Madagascar bell, flaming cat, brood leaf - the Kalanchoe is known by many names. The very lush flowering plant is considered easy to cultivate and brings a cheerful blaze of color into the house in spring and early summer. Plants with red or pink flowers are usually sold, but there are also varieties with orange or white flowers. However, getting the plant to bloom a second time isn't necessarily easy - unless you follow our tips.
Why is my Flaming Käthchen no longer blooming?
To get a Flaming Käthchen to bloom again, it needs a 6-week rest period at a maximum of 15 °C and 8-9 hours of daylight. Reduce watering and keep the plant dark in the evening. New flower buds then form.
How to make your Kalanchoe bloom again and again
Most people only grow Kalanchoe for one season and then throw it away. The reason for this is the problem that a second flowering is apparently difficult to achieve - once the Kalanchoe has bloomed, it is often difficult to persuade it to bloom again the following year. It's actually quite easy once you figure out the trick. The Flaming Cat, as the Kalanchoe is often called, is one of the short-day plants and only produces flower buds if you proceed as follows:
- The buds are formed after a rest period.
- During this, the plant should only receive a little light and water,
- It should also be as cool as possible.
- Ensure that the plant receives a maximum of eight to nine hours of light per day.
- This applies not only to natural light, but also to artificial light.
- Furthermore, the temperatures should be a maximum of 15 °C
- and the plant needs to be watered very little.
- Fertilization is completely canceled.
- Make the Kalanchoe dark from 6 p.m. in the evening until 9 a.m.
- If necessary, place a cardboard box or bucket over it
- or put the plant in a cupboard or windowless storage room.
This phase should start in November and last about six weeks. The plant then forms flower buds for the following year.
Extend the flowering period – this is how it works
Kalanchoe usually blooms between February and June. This period can be extended even further by regularly picking off the spent flower heads. However, only remove the flowers, not the entire flower shoot - this is also where the second flower forms.
Tip
If you can't get enough of Flaming Käthchen, then simply propagate it yourself - for example with the help of leaf or shoot cuttings.
