The Kalanchoe, which comes from Madagascar and the tropical regions of Asia and Africa, is one of the most grateful houseplants. It requires very little care and yet blooms every year. Like many potted plants, you will have to cut back the Kalanchoe occasionally, either to clean up dead flowers or to keep excessive growth under control. Plants that are bare in the lower area are stimulated to sprout new growth and grow back densely and lushly.
How do I cut a Kalanchoe correctly?
Cutting Kalanchoe: Pinch out the spent flower heads individually, only remove the umbel when all the flowers have faded. Cut out yellow leaves regularly. For bare plants, prune them back after flowering so that an eye remains on the stem.
Cleaning up faded flowers
Depending on the species, flowering Kalanchoes form upright umbels with small flowers or gently hanging bells. Please do not make the mistake of cutting off the entire umbel just because the first flowers are fading. It's better to do this:
- Carefully take individual flower heads between your thumb and forefinger and pinch them out.
- Only when everything has bloomed and no more buds are forming, cut off the umbel about a centimeter above the last leaf axil.
- To do this, use a sharp knife and not scissors so that the thick, fleshy stems are not unnecessarily crushed.
This measure can significantly extend the flowering period.
Cut off leaves that have turned yellow
The Kalanchoe's marginal leaves occasionally dry out and become unsightly. This is due to the natural aging process and is nothing to worry about. Cut out these leaves regularly to prevent them from becoming a breeding ground for pathogens.
Pruning the Kalanchoe
Pruning is only necessary if the plants are bare in the lower area. In this case it serves to rejuvenate, because the plant then grows strongly and densely.
Proceed as follows:
- For flowering Kalanchoe species, only prune after flowering.
- Short the stems so that there is still an eye (thickened area) on the stem. Here the plant grows fresh green.
- You can alternatively cut branched stems over a leaf axis.
- The same applies here: Use clean and very sharp cutting tools.
Don’t throw away the cuttings
Now you have a lot of leaves that you can use for propagation through leaf or shoot cuttings. These root very easily, so that even inexperienced plant lovers can easily breed them.
Tip
Despite being pruned, the Kalanchoe doesn't bloom, but just produces lots of greenery? During the winter the plant is probably kept in a room where the lights are on in the evenings. The short-day plant should not be exposed to light for more than seven to nine hours from November to February, because only then will it bloom reliably.
