How to properly cut Kalanchoe and form a beautiful bush?

Botanical description and composition of Kalanchoe pinnate

Kalanchoe belongs to the Tolstyankov family, its homeland is the island of Madagascar. In nature, the bush grows on slopes in depleted stony soil, reaching a length of 2 meters. In an apartment, its height is much lower and depends on the conditions of detention. The stem is hollow, fleshy; as it grows, it becomes woody at the base. The leaves are bright green, oval, opposite each other. Along the edges there are teeth, between which children grow up, with the help of them the Kalanchoe reproduces.

A plant over 2 years old often blooms. This happens in winter, when daylight hours become shorter. The bush forms an arrow that grows upward and extends beyond the cap of the leaves. Hanging flowers appear on it - light pink buds about 4 cm in size. Later, fruits are formed, which are small boxes with seeds.

In natural conditions, there are several hundred species of Kalanchoe. It grows in Africa, Madagascar, America, Australia and Asia. Moreover, its varieties can differ significantly from each other. In natural conditions, you can find Kalanchoe up to two meters high, similar to a small tree.

Kalanchoe in nature

Varieties suitable for indoor growing are classified into two groups:

• decorative blooming;
• decorative deciduous.

Blooming Kalanchoe is often used to decorate office spaces. Its small compact bush with glossy dark green leaves and small flowers, collected in panicle-shaped inflorescences, pleases the eye all winter, until spring. Flowers differ in shades - from white, cream to bright red.

Among the ornamental deciduous species, there are plants with different leaf shapes, colored tips.

Correct and timely pruning and pinching allows you to get a plant that attracts attention with its shape and shiny leaves.

Kalanchoe pinnate is a species that belongs to the Tolstyankovye family. It is a succulent plant with fleshy stems and succulent leaves. One large, erect stem is formed, which can reach over a meter in height. It often produces many lateral shoots with leaves exactly opposite each other.

At the same time, the petioles are distinguished by a beet-red color. Leaves with characteristic jagged edges, medium in size (15-17 cm in length and up to 9-12 cm in width). Inflorescences are formed in the form of panicles, pedicels are very small. Flowers and fruits are also small, therefore they are not of decorative value.

In natural habitat, Kalanchoe is widespread in the warm tropical regions of America, Africa and the tropical islands of Asia. The plant has a wide species diversity - it is represented by more than 200 species. They are conventionally divided into 2 groups:

• medicinal;
• decorative.

According to its chemical composition, the plant sap contains quite a lot of organic substances and microelements useful for the body:

1. Various biologically active substances.
2. Flavonoids.
3. Numerous organic acids.
4. Tannins.
5. Polysaccharides.
6. Microelements.

Pests and diseases

Kalanchoe pinnate is unpretentious, but still sometimes it gets sick. It can be attacked by viruses, fungi or pests. The diseased bush begins to wither, lose leaves and, if you do not take action, dies. The sooner you start treatment, the more chances you have to save the flower. When the leaves and stem are covered with brown and brown spots, it is late blight.It occurs due to high humidity, therefore, if a disease is detected, watering should be stopped - the earth should dry out well. Further, fungicides are used, for example, "Profit Gold" or "Previkur". These funds are diluted in water according to the instructions and sprayed with them on the bush. In the future, it is necessary to reconsider the frequency of watering.

Sometimes, due to too hot and dry air, a white bloom appears on the flower - powdery mildew. In this case, it is necessary to ventilate the room more often or move the flowerpot with the plant to a cooler place - in the spring-summer period, a balcony will do. And if the leaves become sticky, pale spots similar to gruel form on them, which means that the Kalanchoe was struck by gray rot, in this case the plant needs to replace the soil. Both diseases can be treated with fungicides and good care.

When the trunk turns black and the leaves shrink, it means that the flower is simply cold. At temperatures less than 15 degrees, the plant freezes and stem rot may develop. In this case, it is enough to revise the conditions of detention. But if the stem begins to rot, and round spots appear on the leaf plates, the flower can no longer be saved. There is only one way out - to find healthy cuttings or children on a diseased bush and grow new specimens from them.

If the leaves of the plant turn yellow and dry, it is possible that pests have settled on it. They are brought in with poor-quality soil or fly through an open window. By sucking the juice from the stem and leaves, they can destroy the entire bush. Kalanchoe pinnate is susceptible to attack by the following types of insects:

• mealybug (the plant affected by it looks like it is sprinkled with flour);
• scale insect (small round bugs that can be seen with the naked eye);
• mites (due to their vital activity, a thin web is formed on the plant);
• aphids (this pest often hides on the inside of the leaf).

To get rid of the mealybug, the plant is sprayed with mineral oil, and the most affected parts of the bush are removed. It is easy to get rid of the scabbard: the bugs are removed from the leaves, and the places where they are found are wiped with alcohol, then the plant is washed in soapy water. Ticks and aphids are afraid of soapy water, they can be sprayed with the affected plant. To do this, mix 20 g of laundry or tar soap in 1 liter of warm water. Cool to room temperature and process from a spray bottle.

After the treatment, it is necessary to do a preventive examination within a month, paying attention to the leaves and stem. If signs of a pest are found, the treatment should be repeated

In advanced cases, insecticides are used, for example, Fitoverm, Actellik, Gaupsin. Processing is carried out on the balcony with gloves and a respirator. Good prevention of any disease is proper care.

For information on how to achieve abundant repeated flowering of the Kalanchoe, see the next video.

Characteristics of the Kalanchoe flower and species diversity

Kalanchoe belongs to perennial succulents. The Kalanchoe genus is subdivided into herbaceous plants, lianas and shrubs. Some species are epiphytes.

The leaves are juicy, fleshy. They can fit snugly against the stem or be attached with petioles. Some species have an edge on the leaf blades. The color of the leaves varies depending on the type of plant. In most cases, it is monochromatic, represented by different shades of green. There are also variegated Kalanchoe with purple or red inserts on a green background or marbled color of the plates.

There are flowering species. You can appreciate the charming Kalanchoe flowers in the photo below.

Flowers are collected in multi-flowered umbrella-shaped inflorescences. Most often, the inflorescences are located at the top. Less often - on the sides of the plant. The color of the flowers depends on the species: white, yellow, purple, shades of red. As a rule, flowering occurs in the autumn-winter period, however, some species bloom in the spring.

There are the following types of plants:

1. Bekharsky is a herbaceous plant that is distinguished by bare, not prone to branching stems. Falling leaves leave scars. The leaf plates have a waxy coating and edge. The shape of the leaves is wedge-shaped. Apical inflorescences. Flowers are small. There is also a fringe on the yellow petals.
2. Blossfeld is a short shrub with smooth ovoid leaves. The color of the leaves is represented by a combination of red and green. A beautifully flowering species. Blooms profusely. Depending on the variety, the petals can be red, white, purple, yellow.
3. Benta (Bristle-leaved) is a powerful shrub with thick rounded leaves. Blooms in spring. The flowers are large, white.
4. Felt - popularly known as Cat Ears. Shrub with densely pubescent erect stems. Has sessile oblong leaves. It blooms with small flowers of dark red color. The inflorescences are also pubescent.
5. Degremona is a herbaceous plant with oblong fleshy leaves. The leaf plates are tucked along the central vein and have a pointed edge. The species is capable of forming babies at the edges of leaf plates.
6. Marble (large-flowered, Somali) is a half-meter shrub with extraordinary leaves. The leaves are obovate with grooves along the edge. They bloom green, but over time acquire a bluish tint; lilac spots appear on the outside of the plates. Representatives of the species bloom with small white flowers.
7. Large-flowered - a shrub with sessile lobate-toothed leaves. Initially, they are green, in the sun they acquire a reddish tint. Blooms in May in large red or yellow flowers.
8. Mangina is a shrub grown as an ampelous plant. Representatives of the species are distinguished by drooping inflorescences with a large number of pink-red flowers. The flowering period begins in the spring.
9. Panicle-flowered - herbaceous Kalanchoe with a dense basal rosette of leaves. On green, obovate leaves, a purple border appears over time. Flowering occurs in April. The inflorescences consist of small yellow flowers.
10. Fiery (Fiery red, Glaucous) is a herbaceous flowering plant. It grows up to 30 cm. The leaves are dark green, obovate. The flowers are large, bright red in color.
11. Feathery - differs in the different shape of the leaves on the same bush. The lower ones are ovoid, the upper ones have a pinnately dissected shape. Blooms with drooping inflorescences. The color of the petals is expressed in shades of red. This species is capable of forming children.
12. Tubular (Tubular) is a shrub with numerous narrow leaves, on which a large number of children are located. Their color is green with a grayish tint. Has many hybrids. The color of the petals is varied.
13. Dissected (Lobular) - popularly called Deer Horns. Herbaceous species with juicy fleshy shoots prone to drooping. The leaf plates are fleshy, deeply dissected. There is a waxy bloom on the lettuce surface of the leaves. Blooms profusely. The color of the flowers is yellow-orange.

What does the Kalanchoe flower look like and the characteristics of the plant

Kalanchoe is a plant belonging to the succulent genus of the Tolstyankovye family. Depending on the species, it can be of different heights from a few centimeters to 2-3 meters in height. When describing the Kalanchoe plant, special emphasis should be placed on its fleshy leaves. They can be covered with hairs or completely smooth, of various shapes and sizes, with jagged or even edges, on which rooted buds are often found. As these buds mature, new plants are formed. Kalanchoe flowers are large, formed on a high peduncle. They can have a color from pale pink to burgundy.

In summer, you can only admire the foliage, because flowers do not appear until the daylight hours are longer than 12 hours.This “short day” plant does not flower until fall, winter or early spring. When it blooms, hang the pot in the room. Later, he needs a dormant period: the pot is placed in a cool, bright place and watering is limited. After a few months, you can "revive" the plant again by giving it more water and heat.

Check out what the Kalanchoe flower looks like in these photos:

Sometimes housewives grow a completely different kind of Kalanchoe and, being in complete ignorance, bury completely useless juice in the noses of their children. Of course, there will be no harm from this, since Kalanchoe is not one of the poisonous plants, some of them even have a pleasant taste, and they are eaten. But if you decide to grow medicinal Kalanchoe, you need to know that the only species that will not only decorate your home, but also help at the first signs of a cold and other diseases, is Kalanchoe pinnate. The plant got this name due to its leaves that resemble feathers.

Kalanchoe medicinal (pinnate) has a thick fleshy stem and the same leaves, pointed at the ends. A path of small teardrop-shaped processes filled with moisture runs along the edge of the leaf. A healthy Kalanchoe should be a rich light green color. At the site of the breakage of the stem or leaf, a large amount of moisture instantly accumulates - the sap of the plant. At home, Kalanchoe usually grows up to 35-50 cm. But in greenhouses, where special conditions are created, the plant can grow much higher and become larger.

Pruning Kalanchoe after flowering

After flowering, pruning of Kalanchoe is done not only in order to remove excess leaves, but also in order to free the flower from peduncles. The leaves are removed, as with normal pruning: one or two outer leaves on the stems.

Before pruning the Kalanchoe after flowering, you need to make sure that all its flowers have completely faded. Peduncles must be removed at the very base so that the plant does not start to rot. They must be removed every last one after each flowering of the plant.

This procedure stimulates new growth of the stems ready to bloom. Upon completion of pruning Kalanchoe after flowering, the plant needs a rest period. This is the time to cut back on watering and ensure there is no direct sunlight. The time it takes for the flower to come to its senses is about 20 - 40 days.

It is better to prune leaves and peduncles in the morning, preferably before noon. Timely pruning of the Kalanchoe will provide a lush and full-bodied shrub with regular flowering. Proper pruning is the health of the flower.

How to cut Kalanchoe

Kalanchoe is a very beautiful and useful plant that is found in every second house. It not only blooms often and luxuriantly, delighting its owners, but can also be useful in the treatment of various diseases, for example, with a runny nose and ear diseases, skin diseases. So that the flower does not grow and does not stretch out, but is of a neat rounded shape, it is necessary to cut the Kalanchoe in time.

How to cut Kalanchoe You will need - Kalanchoe; - a sharp knife or blade. Instruction 1 First of all, determine the type of your Kalanchoe, since different varieties relate to pruning in different ways. Blossfeld's common Kalanchoe blooming with red flowers can dive without restrictions. Even if you leave only one stump, after a while it will sprout and curl

Take more careful care of rare hybrids with yellow, pink, white flowers, they may even die as a result of improper pruning. 2 If the plant has overgrown (this often happens in sunny places), has lost its compact form, and an ugly frail top has formed, remove it

After each flowering, be sure to cut off all the flower stalks.To form buds, place the plant on a dark windowsill (you can even close the flower overnight with a bucket or box) and keep it practically without watering for a whole month. Then move it to a bright place and start watering, such a regime change has a beneficial effect on the Kalanchoe, and it will almost certainly bloom. 3 In order for the Kalanchoe to grow into a dense bush, carefully observe the shoots. As soon as they start to grow, pinch off the top two leaves of each. After a while, two shoots will appear in the place of the pinching, let them grow until the third pair of leaves appears, and cut them off at this level. Wait for two more shoots and a third pair of leaves to appear, then pinch again. Do this until a neat, dense bush of a round (or required) shape is formed. 4 Prune the Kalanchoe shoots for the last time in November (on the south window) or in winter (on the west or east window). Please note that it is advisable to keep the Kalanchoe in a cool place in winter, the optimum temperature is 10-15 ° C. 5 You can propagate the Kalanchoe or simply update it with cuttings. To do this, cut off young shoots 10 to 15 cm long with a sharp blade or knife. Remove the leaves from the bottom of the cutting, dry for 1-2 days. Prepare a place for the flower in a pot with a mixture of sand and wet peat. Place the cutting to a depth of about 5 cm, ground well around. Do not cover the stalk with plastic or a can, or spray with water. Just water it moderately and keep it at a temperature of 20-25 ° C.

How to properly trim the Kalanchoe yourself?

Almost all varieties of Kalanchoe are unpretentious in care and have medicinal properties, due to which this plant is grown by many growers. One of the conditions for good growth and development of a culture is its correct pruning. It is not difficult to carry out this procedure yourself, but you need to know how to do it correctly and at what time to carry out the procedure.

You also need to take into account that not all varieties of Kalanchoe are cut equally.

Pruning is a necessary step in the care of the Kalanchoe. The procedure is the removal of dead buds, withered leaves and excess shoots, which take away the strength of the flower for its development. Pruning is performed to give the plant a neat and well-groomed appearance, as well as to correctly form a beautiful dense crown.

With the help of pruning, you can adjust the growth and development of the plant in the right direction. By removing unnecessary consumers of moisture and nutrients, the flower is able to nourish and develop the root system and the aerial part. After the correct procedure, the plant becomes stronger and more beautiful.

Depending on the reason for pruning and the time of its implementation, the following types of procedure are distinguished:

• primary;
• preventive;
• after the end of flowering.

To trim the plant correctly, you must use a sharpened knife to cut the leaves at the base of the shoot. Do not tear off unnecessary parts with your hands, as this can cause the culture to wither.

Now about 200 varieties of Kalanchoe are known, but only a few of them are grown at home. The rules and timing of haircuts for different varieties differ:

The initial pruning must be done immediately after purchasing the plant. This procedure sets the direction of subsequent growth and allows you to form the crown correctly. To do this, immediately cut off the top so that the plant does not stretch upwards, but grows to the sides. If time is lost, and an ugly frail top has formed on the bush, it is simply cut off. The cut off part can be used as a cutting and planted in a pot with fertile soil to get a new plant.

Kalanchoe bush after pruning

To form a dense bush, two upper leaves are removed on each new shoot. This causes the Kalanchoe to branch out.After a while, two new shoots appear at the cut site. They are allowed to grow until the third pair of leaves appears and are cut at this level. Then again they wait for the appearance of two shoots and cut them off after the appearance of the third pair of leaves.

Kalanchoe crown formation

This is done until the desired crown of the Kalanchoe is formed. Subsequently, preventive pruning is regularly carried out for the plant, removing all excess shoots. The last time the pruning is carried out in November or in winter, if the bush is in a lighted place.

In winter, it is impossible to cut off the Kalanchoe, since during this period the plant is at rest.

With the onset of spring, you can continue to sanitize the plant, but only if flowering has not occurred. In this case, there is no need to wait until new leaves and shoots grow, they can be cut off immediately after they appear. After pruning, the flower should not be placed on a lighted windowsill. The abundance of sunlight provokes growth, and the Kalanchoe can stretch out strongly. It will be correct to leave the plants in partial shade.

After the end of the flowering period, pruning is carried out, which will prepare the Kalanchoe bush for the dormant period and give it a neat look. The procedure is carried out only after all the flower stalks have completely faded, it is best to do this in the morning, when there is no bright sunlight.

Step-by-step pruning is done like this:

1. 1. Cut off all faded peduncles completely to the very base. This is necessary not only to give the bush a neat well-groomed appearance, but also to prevent the plant from rotting.
2. 2. Remove all wilted leaves.
3. 3. Remove excess leaves by cutting them with a sharp knife from the top of each shoot, just as in preventive pruning.

Reproduction of Kalanchoe

Kalanchoe is propagated:

• cuttings;
• the separation of children that are formed along the edges of the leaves;
• sheet;
• seeds.

Seed propagation is rarely used, since there is a high probability that the resulting specimens will not retain the characteristics of the parent plant.

The unpretentiousness of the flower, its survival allow it to be propagated in various ways. Kalanchoe Degremona at the ends of the leaves has children who independently go in search of new places. Therefore, new shoots can be obtained by collecting the children after separation from the mother plant and placing them on an earthen mixture. It is enough to moisten the soil and cover with foil with daily ventilation.

Kalanchoe propagates relatively easily by seeds, which are placed on the ground, without sprinkling it with earth. Cover with glass or a transparent bag. After a week and a half, shoots appear. After waiting for the formation of the third or fourth leaves on the sprouts, you can begin to transplant them into separate pots.

The shoots left after cutting the plants can be placed in the water until the roots form. This is the easiest and fastest way to propagate a plant. You can also grow a new plant from a leaf if it has a stalk. Place the leaf with the handle in a glass of water. After the formation of the roots, they are planted in a small pot. You can immediately plant a leaf with a handle in the ground and cover it with a jar or bag to create greenhouse conditions.

Kalanchoe takes root in water in seven to ten days. It takes a little longer for rooting in soil. Thanks to the endurance of the plant, most children and cuttings take root, delighting their owners with lush flowering in a couple of years.

Kalanchoe pinnate reproduces well, you can get new specimens in different ways:

• children;
• seeds;
• cuttings;
• sheet.

The easiest way to reproduce is by children. This is the name of the small processes with miniature leaves and a spine. They are formed on the leaves of an adult plant and, getting into the soil, take root, growing into a full-fledged bush. Not all varieties of Kalanchoe form babies, because of this feature, it is the feathery species that is called "viviparous".For reproduction, it is necessary to carefully pinch off a tender sprout and plant it in a previously prepared substrate.

Seed propagation is suitable when it is necessary to grow a large number of specimens. For this, the seeds are sown in a fertile substrate and covered with a transparent film. Watered with a spray bottle, the soil must be constantly moistened. Once a day, air it by lifting the film for a few minutes. The first shoots will appear in about 1-3 weeks. Seedlings dive, and the strongest specimens are transplanted into pots.

Sometimes you don't want to wait until a plant of sufficient height is formed from a seed or baby, then cuttings are used. Thanks to him, you can get a beautiful green bush in a short time. This type of propagation is usually used immediately after pruning. The tops that have been cut are divided into cuttings 7–8 cm long, while healthy parts of the plant are selected. They are left in water until roots appear, then transplanted to a permanent place of residence.

New specimens are also grown using a sheet plate. They do this at any time of the year. A healthy leaf is pinched off from the bush and deepened into the soil, covered with a jar on top. The soil must be well moistened. Roots will appear soon and a full-fledged process will grow.

Formation and pruning of Kalanchoe

Over time, the indoor flower begins to stretch strongly upward. At first, the green friend looks compact and miniature, like a squat bush, but gradually its decorative properties deteriorate. The foliage becomes smaller, and the stems become elongated. To restore the beauty of the Kalanchoe flower, a clothespin and pruning are needed.

The last procedure is carried out after the flowering stage. Long stems are cut, wilted flowers are removed. Young shoots hatch on the cuts. For their branching, they are pinched. Flower shaping and pruning is usually done in summer or spring. By the beginning of autumn, the plant will give many young shoots with peduncles.

General rules

Pruning Kalanchoe consists in removing overgrown shoots, wilted buds and leaves that block adequate nutrition and healthy development of the plant.

It should be noted that there are several types of trimming:

• first;
• subsequent secondary (preventive);
• after flowering.

In the article, we will separately dwell on the nuances of each type of pruning, but first, we will consider the general component.

A well-sharpened kitchen or special garden knife is required for high-quality pruning, but a new stationery blade will do. Disinfect the instrument with alcohol in advance. Just in case, you can grab wood ash or crushed activated carbon with which you can treat the wounds that have appeared on the stem. Advice: in any case, do not pick off the leaves by hand, as this will damage the stem and further wilting of the flower.

When not to carry out the procedure:

• in the first days after purchase or in a new place, as the plant needs to get used to the new environment and changed growth conditions;
• during the flowering period;
• in the acute period of the disease (dead buds and leaves are best removed 2 weeks after the succulent has fully recovered);
• 2-3 weeks after transplant;
• when exposed to direct sunlight (after the procedure, it is also recommended to protect the bush from direct ultraviolet radiation);
• in winter.

The features of pruning depend on the Kalanchoe variety. In indoor conditions, only a small part of the many known varieties can grow.

It is very important to carry out the procedure in accordance with the characteristics of a particular variety in order to avoid negative consequences.

You are lucky if the Kalanchoe has bright red inflorescences, as such a plant quickly regenerates. This means that the leaves can be cut frequently and in large quantities, forming the desired crown with ease. The Blossfeld variety has such lush flowers, which, according to experienced florists, is distinguished by its vitality.The Kalandiva variety, artificially bred from the Madagascar Kalanchoe Blossfeld, also tolerates pruning very well. It is easy to recognize - the flowers of such a plant will be terry.

If your Kalanchoe flowers are yellow or white, you have a hybrid in front of you, and it will be more difficult to cut it. You cannot cut off a large number of leaves from a whimsical plant, as it can quickly wither. Be careful not to touch the stem and adjacent leaves. In the case of an inaccurate or unnecessary cut, immediately sprinkle the damaged area with wood ash. Due to the complex content and capriciousness, light hybrid varieties are bred in indoor conditions much less often.