Marianne's Response
Kalanchoe
How to get a kalanchoe to bloom???
Posted by Marjorie Pescatore on February 24, 2023
Marianne's Response
Kalanchoe are sun loving succulents that are considered "short day" plants which means they make flower buds after experiencing shorter days and cooler weather. This means they normally flower in February or March then continue as long as buds are still unopened. You can stimulate more flowers by giving it a resting or dormant period for six to eight weeks by moving it to a darker area if it is a house plant. Outdoors the cooler weather and shorter nights should kick it into blooming mode once spring arrives. This tropical plant will die if it freezes so move it indoors for the winter if you live where winters drop below freezing. Another tip is to snip off faded blooms, old foliage that is turning yellow and old flower stems. Sometimes a light pruning and fertilizing with a slow release plant food such as Osmocote or a liquid plant food such as Miracle Grow will kick start a lazy kalanchoe into flowering.
