Kalanchoe kalandiva: medicinal properties and features of home care. Kalanchoe kalandiva: features of care and reproduction at home

The most popular type of Kalanchoe, the Kalanchoe kalandiva flower is often found in apartments. This is unpretentious plant adapts well to room conditions, undemanding in care, long pleases the hostess with abundant flowering.

When creating a favorable microclimate, the culture will bloom for 5-6 months.

Description

The culture in question belongs to succulents. The plant is obtained by selection, does not occur in the wild. Close relatives of the flower can be found in different parts of our planet.

Kalanchoe is ornamental plant with long flowering, in the form of a compact bush with powerful shoots. Inflorescences of fleshy petals unusual shape. The height of the bush rarely exceeds 30 centimeters.

Kalanchoe develops well in winter with short daylight hours. Depending on the variety, flower petals may have a different color. The most popular shades are salmon, red, pink or yellow. The culture throws out the first inflorescences in the middle of winter, flowering lasts 5-6 months.

Advice! Careful care of the plant is necessary when it is at rest. it usually takes place in the middle of summer.

Popular varieties

In the apartment you can grow the following varieties of Kalanchoe:

• - It's a small bush. This culture is undemanding in care, forms inflorescences of different colors. The color of the petals of the Mix variety can be white, red, yellow and even orange. This flower reproduces well by cuttings, tolerates drought, as it has significant moisture reserves in its stems. The plant can be used to treat various diseases(edema, flu and colds).

• Variety Mini characterized as undemanding in the care, hardy plant. The stems of this culture are thick, rounded. The flower bush is small with numerous shoots.

Despite the limited choice, flower growers can pick up suitable grade, but it is better to place both varieties of Kalanchoe on the windowsill. With proper care, these flowers will delight their owner for a long time with beautiful, lush inflorescences, as in the photo.

Post-Purchase Care

Kalanchoe is sold in stores in small pots, so the initial task of the grower is considered to be a transplant after purchase, preferably in the near future.

To do this, you need to prepare a flowerpot and a nutrient substrate. To transplant a plant, moisten the soil, pull the culture out of the pot, wash the roots, then place the flower in the new soil.

Kalahoe calandiva (calandiva) is unpretentious in care, it develops well in any conditions. For normal growth, the flower needs sunlight, but not direct rays. In this regard, it is better to place a pot with a purchased plant on the windowsills, where the sun is not for a very long time (this east or west side of the house).

It is not recommended to place a flower in shady places or in sunny areas, southern window sills. When the flowerpot is located in the shade, the leaves of the plant will begin to fade. Under the influence of direct sunlight, burns may appear on the leaves.

Important! Kalanchoe is afraid of drafts. Under the influence of cold air, gray rot may appear on the leaves and shoots of the flower.

Kalanchoe kalandiva: home care

Crop care consists of timely watering and fertilization. In addition, it is necessary to maintain the shape of the bush, which is achieved through periodic pruning.

Watering and feeding

Water the plant in small doses warm water. With waterlogging, rotting of the roots and further death of the culture are observed.

Drying is considered a signal for subsequent moistening. earthy coma. For watering Kalanchoe, rain or settled water is used. room temperature.

Important! The wilting of the foliage indicates the need for a more intensive regime of soil moisture.

For plant nutrition, complex mineral fertilizers with a small dose of nitrogen. This trace element is needed in the growth phase.

At the flowering stage, plants are fed fertilizers with a high concentration of potassium and phosphorus. The interval between top dressings is 3-4 weeks.

The specialist talks in detail about fertilizers for Kalanchoe:

flowering period

The beginning of the formation of inflorescences in a plant falls in the middle of winter, but not all housewives know how to properly care for the culture.

It is known that additional inclusion of phytolamps in winter can prolong flowering up to 6 months. Lighting include in the morning and evening, as well as in the daytime in cloudy weather.

Important! If Kalanchoe did not form inflorescences in the right time, inspect the plant for pests or signs of disease. In case of obvious symptoms of infections, start treatment immediately.

rest period

During the transition of the plant to a state of rest, which usually occurs in summer, it is necessary to put a pot in a cool place and reduce the amount of watering.

Bright light culture during this period is contraindicated. Intense lighting will stimulate further development, which will lead to the depletion of the flower.

plant pruning

Kalanchoe kalandiva is fast growing flower, which needs periodic pruning. If you do not take appropriate measures, then the bush will increase in size and lose its decorative effect.

After flowering, the lower leaves begin to fall from it. This behavior of the flower serves as a signal for pruning.

Note! The formation of young plants involves pinching shoots, old crops with well-developed roots are cut completely.

Diseases and pests

The plant in question is almost not affected by pests, but can suffer from various diseases.

We list the main diseases of culture:

1. Late blight rot expressed as brown or brown spots on the leaves of the flower. To treat the infection, it is necessary to spray them with fungicides, reduce watering, and also change the nutrient substrate in the pot.
2. Signs of another disease gray rot can be identified by weeping spots, or ashy bloom on the leaves of the culture. The drug Fitosporin or other drugs purchased in a specialized store will help to defeat the infection.
3. ring spot expressed on the leaves of Kalanchoe in the form of rings. The disease is not curable, so infected cultures are destroyed to prevent further spread.
4. powdery mildew appears on the leaf blades of the culture in the form white coating. The disease occurs through dry indoor air. In this regard, when the heating is running, the culture must be sprayed with a spray gun.

To prevent the occurrence of diseases, it is necessary to constantly monitor the state of the crop, carry out preventive spraying, apply top dressing, and, if necessary, change the soil in the pot.

reproduction

To propagate a flower, you can use leaves and cuttings.

The vegetative parts are cut off from the mother bush and dried for 2 hours.

After that, the plants are placed in a moistened nutrient substrate for rooting or in water. So that the culture can quickly form roots, the cutting is placed in wet sand.

For propagation by seeds, the grains are poured onto the surface of pre-sifted, moistened sand and covered with glass or film. With such care the first sprouts will appear a week after sowing. A week later, the plants dive into separate containers.

Embarkation and transfer procedure

Young Kalanchoe plants under the age of 3 years are transplanted annually in early spring. For adult cultures, such operations are carried out every 4 years. During the flowering period, as well as in the resting phase, the plant is not touched.

Advice! When transplanting a crop, choose a container 2 centimeters wider than the previous one, the diameter of flower pots ranges from 12–16 cm.

Suitable soil

The soil for the flower can be made independently or bought at the store. The nutrient substrate should have neutral acidity, normal aeration.

At the bottom of the pot, drainage from expanded clay or pebbles is poured, the thickness of which is within 2 centimeters.

There are several options nutrient soil for Kalanchoe:

• Part coarse sand and 1 share of shop soil;
• Take humus, lowland peat, as well as leafy soil. These components are taken in equal amounts, mixed until a homogeneous mass.

Transplant step by step instructions

Moving a flower to a new container occurs in stages:

1. We water the Kalanchoe, wait 10-15 minutes, pull the plant along with the soil from the pot.
2. We place the culture in a new flowerpot, add fresh soil, compact the soil a little.
3. We moderately moisten the soil, transfer the plant to a shaded room, leave it for 3-4 days, then return to normal care.
4. We mulch the earth sawdust which will prevent moisture from escaping.

As mentioned above, a recently purchased plant must be transplanted immediately.

Kalanchoe Kalandiva mix - compact and unpretentious indoor plant, which during the flowering period reveals bright buds of a wide variety of colors. For home growing this succulent does not require much knowledge, so the flower can be called ideal option for newbies.

The Tolstyankovye family is known for its exotic representatives, which include Kalandiva mix (mini), obtained by crossing several varieties. Its ancestor, Kalanchoe, which came from Africa and Madagascar, is not so decorative and is significantly inferior in beauty to a cultivated hybrid.

AT favorable conditions Kalanchoe mix reaches a height of about 40 cm, but most flower growers prefer to grow it in a more compact form, constantly cutting and pinching the tops. As a result, the succulent actively bushes, grows deciduous mass and blooms very profusely.

The leaves and shoots of Kalandiva mix are fleshy and are able to accumulate moisture, so the lack of moisture for the plant is not critical. Often leaf blades grow on the tops of shoots, reaching 5 cm in length and 3 cm in width. Their standard shape is round or ovoid, and the edges are with rounded teeth located opposite each other. The color of the leaves is rich dark green, with sufficient nutrition and maintenance in a suitable microclimate, a glossy sheen appears.

Kalanchoe mix buds form into racemose inflorescences, which are located at the top of the bush. Flowers are always double, small diameter (about 1 cm), bright and expressive shades of white, pink, red, purple or orange.

How to care at home

Although caring for a Kalanchoe mini mix is ​​simple, some rules still need to be followed. Picking up proper lighting, temperature, watering, humidity and periodically feeding the bush, you can achieve high-quality flowering. Also, do not forget about pruning - it helps to form a beautiful and compact crown.

Temperature and lighting

Since Kalandiva is a plant of short daylight hours, organizing suitable lighting is simply necessary. In order for the plant to lay flower buds, the light must fall on it for only 8-10 hours. This is easy to achieve - just cover the succulent with a paper cap, take it to a darkened room or put it in a closet.

Place the mini Kalanchoe pot on a windowsill with intense lighting. South and east windows are suitable, while at the peak of the heat, do not forget to shade the bush from direct sunlight. Otherwise, burns will appear on the leaves in the form of brown and yellow spots, which will significantly spoil decorative look flower.

In winter, when the daylight hours are too short, with proper care, additional artificial lighting is organized. You can use both phytolamps and LED or fluorescent lamps (glow temperature - 6500 K).

Insufficient lighting manifests itself in the form of stretching shoots of Kalanchoe, smaller leaves, as well as deterioration or cessation of flowering. In this case, move the pot closer to the light source.

AT summer season maximum allowable temperature The content of Kalanchoe mix is ​​considered + 27-28 degrees, in winter the mark drops to + 10-15. If you want to stimulate flowering, leave the bush in a cool room, where the temperature range ranges from + 14-16 degrees - in such conditions, flower buds will be laid as intensively as possible.

Neighborhood with heating appliances, a fireplace and other sources of heat negatively affects the health of Kalandiva. The same can be said about drafts, prolonged exposure to which can provoke the death of a succulent.

Kalanchoe mini does not tolerate waterlogging and soil flooding, so watering the plant is carried out only as needed. To avoid common mistakes, take into account a few tips:

• In summer, the soil must be moistened 1 time in 5-6 days, in winter - less often, 1 time in 10-14 days;
• Focus on the condition of the substrate and water after the topsoil dries out;
• Excess liquid should not stagnate in the pan, so always drain the water half an hour after watering;
• Water should be used at room temperature, settled until a precipitate forms;
• Water around the edge of the pot to keep moisture out of parts of the plant.

Since the succulent feels comfortable with the usual humidity of city apartments, it is not necessary to spray it additionally. If dust or other dirt has accumulated on the leaves, wipe them with important cotton.

Fertilization

It is necessary to fertilize Kalanchoe mix not just “for show” - nutrients, minerals, micro and macro elements play important role in the development of the succulent and affect the quality of its flowering. You can use special formulations for succulents and cacti, or purchase universal top dressing for indoor flowering plants. In the latter case, it is important to reduce the fertilizer dosage by 2-3 times recommended on the package in order to exclude the possibility of overfeeding.

When fertilizing, be sure to consider the time of year:

• In summer, feed 1 time in 14 days;
• In winter - once a month.

The soil must be moist - only in this case, burns do not form on the roots. To do this, use fertilizer immediately after watering or dissolve in water.

crown pruning

It is necessary to trim the Kalanchoe mix to preserve its decorative effect, since the shoots of this variety grow quite quickly. As a result, a situation often arises when only the tops of the branches remain leafy, which does not look very aesthetically pleasing. Simple manipulations help to "keep" the succulent in a compact size:

• Elongated shoots are shortened by half their length;
• Branches that grow intensively are cut by 1/3;
• The tops of young plants are pinched to stimulate branching;
• All superfluous and growing shoots inside the bush are completely removed.

Do not forget to cut the flower stalks when the budding period is over - this is an effective prevention against fungal diseases and pests. Use only sharp, disinfected tools.

Transplant: the main nuances

Kalandiva needs to be transplanted not only immediately after purchase - once every 2-3 years it is recommended to “relocate” it to new pot by replacing the substrate. Suitable soil for succulents or cacti, as well as a mixture of leafy soil, sand, turf and humus, mixed in equal proportions.

When transplanting, it is important to follow a few basic rules:

• The pot should be 2-3 cm larger than the previous container;
• If there are no drainage holes at the bottom of the flowerpot, make them yourself;
• The thickness of the drainage (expanded clay) must be at least 2 cm;
• The transplanted plant needs to be shaded for 3 days and only then returned to permanent place.

Feeding for several months after transplantation is not carried out - in fresh soil it is enough nutrients for the full development of Kalanchoe mix.

Kalanchoe kalandiva is a very popular ornamental plant at home. It's unpretentious room view indoor flower that does not require special care, but is distinguished by the attractiveness of flowering and a fairly compact size.

Botanical description of Kalanchoe kalandiva

Kalanchoe Kalandiva is a low plant from the Crassulaceae family. Max Height the aerial part of the ornamental culture, subject to the cultivation technology, does not exceed 40 cm. This indoor flower belongs to the category of succulent plants and has a thick naked and fleshy stem part. The foliage is round or ovoid in shape, characterized by short petioles and opposite arrangement.

The leaf blades have an attractive dark green color and have rounded denticles. The average length of a leaf plate of an adult plant is approximately 50 mm with a width of 30 mm. blooms decorative culture effectively, within six months. Flowers are erect, terry type. The average diameter of the flower does not exceed one centimeter. The flowers at the top of the aerial part are collected in racemose-like inflorescences. Depending on the varietal characteristics, the corolla can have a wide variety of colors, including yellow, red, purple, orange or White color.

Kalanchoe kalandiva mix and mini: features and characteristics

Kalanchoe kalandiva mini is a variety of Kalanchoe Blossfeld. Kalanchoe Mix is a succulent plant that was bred using Kalanchoe Kalandiva Mini, and in essence is its hybrid form. The homeland of the parent species is the territory of Africa, South America and Asia.

Breeding work has allowed the Mix variety to receive some distinctive characteristics maternal culture. The main difference is the significant duration of annual flowering. Most common pink color inflorescences and white flowering culture.

How to transplant Kalanchoe (video)

Medicinal properties of the plant and rules of use

In indoor floriculture, our compatriots are accustomed to calling Kalanchoe the "tree of life" or "room ginseng", which is due to the healing properties of the vegetable juice contained in the fleshy foliage. Plant raw materials are successfully used in gynecology and dentistry, and also have a stimulating effect on the regeneration of damaged or injured tissues.

The medicinal properties of Kalanchoe can be used to prevent and treat the following diseases and conditions:

• cracks in the nipples breastfeeding;
• tamponade in the treatment of erosive changes in the cervix;
• severe burns;
• long time non-healing bedsores;
• trophic ulcers of various origins;
• frostbite varying degrees;
• chronic and acute tonsillitis;

• exacerbation of stomatitis and periodontal disease;
• chronic and catarrhal runny nose;
• migraines and headaches;
• choking cough;
• diseases of the stomach;
• warts and acne;
• furunculosis;
• flu and colds;
• toothache.

In the presence of a catarrhal runny nose, twice a day, you need to instill the juice of the plant, drip a couple of drops into each nostril. Acute respiratory viral diseases and influenza, accompanied by inflammatory processes in the throat, can be cured with Kalanchoe juice and water mixed in a ratio of 1:1. In case of psoriasis, diseased areas of the skin should be treated with mixtures based on 15 g of Kalanchoe juice, 45 g of eucalyptus oil and 15 g of honey, infused for three days.

Based on the foliage of Kalanchoe, you can make an alcohol tincture. To prepare the tincture, you need to grind the leaves and fill them with a container of 500 ml, after which the plant material is poured with vodka. You need to insist on raw materials for a week in a dark place, then strain. Alcohol tincture is used in the treatment of varicose veins and mastopathy, as well as pustules and some diseases of the oral cavity.

How to care for Kalanchoe (video)

Kalanchoe kalandiva: home care technology

Caring for a home ornamental plant in conditions indoor floriculture not difficult at all. The main thing is to replant the crop in a timely and correct manner, as well as to carry out standard measures for watering, fertilizing and pruning.

Optimal growing conditions

Important to remember, that prolonged exposure to direct sunlight can adversely affect decorative qualities, so it is desirable to shade the aerial part of the perennial from the midday sun. Kalanchoe is very well adapted for growing on bright windows of the western and eastern directions.

The perennial grows quite well and develops in almost any temperature regime, but the optimum temperature is 20-26 ° C. Along with other succulent plants, Kalanchoe is not too demanding on certain indicators of air humidity, and for preventive and hygienic purposes, a houseplant should be subjected to periodic removal of dust and dirt in the shower. It is also not recommended to install flower pot with perennial culture near heating appliances.

Watering rules

Beautifully blooming and at the same time treatment plant, due to its botanical features, it is able to accumulate moisture in the foliage. It is thanks to this feature that Kalanchoe endures forced drought for some time quite easily and without consequences for its condition and external data.

But bays and waterlogging of the soil substrate can really become disastrous, so irrigation measures must be carried out very competently, only as the earthen clod dries out enough in the planting tank. In winter, watering should be rare, about a couple of times a month.

Soil requirements and top dressing

Along with others ornamental perennials, Kalanchoe kalandiva periodically needs to be fertilized. For the purpose of top dressing, complex full-fledged fertilizers for succulent plants or cacti are most often used. Fertilizers should be diluted in half the dose and applied with irrigation measures twice a month.

Equally important when growing succulents is timely transplantation. To properly transplant a culture, you need to remember that it is best suited for this ready substrates for cacti and succulents or self-made mixtures based on peat, soddy soil, and medium-grained sand. The culture must be provided with good drainage.

Technology and timing of pruning

Timely and competent pruning is important condition cultivation of any flowering varieties. The perennial should be cut drastically, removing the flower stalks as low as possible. All well developed, strong and completely healthy young shoots after pruning can be used for further rooting. AT summer period it is recommended to pinch the apical part in order to form side shoots and prevent stretching.

Breeding rules

Reproduction of Kalanchoe kalandiva can be carried out by several simple ways, but most often in conditions indoor cultivation domestic flower growers use stem cuttings. In this case, the parent plant is required to very carefully cut off a fully matured shoot, after which rooting is carried out. planting material in well-moistened sand.

The rooted cutting must be covered with a glass in order to create greenhouse conditions. root system It is formed quickly enough, and the rooting process takes one and a half weeks. A decorative culture blooms after planting in a permanent place in about six months.

More in a complicated way propagation is cuttings leaf. seed propagation- the event is risky and is often accompanied by the absence of varietal properties of the parent plant in the resulting seedlings.

Reasons for the lack of flowering and other problems during cultivation

Winter waterlogging of the soil often causes rot damage to the plant, so you need to follow the irrigation regime at the dormant stage and carry out preventive treatments with fungicides.

Of the pests, the most dangerous are mealybugs, which are located on the foliage and stems. For the fight, mechanical cleaning of the aerial part with an alcohol tincture of garlic or calendula is used. Quite often, novice flower growers are faced with a lack of flowering. The reason for this situation is a violation of care, as well as a lack of sunlight and incorrect temperature conditions.

How Kalanchoe breeds (video)

Kalanchoe Kalandiva is not just a beautifully flowering and highly unpretentious decorative culture that requires minimum care, but also a variety that is almost ideally suited for growing in indoor floriculture conditions.

How to combine in one plant decorative properties and a whole range of useful ones, so that it is unpretentious and pleasing to the eye?

It's simple - just grow Kalanchoe on your windowsill, home care for which is not difficult.

How to water, transplant and fertilize different types this useful plant so that it often pleases with its colors, you will learn from this article.

Kalanchoe belongs to the Crassulaceae family. Almost 200 species of this succulent are known, whose homeland is Madagascar, South and Southeast Asia and South Africa.

In wildlife, there are different types of Kalanchoe: and quite small sizes- only a few centimeters in height, and very impressive semi-shrubs 3-4 meters high.

Common types

At home, Kalanchoe kalandiva and Kalanchoe mix are grown more often than others.

Kalanchoe kalandiva

Kalanchoe kalandiva or mini is a variety of Kalanchoe Blossfeld. The fleshy castings, characteristic of all species, are suitable for use in therapeutic purposes, and short peduncles add decorative effect to it.

This is a small plant, with a lush cap of small four-petal pink, orange, white or purple flowers looks cute and decorates any window sill.

Kalanchoe kalandiva can bloom for up to six months, which is especially pleasant in cold months, poor in bright colors.

Kalanchoe mix

Kalanchoe mix is ​​also a small plant with bushes of neat variegated flowers on short peduncles. It looks especially good in the amount of several pieces in small pots.

A huge plus of this plant is that it blooms almost all year round and will make you happy bright colors both winter and early spring.

How to arrange such a wonderful flower bed without any hassle?

Kalanchoe home care

In addition to the fact that Kalanchoe is an unpretentious plant in itself, its different types also do not differ among themselves in care - what is applicable to one is also true in relation to another.

Temperature

The plant feels equally comfortable both at 30 ° C and at 15 ° C, however, sudden changes are contraindicated for it. The most suitable temperature for flowering is the standard room temperature, 20-25 degrees.

If during the year there will be a seasonal drop of 6-8 ° C, this will serve as an additional hardening and stimulate the plant to bloom.

Kalanchoe mix and mini can and should be ventilated in summer. At home, they can be put on the balcony if it is not glazed or hung from the back of the windowsill. To do this, it is better to choose western or eastern windows, where direct sunlight does not fall, so as not to burn the plant.

In the autumn-winter period, we put Kalanchoe on the southern windowsill.

Watering

This is very important aspect, and, like any succulent, Kalanchoe mini or mix at home is better to underfill than overfill. A lot of moisture accumulates in the leaves, so too much of it in the soil or pallet can cause the plant to become sick.

But it is not worth completely stopping watering during the active growing season. An interval of once a week can only be considered optimal with daily spraying, especially when it comes to the warm season.

Excessive dryness can lead to the loss of leaves by the plant. It is from them that we can easily determine the need for watering: if they are soft, then it is time to moisten the soil, if they are shiny and elastic, then there is still enough moisture.

The main thing to remember is that you can only water the plant with water that has been separated for at least a day. Hard water from the tap or even fresh filtered water will only hurt.

Humidity

Kalanchoe kalandiva does not make any special requirements for air. It is enough not to put a planter with a flower in the immediate vicinity of heating appliances in winter and avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight in summer so that the plant feels comfortable.

From time to time we can rinse the Kalanchoe under a cool shower, washing off the dust and refreshing the leaves.

50 - 60% humidity is considered the maximum for this type of plant. More content moisture can lead to the appearance of fungus, rotting of the roots and damage to the leaves.

Priming

Kalanchoe mix and kalandiva prefer loose, light soil designed for cacti and succulents.

It is better to choose a soil with a neutral acid-base balance of pH 5.5.

If there is a desire, we prepare the soil ourselves. To do this, mix 4 parts of turf, 1 - peat, 2 - sheet earth and 1 part of sand. Add a little humus and mix.

Blooming Kalanchoe, home care

A flowering plant requires a little more attention, especially if the period coincided with the cold season.

During flowering, conventional lighting may not be enough, so we extend the daylight hours to 12 hours with nearby lamps daylight- this will provide a longer and more abundant flowering.

In addition, the flower will be grateful to us for feeding. We add special formulations for succulents to the soil when watering 2 times a month. We dilute them in water in half the dosage.

After the plant has completely faded, we cut off the grown flower stalks and remove the Kalanchoe in a cool shaded place. The temperature should be 14-16°C. So that the cut does not rot, it is necessary to produce it very sharp knife and as low as possible.

Now the plant should rest for at least two months. During the dormant period, watering should be practically stopped. The break can be from 1 to 2 months, depending on the state.

To stimulate the calandiva or mix to further growth and flowering, we begin to gradually reaccustom the plant to bright light, and add mineral fertilizers to the water. The awakening period usually occurs at the beginning of summer.

Reproduction and transplantation of Kalanchoe at home

Propagated Kalanchoe kalandiva and mix at home is very simple - cuttings and leaves.

To do this, it is enough to cut off a leaf or stalk, put it in a jar of settled water and, after the roots appear, plant it in the ground. Already in six months - a year of proper care, the grown flower will delight us with its lush color.

The plant begins to need a transplant when it grows out of an old planter, this happens about a year after the first planting. The new "house" should be 4-5 cm larger in diameter. It is best to perform the procedure in the middle of spring.

We prepare the soil similar to that to which the plant is accustomed, carefully remove it from the old pot and wash the roots well from the soil. Then we transfer and fill with fresh earth.

Until the adaptation period has passed - about a week, it is better not to water the plant.

As you can see, caring for Kalanchoe at home is not difficult! This unpretentious ornamental plant, with a minimum of effort on our part, will decorate the windowsill with beautiful bright flowers.

Your decision to purchase this flower will allow you to admire a living flower bed for more than one month. I wish you happy shopping and beautiful and long flowering to your favorites!

Always with you Elena Skopich

Hairy or hairless succulent plants of the genus Kalanchoe range in size from a few centimeters up to three or four meters in height. Among them there are both epiphytes and creepers. In many of them, buds form in the inflorescences and on the leaves, and new plants develop from them.

The genus Kalanchoe has more than two hundred varieties. Its representatives are common in tropical Australian regions, and on the islands of Papua New Guinea or the Moluccas, there are several subspecies in Madagascar, in subtropical and tropical regions of Asia, one in tropical America.

Part of the Crassulaceae family, Kalanchoe Kalandiva is a fleshy upright perennial plant. This succulent is from South Africa blooms profusely in winter. Beautifully flowering and unpretentious, the Kalanchoe variety Kalandiva adapts perfectly at home, blooms profusely even in winter.

Description of the species

This succulent grows in a tropical rain forest on humus soil. It has ovate leaves, reaching up to seven centimeters in length and up to four in width, green, bare, with reddish edges. The flowers are numerous, they are collected in umbellate inflorescences and are up to one centimeter in diameter. They are mostly red or yellow in color. This species was bred from Kalanchoe Blossfeld. Fanciful ampelous and garden forms also originated from him.

Outwardly, the plant looks like a small bush that attracts attention with its bright and at the same time delicate flowers, collected in neat "umbrellas". Despite the fact that his homeland is distant Madagascar, it grows well at home. A flower for the lazy - this is what Kalanchoe Kalandiva is often called.

How to care

It is easy to care for him, while flowering can please for half a year. Despite the unpretentiousness of this pet, that he does not require much attention, some secrets for him successful cultivation everything is just like that. Thanks to its "African roots", Kalanchoe Kalandiva - photophilous plant. An excellent place to grow it is a well-lit window sill. But here the southern windows, where direct sunlight is very aggressive, it is still better to beware. Twenty degrees is considered optimal for keeping this succulent, however, the flower can easily withstand lower or higher temperatures.

Watering

This plant must be moistened in small portions, watering as the topsoil dries. It is interesting that Kalanchoe Kalandiva, whose photo indicates the fleshiness of its leaves, stores all the water in them. Therefore, to determine the need for watering, it is enough just to touch it. When a plant needs moisture, its leaves are soft and not springy, as in the case of saturation.

In addition, oddly enough, the flower does not need to be sprayed at all: it tolerates dry air much better. Similarly, Kalanchoe Kalandiva mix is ​​rather indifferent to the composition of the soil.

Transfer

Kalanchoe does not like frequent soil changes. It must be transplanted no more than once a year, exclusively in early spring. It is possible to move plants of this variety into new pots only after full final flowering. In this case, a prerequisite is a thorough washing of the roots from the old soil.

Another feature: Kalanchoe Kalandiva requires a transplant immediately after purchase. The reason is that the shop soil is mostly peat, which is not quite suitable for this plant. As advised experienced growers, if for some reason it becomes necessary to transplant it during the period abundant flowering, for example, after a purchase, when you don’t want to injure a plant or deprive it of an abundant cap of delicate and bright “umbrellas”, you should use the transshipment method so that the pet does not experience much stress.

reproduction

You can get offspring from Kalanchoe by cuttings - leaf or stem, as well as seeds or babies. As a rule, even having rooted falling and already old leaves, there is a chance to get a young plant. If in June they are planted in wet sand, covered with a glass, roots will soon form. Children or brood buds are planted in fertile soil substrates mixed with sand.

Seed propagation can be done from January to March. In this case, there is no need to cover the sowing with earth. Seeds only need to be slightly pressed down, covered with glass and shaded with paper.

Land for sowing is taken light, deciduous. The temperature in the room should not be below eighteen degrees. Crops need to be ventilated daily, if necessary - twice, turning the glass on the other side.

In this case, you need to ensure that the earth does not dry out. Need to water the substrate room water. After the appearance of the first shoots, the glass with paper is removed. After a month, the seedlings must be dived into boxes and covered for a couple of days. plastic wrap. When the plants have several leaves, they need to be transplanted into pots, optimal size which are seven centimeters in diameter.

The soil

Nutrient soil mixture for Kalanchoe Kalandiva mix is ​​made up of four parts of deciduous, two soddy soil, one each of compost and sand. In young rooted plants, the top is pinched. In July, the procedure must be repeated to form a bush, which develops, as a rule, four or five shoots.

Transshipment is done in August, when Kalanchoe Kalandiva mix, which is fairly easy to care for, will develop well and its roots will entwine the entire earthen clod. Two plants can be planted in a pot. During transshipment, the earth mixture is made from four parts of compost, two humus and one each of sand and hardwood.

How to prune a plant

Many people acquire plants during their active flowering period, so they do not care about appearance. Just like other indoor dwellers, the descendant of Kalanchoe Blossfeld-Kalandiva also begins to lose its beautiful appearance after flowering. At this time, it is required to remove all wilted inflorescences and cut off its yellowing peduncle down to the leaves.

After some time, the plant will have numerous side shoots, and it itself will begin to stretch strongly, losing its compactness and nice shape. And to avoid this, the plant must be cut, cuttings.

All of its two-leaf side shoots can be rooted in moist soil or even in water. They will make excellent healthy offspring. The faded Kalanchoe must be formed by pinching the top of the head.

How to make Kalanchoe Kalandiva bloom

After the first flowering, the plant will need a period of rest. At this time, watering should be relatively light watering. It must be remembered that the kidneys of Kalanchoe are laid only in the season of short daylight hours. Of course, such conditions can be created artificially: within a month, you can place it in a place where it is possible to darken. However, the amount of sunlight should not be limited. In addition, Kalanchoe must be pinched for flowering. The last time it is done in November, after which the buds necessarily appear in winter. Otherwise, in March, you need to repeat the procedure again. At the same time, pinched tops can not be thrown away, but rooted, so that new plants also turn out of them.

fertilizers

After the Kalanchoe rests, it must be rearranged to its usual place and fed once a month. For this, fertilizers for succulents and cacti are suitable. During the flowering period, the plant can also be fertilized with top dressing intended for flowering plants.

Diseases and pests

Excessive watering, especially in winter, when low temperature, as well as poor lighting, lead to the stretching of the plant, while its leaves turn pale and shrink. Its stem may also begin to rot, and the plant will die. In this case, you need to root the top, no longer water the plant for a while, putting it in a bright sunny place. On the other hand, the lack of moisture in summer months leads to dry brown spots on the leaves and to their abscission. In this case, the plant needs to be watered as the earthen coma dries up, but not zealously.

With a viral or bacterial lesion, weeping appears on Kalanchoe brown spots. In this case, the affected greens must be removed, and the plant itself must be treated with a fungicide. In this case, you need to water carefully, do not spray.
Kalanchoe is very rarely affected by pests, but sometimes aphids appear on it, which live on the underside of the leaves, feeding on the sap of the plant. As a result, the leaves dry up and curl up. You need to fight aphids with ready-made preparations sold in stores or with a solution of nicotine sulfate diluted in soapy water at a ratio of one gram per liter. After a day, Kalanchoe should be thoroughly washed, covering the soil with plastic wrap.