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How to Get a Kalanchoe to Bloom

Kalanchoes are flowering succulents that come in a variety of colors of blooms such as yellow, pink, red, orange and lilac. Pronounced ka-lan-ko-ee, they are perennial and evergreen with an average blooming period of 40 to 65 days. Kalanchoes are succulent plants suitable for dry landscapes or container gardens and ideal as indoor plants. Getting kalanchoes to bloom again after the first blooms dry out can be a challenge; however, it is doable depending on certain environmental conditions.

Purchase kalanchoes in pots during the bud stage to give you longer blooming period.

Put kalanchoes under full sun. They do well in a situation with lots of light. If grown for very long without enough light, they become weak. Put the pots outside during the summer, but bring them inside before the first sign of frost. When growing indoors, place the pots in front of an east- or west-facing window or put the plants under artificial plant lights for 13 hours a day.

  • Kalanchoes are flowering succulents that come in a variety of colors of blooms such as yellow, pink, red, orange and lilac.
  • Purchase kalanchoes in pots during the bud stage to give you longer blooming period.

Water thoroughly and then allow to them partially dry out before watering again. Make sure to use a container with drainage holes to ensure the water drains completely. Be very careful not to let water accumulate or the plants will rot.

Keep the kalanchoes in room or warm temperature. They do well in temperatures between 60 and 70 degrees F, but are able to tolerate as low as 50 degrees F. Leaving them outdoors at 100 degrees F temperature will cause their leaves to develop brown spots.

Maintain indoor average humidity of 35 percent. Since kalanchoes are succulents, they do not require the high humidity that most indoor plants require.

  • Water thoroughly and then allow to them partially dry out before watering again.
  • Make sure to use a container with drainage holes to ensure the water drains completely.

Apply fertilizer only if you are planning to re-bloom later. You do not need to apply fertilizers when purchased in bloom. Fertilize after the rest period with a water-soluble fertilizer.

Remove dry or dead leaves and flowers right away. Pinch them off with your fingers or use garden shears to cut them off.

Give the kalanchoes a cool, shady, dry rest period of at least a month after all the blooms have died and then re-pot them. Choose cache pots twice the size of the plant. Use fast-draining soil when planting kalanchoes. Soil used for growing cacti known as cactus soil is ideal for growing kalanchoes. Buy ready-mix cactus soil from home improvement or garden centers. Make your own cactus soil if you cannot find the ready-mix ones by mixing one part potting soil with one part sand and adding a little gravel to the mixture to aid in the drainage.

  • Apply fertilizer only if you are planning to re-bloom later.
  • Use fast-draining soil when planting kalanchoes.

Force the flowers to re-bloom by giving the kalanchoes a longer night than day. Cover the pot with a cardboard during the day to accomplish this. The buds will start to appear and blooming takes place when the days become short enough (or the nights long enough). A typical long night period is 14 hours per day.

Put them back in front of the windowsill to get full sun as soon as you see flower buds appear.

Tip

Use a dark cloth on stakes in lieu of a cardboard to give a longer night period for re-blooming.

Warning

Avoid over-watering.

Avoid over-exposure to hot temperatures.

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