Kalanchoe blossfeldiana also called as Flaming Katy, Christmas kalanchoe, Florist kalanchoe, Madagascar widow's-thrill, Kalanchoe globulifera var. coccinea, is a species of the Kalanchoe genus. It is one of the prettiest and famous representatives of the succulents family. Their upright, many-branched growth habit and tolerance of low moisture conditions makes it ideal for groundcover use, rock gardens, raised planters, or containers.
Kalanchoe blossfeldiana also called as Flaming Katy, Christmas kalanchoe, Florist kalanchoe, Madagascar widow's-thrill, Kalanchoe globulifera var. coccinea, is a species of the Kalanchoe genus. It is one of the prettiest and famous representatives of the succulents family. The plant is very popular with consumers because of its long lasting flowers and attractive foliage. It normally blooms during the short days of winters and has become a popular plant from late fall to late winter.
IDENTIFY KALANCHOE BLOSSFELDIANA - FLAMING KATY PLANT
Kalanchoe blossfeldiana originates from northeastern Madagascar. The species was discovered by Perrier de la Bâthie at Mount Tsaratanana at an altitude of 2000-2200 m, and some years later, it was collected again by Humbert near the springs of the Sambirano River. It was introduced to Europe about 1930 by Robert Blossfeld, a German plant breeder from Potsdam. His original red introduction appeared 1932 and quickly became popular as a wintertime potted plant. During the 1960s and 70s, breeders developed the extensive array of colors found in the hybrids.
In 2002, a chance find in a Swedish nursery of a multi-petaled kalanchoe lead to a series being marketed under the brand name of Calandiva. Instead of the normal compliment of four petals, the new hybrids have 32 petals arranged in tight rosettes like miniature roses. They’re now available in all of the colors found in the species.
Flaming Katy is a perennial, usually many-leaved, densely branched, glabrous throughout, small- to medium-sized, rounded, succulent shrublets which can reach of between 30-45 cm (12-18 in) in height and an spread of between 10-50 cm (4-20 in) with ;green to reddish green stems that have long-petioled, spatulate, fleshy green leaves with scalloped margins that can be to 5 inches long and stays green all year round.
In late autumn to early winter, Christmas kalanchoe are topped by a tight inflorescence bearing hundreds of individual flowers in shades of red, orange, yellow, pink or white. The flowers are four-petaled and ¼-inch across with the base enclosed in a green sheath of sepals. The flowering stems progressively open flowers from the center of the inflorescence to the outer reaches, thus plants remain in bloom for six to eight weeks.
KALANCHOE BLOSSFELDIANA - FLAMING KATY PLANT CARE AND CULTURE
Cultural information should only be used as a guide, and should be to be adapted to suit you. Your physical location; where you grow your plants, how much time you have to devote to their care, and many other factors, will need to be taken into account. Only then can you decide on the cultural methods that best suit you and your plants.
Light:
Kalanchoe blossfeldiana loves and needs plenty of light to grow, if light is adequate its leaves will develop a beautiful reddish outline. During summer do not allow direct sunlight because its leaves who contain lots of water will get sun-burned. Direct sunlight from fall till early spring will not harm your plant.
You should however keep in mind that blooming of the plant is related to how much light the plant is allowed to have. Several hours in darkness will enhance flower production. In other words, if you keep the light (even artificial light) to 8-10 hours per day or less, you will help the plant produce new buds. Following bud formation you can bring the plant back to regular lighting.
Anyway, plenty of light will enhance overall growth but will reduce blooming. They tend to bloom more from fall till early spring the reason being that days are shorter during these months.
To obtain summer flowering of this species is also relatively easy. Plants just need to be covered with a light-excluding material over a period of two to three weeks to ensure light exposure is shorter than 12 lighted hours (the so-called critical day length). To prevent flowering, the short days of winter can be extended by using artificial light, but this is not really necessary. As pointed out above, the length of darkness is as important. In these short-day plants, flowering depends on whether or not a critical duration of darkness is exceeded.
Hence, flowering in winter of these plants can be prevented by a relatively short exposure to light (using lamps with a high red/far-red ratio) at a particular time during the night (usually near midnight). In fact, such night-break lighting treatments are used by commercial growers to regulate the flowering time in a number of species, including cultivars and hybrids.
Temperature:
Flaming Katy need warm temperatures. In the moderate climate it can be as easily grown indoors and outdoors but only in pots and not in the ground. Temperatures between 60 °F and 85 °F are ideal for development and blooming of the plant. It is very sensitive to cold and it takes only a few hours of near 40 °F for the plant to die. Avoid placing it near drafts or cool windowsills.
Substrate and growing media:
Kalanchoe blossfeldiana love to be alone in small pots. However, the larger the pot the larger the leaves but the size of the top will hardly affect blooming or rate of growth. Avoid planting companion plants in the same pot and repot each spring adding fresh soil.
Their root system is extremely sensitive and it would be advisable to use clay pots that allow better aeration of the roots. Ensure excellent drainage by placing pebbles at the bottom of the pot and use light soil containing lots of peat moss, perlite and sand.
Watering:
Provide plenty of water when the soil seems dry to the touch but do not overwater because the roots will rot. If you have the time, let the water sit for a while before watering so that it will get the temperature of the environment.
These plants can stand dry conditions but do not let them dry out completely because it will greatly compromise its growth. The plant will need some time to get back into shape and avoid wetting the leaves when watering. Always empty excess water from the tray and never let your pot stand in water.
Fertilizer:
Kalanchoe blossfeldiana need only very little fertilizer. Generally the plants should have a good supply when you buy them in the store, so you should not need to worry for the first few months. If you want to keep your plant past the first flower, start fertilizing only when you see new growth on the plant. Use standard pot plant fertilizer (like 20-8-20) once every second week at 1/4 to 1/2 of the recommended rate.
Rest period:
Flaming Katy are usually bought or given as a gift with flowers. So, when the flowers start to die back, cut them off and let the plant rest. After deadheading, you should reduce watering as the plant will need less water during this resting period. Soon you will notice new buds and your plant will bloom again. This change in blooming and resting cycles will go on throughout the year irrelevant to seasons.
Pests and diseases:
Kalanchoe blossfeldiana are resistant to disease and insects but if kept outdoors, could eventually be affected by aphids, scale, spider mites and nematodes. Common symptoms include apart from insects themselves on the crossing of the stems or the undersides of leaves, the presence of honeydew on leaves, creased faded leaves and webs, or leaves that look torn or bitten.
Propagation:
Flaming Katy can be grown from seed that should ideally be sown shortly after it was harvested. However, this propagation method is hardly ever used by the plant-purchasing public. Nowadays, plants in full glorious flower can be obtained at any time of the year from florist shops and plant nurseries.
Cuttings can be taken after plants have flowered, and while these will strike root readily, such plants cannot compete with the vigor of the large-scale-produced material offered for sale in the horticultural trade. New plantlets will occasionally appear at leaf margins and may be removed and potted up individually
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