How To Maintain The Thrill Plant In A Widow?

Growing flowering Kalanchoe plants is a rewarding experience, with colorful flowers in shades of pink, red, orange, purple, green, and white. The Kalandiva or Kalanchoe calandiva plant, also known as Widow’s-thrill, belongs to the family Crassulaceae. This cheerful plant produces bright red, white, yellow, pink, or orange flowers even indoors. Flaming Katy prefers a bright location all year round at 65 to 68 degrees Fahrenheit out of the blazing midday sun.

Kalanchoe blossfeldiana, also known as flaming Katy, Christmas kalanchoe, and widow’s-thrill, is beloved due to its numerous flower clusters and fleshy leaves with scalloped edges. It symbolizes eternal love, wealth, and endurance and blooms for about eight weeks. Key to beauverd’s widow’s-thrill’s thriving is providing bright, indirect sunlight and well-draining soil to prevent root rot. Watering sparingly is crucial, as overwatering is a common pitfall.

Kalanchoes are low-maintenance house plants and easy to care for. Give them a bright, sunny spot and do not water them too much – wait until the top few bloom. Milky Widow’s Thrill needs 0.8 cups of water every 12 days when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5.0″ pot. Choose a well-draining potting mix and water during the summer period without excess, once or twice a week if very dry. In pots, water regularly but allow the soil to dry out between waterings. Prune it occasionally to encourage more blooms and apply a balanced fertilizer.

Plant outdoor kalanchoes in partial shade to full sun, with afternoon shade to protect it from scorching.

Is Kalanchoe an indoor or outdoor plant?

Kalanchoe is a low-maintenance houseplant that thrives in tropical environments and is popular in less temperate zones. It grows to 6 to 12 inches tall with fleshy, succulent leaves and flowers. Kalanchoe bursts into bloom during gray winter and early spring months, with tiny red, white, pink, yellow, or orange flowers clustering above dark green foliage. Its blooms last for several weeks and are particularly striking in the tropics when grown in pots on a patio or porch. Kalanchoe grows best in bright, sunny windows inside a house, with patios or entry gardens with ample morning light.

How often should I water Kalanchoe?

Kalanchoes are succulent plants that require less frequent watering than other flowers, typically once every 2-3 weeks. The amount of water needed depends on factors like size, season, and environmental conditions like temperature and humidity. After watering, the soil should feel moist but not excess. If the excess water drains away, watering is more generous. If the plant is in a container without drainage, water sparingly.

To water a Kalanchoe, bottom-water it like other succulents. If the plant comes in a decorative container without a drainage plug or hole, remove it temporarily and water it in a sink or basin to drain excess water. This helps prevent roots from sitting in water for extended periods, which can cause root rot. Bottom-watering kalanchoes promotes healthy root growth and can be done by placing the plant in a sink, dish, or basin with about an inch of water, allowing it to soak up for 5-15 minutes before returning it to its container and placing it in a sunny place.

How often do you water a widow’s thrill?

It is recommended that water plants sparingly during the summer months, at a frequency of once or twice per week in the morning, in order to prevent the leaves from becoming wet. In pots, water should be applied once a week during the growth period, and then reduced to once every 20 days during the winter.

How do I keep my Kalanchoe blooming?

To promote the blooming of Kalanchoe at any point in the year, it is recommended to regulate the amount of light it receives. This can be achieved by placing the plant in a dark closet for 12 to 14 hours per day and then returning it to bright light for the remaining 10 to 12 hours. If the aforementioned method is successful, the buds should appear within a period of six to eight weeks. Should further assistance be required, we kindly request that you contact us if the aforementioned steps do not yield the desired results.

How do you care for a Kalanchoe plant indoors?

Kalanchoes are houseplants that prefer bright light, so they should be grown in south-facing or west-facing windows. However, they don’t like cold, so keep them away from drafty windows and doors. To bring your kalanchoe outdoors for summer, wait until nighttime temperatures are above 65 degrees F and set it outside in a pot that’s 2 inches wider than the root ball. Once temperatures drop, bring it back inside. To plant a kalanchoe, choose a pot that’s at least 2 inches wider than the root ball and ensure it has drainage holes.

How long do potted kalanchoes last?

Kalanchoe flowers last up to 8 weeks and can be removed with a sharp, sterile knife or scissors after they fade and turn brown. Deadheading, a technique where dead flowers are removed, encourages the plant to rebloom. Kalanchoes can bloom year-round in their native habitats, but they thrive in late winter and spring. Reblooming requires a rest period, including lower light levels during fall and winter. Kalanchoes are not pet-friendly, as they can be mildly toxic to dogs and cats if consumed, so it’s best to display them in a secure location.

Do you water Kalanchoe from top or bottom?

To water a Kalanchoe, it is recommended to bottom-water it like other succulents. If your kalanchoe comes in a decorative container without a drainage plug, remove it and water it in a sink or basin to drain excess water. This helps prevent root rot and promotes healthy root growth. Place the plant in a sink, dish, or basin with about an inch of water and let it soak up for 5-15 minutes before returning it to its container.

Repotting and soil are crucial for Kalanchoes, which prefer a well-draining potting mix containing sand, soil, and perlite or a mixture of 60 peat moss and 40 perlite. You can make your own by mixing half-and-half potting soil and succulent/cactus mix. Use a fertilizer of 0-10-10 in the fall and 20-20-20 for the blooming season.

How long do potted kalanchoe last?

Kalanchoe flowers last up to 8 weeks and can be removed with a sharp, sterile knife or scissors after they fade and turn brown. Deadheading, a technique where dead flowers are removed, encourages the plant to rebloom. Kalanchoes can bloom year-round in their native habitats, but they thrive in late winter and spring. Reblooming requires a rest period, including lower light levels during fall and winter. Kalanchoes are not pet-friendly, as they can be mildly toxic to dogs and cats if consumed, so it’s best to display them in a secure location.

Should you cut dead flowers off Kalanchoe?

Pruning is a crucial aspect of maintaining the health of your Florist Kalanchoe plant. It involves removing spent blooms and leggy growth, stimulating new growth, and reducing the risk of diseases or pest infestations. It’s essential to use clean, sharp tools for pruning to minimize stress on the plant. The cheerful blooms are a sign of successful pruning. Pruning is not just a haircut; it’s a vital health check-up, redirecting energy to fresher, more vigorous sections. It’s like telling your plant to focus on the good stuff.

What triggers Kalanchoe plants to bloom?

Kalanchoes are often treated as annuals, but they can be re-bloomed after six weeks of simulated winter lighting conditions. These conditions are photoperiodic, meaning they bloom in response to the length of the day. To force the plant to set flower buds, reduce watering by half or even less during the six weeks. Simulate night by placing the plant in complete darkness for 14 hours a day and in bright light for 10 hours a day.

After six weeks, when flower buds form, bring the plant back into normal light conditions and resume watering. This method can help ensure that kalanchoes bloom on cue and avoid discarding them after they have finished blooming.

Do kalanchoe like to be misted?

Kalanchoe, a succulent, does not require regular misting due to its arid nature and can be maintained in environments with adequate humidity.