Kalanchoe blossfeldiana is one of our top selling indoor blooming plants.  This popular blooming houseplant has many attractive qualities.  It features succulent leaves and a bright inflorescence or cluster of flowers.  They are traditionally available in 4″ or 6″ pots and recently 2″ pots have become popular for miniature gardens.  Flowers are available in shades of red, yellow, orange, pink, and white.

The flowers on kalanchoes will last 4 to 6 weeks if they are purchased as they begin to flower. Once the blooms fade, consumers often wonder how to get the plant to flower again. Kalanchoes, like poinsettias, require long nights (short days) to initiate flowers.  Without any artificial light, kalanchoes will bloom naturally during the month of January in the United States.

What does this daylength information mean for you?  In order to get a kalanchoe to bloom again, it will be necessary to keep the plant in complete darkness for 12 hours so that it will initiate flowers.  Consumers can place a box or a paper bag over their plant for 12 hours per day for  up to 14 days in order to limit the artificial light reaching the plant.  After the kalanchoe receives its critical night length,  flowers will initiate and develop according to the light intensity.

Caring for these brightly colored flowering plants is easy.  They require bright light in a home or store environment.  Kalanchoes are in the Crassulaceae plant family which means they are related to jade plants, sedum, and other popular succulent plants.  Their succulent nature allows the plants to withstand periods of water stress although they should be watered 1 to 2 times a week in the typical home environment.

Here at Musselman Wholesale Foliage, we use kalanchoes in many of our blooming dishgardens since they are such a bright and durable plant.  They are also great for home decor, centerpieces, gifts, and seasonal decorations.  Kalanchoes are available year round so be sure to try some of these blooming beauties soon!