Kalanchoe, Widow's-thrill, tropical succulent plants скачать в хорошем качестве

Kalanchoe, Widow's-thrill, tropical succulent plants

Kalanchoe KAL-ən-KOH-ee, is a genus of about 125 species of tropical, succulent plants in the stonecrop family Crassulaceae, mainly native to Madagascar and tropical Africa. A Kalanchoe species was one of the first plants to be sent into space, sent on a resupply to the Soviet Salyut 1 space station in 1979. Kalanchoes require direct sunlight although they can survive with bright indirect sunlight. They only need to be watered when the soil is completely dry. Kalanchoe is slow-growing, on average taking between two and five years to reach mature size. Available in pretty shades of red, pink, yellow, and white. Like many succulents, kalanchoe is a relatively hands-off species, preferring plenty of sunlight and well-draining soil. When it is grown outdoors, kalanchoe needs a well-drained, sandy soil; it thrives on limited water, provided it gets enough light. As an indoor plant, a cactus mix potting soil is best, and it does best with bright indirect light. Indoors or outdoors, kalanchoe is well suited to a variety of temperatures, provided it is not touched by frost. Its bloom cycle is set in motion by a long stretch with lengthy periods of nighttime darkness in the wintertime. Light The bloom cycle for this plant is set in motion by a period of roughly six weeks where the plant experiences at least 14 hours of darkness each day. Roughly four months after this period, the plant will begin to bloom. It is possible to keep the plant blooming almost year-round if they get this winter darkness in order to reset the bloom cycle. Kalanchoe plants grown indoors need a lot of light to bloom, so they should be kept in a room with an abundance of bright, natural light. However, avoid placing them in direct sunlight, as it can scorch the leaves and reduce blooming. Soil Outdoors, a kalanchoe plant grows best in well-drained, sandy soil. Indoor plants should be potted in a blend that doesn't retain too much moisture, like a 50 percent potting soil and 50 percent cactus mix, or 60 percent peat moss and 40 percent perlite. To ensure proper drainage and avoid an overly moist environment, you can also plant your kalanchoe in a clay pot, which can help wick excess water from the soil. Water If you have a habit of occasionally forgetting to water your plants, a kalanchoe can be the perfect pick for you. This hearty plant does well with minimal water, requiring a complete saturation only every few weeks or so (and even less often during the winter months). Let the soil dry out completely in between watering to help prevent root rot. Because the kalanchoe is a succulent, its leaves are actually capable of storing water; even if you're a few days late watering, the plant will be just fine. Propagating Kalanchoe: Kalanchoe is very simple to propagate, and doing so is actually beneficial to the plant's health. As a mature kalanchoe grows, it produces offsets that can be taxing on the mother plant. Instead of allowing them to leech nutrients from the mature plant, you can propagate the offsets (or take stem cuttings) at almost any time.