Pruning Kalanchoe is a necessary process to give the plant the right shape and beautiful appearance. Depending on the age and period of the plant’s development, the pruning process is different, therefore, we will consider detailed information about each type of pruning and the rules for further flower care.

Optimal conditions for growing Kalanchoe

Kalanchoe belongs to undemanding plants and grows well in apartment conditions. In winter, the plant tolerates direct sunlight. You can place the pot on the south, east or west window. In summer, the rays of the scorching sun can burn leaf plates, which will affect the process of flower growth, so it is better to prit the pot.

The northern window for growing Kalanchoe is not suitable, due to a lack of light, the shoots are drawn out, flowering is very poor or absent.

Did you know? Kalanchoe is not only a beautiful ornamental plant, for example, Kalanchoe Degremon is medicinal, its leaves and shoots are very appreciated in folk medicine.

The temperature range at which the plant feels comfortable is quite wide - from +15 to +29 ° C, which makes it possible to grow Kalanchoe at home at any time of the year without any problems.

However, at temperatures below +10 degrees, the flower may stop developing and begin to hurt, so it is not recommended to place the pot near the air conditioner or on a cold windowsill in winter.

Humidity should be average - from 50 to 70%, with low humidity, the plant can become sick. Also, dry air is the habitat of pests, so it is recommended that the plant is regularly sprayed or a container with wet expanded clay is placed next to the pot.

Kalanchoe prefers soil, the acidity level of which is from 5 to 6.5 pH.

Why and when can you prune a plant?

The main purpose of trimming Kalanchoe is to preserve the decorative appearance, splendor and compactness of the bush. The shoots of the plant grow rapidly and can be strongly extended upward, stripping at the base, also the old stems interfere with the normal growth of new young shoots.

In addition, the timely shortening of shoots of Kalanchoe allows you to:

• relax the plant after a flowering period;
• rejuvenate old specimens;
• use cropped cuttings to propagate the flower;
• stimulate the processes of sap flow in the shoots, as a result of which all parts of the flower receive uniform nutrition, which increases resistance to drying;
• have a preventive effect on the development of common diseases, stimulating the immune system.

Did you know? Kalanchoe comes from Madagascar, and even now you can find this plant in the wild, a flower was introduced to Europe in 1920.

Depending on the purpose of trimming, it is carried out at different times. It is necessary to shorten the shoots of a young plant that you yourself have grown from the cuttings as soon as you notice its active growth (this will indicate rooting and successful adaptation to the environment).

Pruning for preventive purposes is carried out in early spring and late autumn (early winter), during the period of activation of shoot growth, after rest. If Kalanchoe grows on the southern windowsill, the last pruning is best done in November, if the place of growth is the western and eastern window - in early December.

How to trim Kalanchoe at home: step-by-step instructions

Trimming is a simple procedure, so consider whether certain rules must be followed when manipulating:

• only a sharp knife or scissors should be used for trimming, so as not to severely injure the tissues with tears;
• the instrument must be disinfected before use so as not to infect the flower;
• hands thoroughly wash with soap before carrying out the manipulation;
• pruning is best done in the morning;
• sections are sprinkled with crushed activated carbon for quick drying of the wound;
• after pruning, the plant is removed from the sunny windowsill, providing it with a light partial shade.

Initial and preventive pruning

The initial and subsequent preventive pruning of Kalanchoe is carried out with some differences, so we will consider how to prune the shoots in each case.

The strengthened plant, which began to produce additional shoots from the main stem, is cut as follows: on each shoot, the upper point of its growth, 2-3 sheets are cut with a prepared tool.

Important! It is necessary to remove excess shoots only with a clerical or kitchen knife, it is forbidden to pinch off with your hands.

Preventive pruning is characterized in that it can be carried out at any time during the growth of Kalanchoe, without waiting for the young shoots to get stronger.

In the place of the cut, where the initial pruning was previously performed, young shoots begin to appear, which can be left or partially removed to stimulate the appearance of new shoots for the "splendor" of the flower. Depending on the height of the grown shoots, they are cut by 2-10 cm.

If it is not required to shorten the shoots much, the third leaf is counted from the upper growth point and the shoot is cut off under it.

After flowering

After the Kalanchoe fades, it is necessary to prune the peduncles. Before starting to prune, the flower is carefully inspected for the presence of unbroken buds, if they are not there - pruning can be done, if there is - it is worthwhile to wait until they bloom.

In the process of pruning, remove all the inflorescences that have already wilted, as well as cut the shoot (where the flowers grew) 1 sheet down. This procedure will stimulate further rapid flowering.

Find out how and when to transplant Kalanchoe and what to do if Kalanchoe does not bloom.

How to form the crown of Kalanchoe

The crown shaping procedure is very similar to cropping. It is recommended to carry out it after preventive pruning, when the bush has acquired a beautiful spherical shape. To prevent further strong growth of shoots, it is recommended to pinch the top of each shoot as soon as it reaches the desired length.

A pinch of the top should be carried out with clean hands, it is most convenient to do this by clamping the tip with the index and thumb. The plucked leaves should be still very small so that the wound is healed as soon as possible.

Thus, it is possible to form the desired shape of the crown of the flower and minimize the number of trim so as not to injure the Kalanchoe once again.

Pinching the shoots is also very effective in stimulating the formation of lateral shoots in places where "voids" have formed.

Further plant care

Since the pruning procedure injures the terrestrial part of the flower, we will consider whether it is necessary to create special conditions in the room and be more attentive to the plant after the planned shortening of shoots.

Caring for a flower after pruning is no different from normal. It is necessary to water the flower as the soil dries, in the summer - 1-2 times a week, in the winter - 1 time in 2 weeks.

The fleshy leaves and shoots of Kalanchoe allow you to store moisture in sufficient quantities and spend it at the right time, so if you forget to water the flower a couple of times, nothing will happen to it. For irrigation it is worth using settled soft water at room temperature.

Watering can be carried out both under the root and in the pan, the numerous roots of the flower absorb the necessary amount of moisture.

Important! The remaining water in the pan must be poured out in a timely manner so as not to provoke rotting of the root system.

Kalanchoe does not need frequent dressing, in some cases, dressing can cause excessive growth and deformation of long shoots, which spoils the appearance of the flower. Fertilizing is recommended to be applied only during the flowering period, in order to extend the period of life of the buds.

They feed the flower once a month until the flowering is complete. As a fertilizer, any fertilizer complexes for decorative-flowering plants that are prepared and used in accordance with the instructions on the package are suitable.

The transplant is carried out annually, at the end of March, as Kalanchoe is a fast-growing flower. For transplantation, choose a pot in diameter 3-4 cm larger than the previous one.

Suitable soil composition:

• 1 part of turf land;
• 1 part of foliage of the earth;
• 1 part of sand;
• 0.5 parts of humus.

When transplanting Kalanchoe, it is necessary to pull it out of the old pot and, without destroying the earthen lump, place it in a new pot, ¼ filled with expanded clay, pour the voids with prepared earth mix.

What problems may arise

Usually, problems with Kalanchoe after pruning do not occur, but only if the growing conditions and care are consistent with the recommendations. Sometimes, after pruning, the plants decrease their resistance to diseases or pests, they become more demanding on the conditions of maintenance or care, therefore, they need additional attention.

Among the common diseases of Kalanchoe are:

• late blight - the appearance on the deciduous part of brown spots or brown plaque. The cause of the disease can be overmoistening of the soil or poor ventilation in the room. To cure the plant, it is recommended to review the irrigation regime and often ventilate the room. It is better to remove the diseased parts, after which the flower should be sprayed with Fitosporin, according to the instructions;
• powdery mildew is a fungal disease characterized by the appearance of white plaque on the leaves. The cause of the problem is dry and warm air. In order to cure the disease, it is necessary to change the conditions of detention according to the recommendations and treat the flower with “Fundazol” according to the instructions;
• gray rot - manifests itself in the form of a sticky gray coating on the leaves of Kalanchoe. The cause of the problem is improper care. The flower should be treated with the Teldor treatment and the diseased parts should be removed;
• stem rot - blackening of stems at the base. The cause of the disease is low temperature. You can cure the flower by treating the ground part with the “Discore” according to the instructions.

Pests that can appear on the plant are:

• mealybug - an insect that sucks the juice from the plant and leaves white waxy discharge on the leaves. If possible, all insects are collected manually, the strongly affected parts are removed, after which the flower is treated with “Aktara”;
• scabbard - appears on the plant in the form of small brown bulges on the stems and the back of the leaves. To kill the insect, you should wipe the affected areas with a cotton pad moistened with alcohol and treat the plant with “Aktara”;
• spider mite - a small insect that settles on the back of the leaves, after which they curl, turn yellow and fall off, and the mite braids the ground part of the plant with a thin web. The flower should be treated with the Fitoverm treatment.

Thus, pruning Kalanchoe is a necessary process for caring for the plant to maintain decorativeness and better shoot growth. So that the plant does not suffer from the effects of pruning, attention should be paid to quality care and maintain optimal indoor climate.