its acquired shape.

Hybrid varieties, as indicated above, are not pruned. For them, you just need to pinch correctly.

Dates

The procedure of trimming and pinching is not carried out late autumn and in winter, when the flower "goes to rest." It is resumed at the end of spring, even before the Kalanchoe buds are laid.

Thus, the last time forming and preventive pruning is carried out in November, if the flower is on the windowsill near the south window, or a little later if it is located on the west or east.

First and subsequent preventive pruning

The first pruning for a young Kalanchoe is carried out immediately after the start of its growth: one or two upper leaves are removed on each shoot. Gradually, new shoots will appear in the pinching places. Subsequently, 1-3 leaves are also cut off from them. From spring to late autumn you can thus create a dense crown indoor flower attractive, neat shape.

If at the end of May Kalanchoe still does not show signs of preparation for flowering, and only “fattens”, increasing the green mass, 2-4 upper leaf plates are removed on each shoot. This stimulates not only its growth in breadth, but also the laying of new peduncles.

To prevent the development of rot, the plant is carefully examined and all damaged stems and leaf blades are removed. In addition, without preventive pruning, Kalanchoe sheds old lower leaves as it grows, exposing the trunk. Pinching off the appropriate shoots will cause them to branch, creating an even bush density.

Preventive pruning of Kalanchoe is also carried out only from spring to the end of autumn (maximum - the beginning of winter). After the first shaping procedure, the flower is not placed in the sun in order to avoid active growth shoots.

How to prune Kalanchoe after flowering

This procedure is carried out only after the complete end of flowering. Its main goal is not only to maintain the shape of the Kalanchoe bush, but also to free it from flower stalks. You do not need to pull - it is important not to let the petals dry and crumble, and the peduncles to wither. So that the process of plant decay does not begin, they are pinched all and as close as possible to their base. This will stimulate the emergence of new stems ready to bloom next year. In parallel, you can "cut" the Kalanchoe bush by removing excess leaves. Work is carried out in the morning, reducing the intensity of lighting.

Having completed the pruning of Kalanchoe after flowering, you need to give the plant a rest for one to one and a half months, since the process of bud and flower formation greatly weakens it. During the "sleep period", watering is reduced and placed in a dark and cool place. This is also important for abundant flowering in the next season.

The subtleties of the procedure for different types

The shaping methods described above are suitable for "ordinary" Kalanchoes that bloom in red. For rare hybrids with white, yellow or pink bloom they are too radical: active pinching can not only provoke a painful state of the flower, but also destroy it.

Hybrid varieties are pinched in a smaller volume, each time treating the remaining wounds on the stems with crushed activated carbon or wood ash.

How to pinch kalanchoe

Step by step order procedures will help to carry it out correctly:

as soon as the shoots of Kalanchoe move to growth, they pinch off the top two leaves;
after two new shoots appear at the pinching point, they are allowed to grow until the third pair of leaves appears and pinch again at this level.

This is repeated constantly until a bush of the required shape is formed.

Too elongated, thinned shoots can be pinched more radically - with large quantity leaves. Experienced flower growers carry out the procedure with their fingers, but for beginners it is more correct to pinch the plant with scissors or another disinfected sharp instrument. To prevent infection or bacteria, sections should be sprinkled with crushed activated carbon or powdered with ash.

Until the end of flowering, pinching Kalanchoe is not recommended.

Competent and timely formation will provide a rich and long flowering next season, will make Kalanchoe highly decorative and attractive flower, will strengthen his health and stamina.

Each time, passing by a flower shop, I looked at pretty lush green bushes, and the desire to get at least one for myself grew stronger. But then the long-awaited Kalanchoe appeared in the house: bright, with lush greenery and beautiful scarlet flowers.

And after flowering gorgeous flower has changed beyond recognition: there are no flowers anymore, the leaves are small, and the trunk is bare. Having studied the information, I came to the conclusion that everything is normal for this period.

In total, about two hundred varieties of this plant are known for growing at home. Each of which has its own characteristics, and, accordingly, you need to take care of it, having previously studied the information. Kalanchoe is no exception.

In principle, the plant is unpretentious, but some points just need to be known and tracked in order to subsequently enjoy magnificent flowering and lush greenery.

Kalanchoe belongs to the Tolstyankov family, this plant is a succulent. Its leaves are bright green in color, fleshy in texture, with a shiny glossy surface.
Flowering is expressed by apical lush inflorescences of various colors. Depending on the variety, the flowers have the structure of a bell, an elongated tube or a double inflorescence with many petals.
The shrub reaches a height of about 40 cm, but there are varieties that grow up to one meter. Recently, "gift" dwarf options have also appeared.
In addition to decorativeness, the flower has medicinal properties which have been known in folk medicine for over 200 years. The sap of the plant really helps with colds and runny nose. Therefore, Kalanchoe is grown not only for beauty, but also for good.
by the most famous varieties room option are Kalanchoe Blossfeld and Degremont.
With good care, the plant can bloom almost all year round. It is enough that the air temperature in the room does not fall below 10 degrees Celsius, the soil in the pot is constantly moderately moistened, and that the direct scorching rays of the sun do not fall on the flower.

A separate column in the rules of care is cropping. Let's study this issue in more detail.

Why do you need pruning Kalanchoe

This is compulsory procedure for given flower. The shoots of the plant grow quite quickly and actively, so if you do not form a crown, then the bush will simply lose its neat appearance. However, the flower pruning process serves additional purposes.

The upper parts of the shoots must be pinched, then the crown will be round and neat. Since the upper shoots are actively growing, pinching will cause the bush to grow in width.
Old shoots tend to become bare and shed their leaves, so they also need to be removed so that the plant has a more attractive appearance.
Those inflorescences that have faded and begun to fade also need to be cut off. So the flower will not become infected with any diseases and will subsequently bloom even more magnificently.
Anti-aging pruning is done to maintain the healthy state of the bush. If there are no old shoots, then the juice is evenly distributed over all tissues.

Varieties react differently to the pruning process. Kalanchoe Blossfeld and Kalandiva tolerate such procedures perfectly, but hybrid varieties quite painfully react to pruning. Therefore, they pinch only the upper parts of the bushes.

Types of pruning Kalanchoe

There are several steps in this process and different goals for each of them. Attention should be paid to this, because timely and competent pruning and the formation of a bush depends on how appearance plants and their health.

We form a bush correctly

This procedure has its own subtleties, which should be studied in more detail.

Before you start pruning, you need to know exactly the varietal affiliation of the plant. The features of crown formation also depend on this.
If you have just recently purchased a flower, then you should not immediately engage in pruning. The plant should take root in a new place. Pause.
In winter, when Kalanchoe is at rest, pruning is not recommended.
All instruments must be disinfected before and after procedures to prevent infection. Knife, secateurs or scissors must be sharp.
If you manually cut off the leaves and inflorescences, then Kalanchoe may begin to fade.
The pruning procedure is recommended to be carried out either in the morning or in the evening. During this period, try to determine the pot with a bush in a place so that the rays of the sun do not fall on it.
When you have trimmed, the cut points should immediately be sprinkled with crushed charcoal or activated charcoal.
In case the flower has just been transplanted, wait a few weeks with pruning so that the plant can take root and adapt.
When you see that the bush is suffering from the invasion of pests, then only after their complete destruction is it worth pruning.

First pruning

It is carried out for preventive purposes. The most suitable period for this procedure is spring. Here's what you need to know.

When the flower wakes up, after 30 days, the first pruning should be done. At this stage, several leaves on the tops of the shoots are removed.
After the procedure, it is not recommended to place the bush on the south or south - east side rooms so that it does not start to grow too actively. The view of Kalanchoe will then quickly lose its accuracy.

Sample for preventive purposes

As the plant grows quite actively, it is relevant this species pruning. There are several reasons why this procedure is necessary.

In places where shoots and leaves were previously cut, new shoots begin to form in the axils and buds. It is also necessary to remove several leaves from them so that the crown remains formed according to your idea.
Inspect the plant regularly, and immediately remove all dry or rotten parts, then Kalanchoe will be healthy and you can not be afraid of the appearance of various rots.
The lower shoots of the bush gradually shed their leaves and become bare. The view is unattractive. Therefore, the recommendation is as follows: as the flower grows, remove the bare lower branches. In this case, only fresh and juicy green young foliage will remain.
AT summer period the upper shoots begin to stretch very actively. In order for the lateral ones to grow, and the shape of the bush to be lush, then the tops should be pinched.

If the upper shoots have grown to 10 - 12 cm, then they can be safely used for reproduction. It is very simple and does not require any effort - put in water room temperature, leaves and cuttings release roots over time. You can plant a young plant in the ground.

What to do after flowering

The period of active flowering in this decorative flower begins at the end of winter and continues into the spring months. The specificity of the development of Kalanchoe is such that flower stalks are formed precisely at the time when the daylight hours are short.

In the case when the second half of the spring period has already begun, and flowering does not occur, then 3-4 top leaves are pruned on each shoot - this procedure will force the bush to develop flower stalks more actively.
No need to wait for all the branches to dry after flowering and all the petals to fall off. Prune back as soon as you see that flowering has ended. Then, at the place of the cut, young branches with leaves and new buds will immediately begin to form. It is better to remove faded shoots under the root in order to prevent the entire plant from drying out.
After the pruning of Kalanchoe after the flowering period is over, it is necessary to give him time to rest and rest. To do this, the flower is determined in a dark and cool place where there will be no sun and the air temperature does not exceed + 15 - 17 degrees Celsius. It is necessary to water very little at this time - only once every 20 days.

Basic rules of care

In order for your flower to have fresh green leaves and bloom beautifully, you need to follow a few simple rules. The main criteria to be monitored are watering, soil composition, top dressing and fertilizers.

The soil should be loose, light and nutritious. It is enough to pay when boarding equal parts humus and peat to ordinary garden soil and then you can not fertilize the flower.
The length of daylight hours for a plant should not exceed 8 - 10 hours. It is not advisable to expose the pot under straight lines. sunbeams, but light is needed, and better diffused.
Humates, herbal infusions and peat can only be applied during the period of active flowering, the rest of the time it is not necessary to feed Kalanchoe, especially do not apply nitrogen-containing substances. Otherwise, the bush will grow very quickly, and flowering may not occur.
Needed in a pot drainage layer, moderate watering of the plant, as succulents do not tolerate excessive waterlogging. This can lead to rotting of the root system and death.

Conclusion

Kalanchoe is a completely unpretentious and undemanding flower, which, subject to the simplest rules, is able to grow well and bloom for a long time.
Nitrogen-containing fertilizers, exposing the pot under the scorching sun and waterlogging the soil can destroy the plant.
In order for the flower to have a neat and well-groomed appearance, maximum attention should be paid to the formation of a bush, pruning of shoots and faded inflorescences. Do not forget about the dormant period, which the flower needs for further growth and flowering.

In general, the plant is quite unpretentious, it is not very difficult to care for it, so it is well suited to buy it as a gift. At home Kalanchoe conditions, as a rule, does not grow more than half a meter in height. You can find out how to care for Kalanchoe so that it blooms.

The plant tolerates a short period of drought quite easily., but excessive watering is dangerous for him. When watering, it is worth making sure that the earth is wet to the full depth, but excess moisture however, it shouldn't be. It is worth choosing such a frequency of watering so that the soil has time to dry out. In summer, watering should be frequent, in winter - once every two weeks.

Reference! Kalanchoe loves bright light, and in winter she needs additional source Sveta. It is better to keep Kalanchoe in a temperature not higher than +25 and not lower than +12 degrees, and in the heat of Kalanchoe it is necessary to water daily.

What is the procedure?

"Pruning" is the removal of faded buds and excess leaves. Pruning is necessary to give the plant a beautiful shape, juiciness of leaves and create favorable conditions for plant life. As a result of pruning, the juice accumulated inside the Kalanchoe is more evenly distributed throughout the plant and the flower becomes resistant to drying out and wilting.

Pruning rules depend on the type of plant:

Kalanchoe Blossfeld, a plant that blooms with red flowers, tolerate the pruning process very calmly.
With other species (most often with plants that have white and yellow flowers) you need to be extremely careful: if you prune incorrectly or remove too many leaves, it will be detrimental to these types of Kalanchoe.

If you damage the stem during pruning, you should immediately sprinkle the cut with wood ash.

Advice! For trimming Kalanchoe, it is better to use scissors with sharp blade to avoid unnecessary damage.

How and when?

In winter (more precisely, after November), cutting Kalanchoe is categorically not recommended, since the plant is at rest. You can start late spring, but at this time the plant may already bloom. You can not cut a flowering plant! If Kalanchoe has bloomed, the procedure must be postponed until the end of flowering (?).

prune the plant better in the morning(before lunch). After pruning, you need to let the plant rest, it is not recommended to water it after the procedure.

There are several types of pruning:

As soon as the plant has got into your house, you need to pinch it to form a crown and set the correct direction of growth. To do this, remove two or three extreme leaves on each branch. After that, new shoots will begin to grow.
Until you achieve the desired result, Kalanchoe should not be allowed to come into contact with direct sunlight. Sunlight will help rapid growth plants, and therefore the flower may stretch too much.
From now on, you need to periodically carry out preventive pruning to create a beautiful shape, and you need to do this until the desired result is achieved. There is no need to wait for young shoots to grow. You can start pruning (cut branches) and form Kalanchoe as soon as new leaves appear.

How to do it after flowering?

Pruning Kalanchoe after flowering is also called clearing pruning. Before you make a cleansing pruning, be sure to make sure that the plant has completely finished flowering.

The leaves in this case are cut in the same way as with preventive pruning: two or three extreme leaves on the stems.
After that, remove the bloomed buds (peduncles). The buds are removed at the very base. It is necessary to remove every single flower stalks so that the plant does not begin to rot.

Important! Pruning after flowering is necessary not only to return the plant beautiful view, but also in order to "free" it from dried buds.

How to take care in the future?

At the end of pruning, the plant must be allowed to rest.. At this time, it is necessary to reduce watering and remove the plant away from direct sunlight, that is, do not keep it on the window during the sunniest time of the day, a table near the window is much better suited, especially if the window is curtained with transparent tulle. The time for which the plant should fully recover after the pruning procedure is about a month (from 20 to 40 days).

So, if you follow all the rules (it is also advisable to consult with more experienced flower growers), you can grow in your home beautiful flower and provide him comfortable conditions for further reproduction.