Description of Kalanchoe Plants

Appearance

• Kalanchoe plants are highly varied across the many different species and cultivars. Generally, the plants are relatively small, and are easy to grow in pots and indoors. Seeds are extremely tiny, and a single ounce of seeds contains more than 2 million individuals. The plants are succulents, with fleshy, rounded leaves and woody stems. The kalanchoe can be encouraged to flower at almost any time of the year, and these flowers will bloom in bundles of many tiny flowers. Almost all colors are found in the flowers of the kalanchoe family, ranging from solid pinks, purple and white to recently developed varieties with multi-colored flowers. When kept indoors, the kalanchoe retains its dark green foliage throughout the year, and can be made to bloom in the off season by controlling the amount of light the plant receives.

Species

• The Kalanchoe family contains about 200 different species, with countless cultivars being cross-bred and created from those species. The most popular species for houseplants is the Kalanchoe blossfeldiana, which is native to Madagascar and thrives in the warm indoor temperatures of a home or office. Originally, the flowers of this species were only red or orange, but cross-breeding has resulted in many different colors. Some species of kalanchoe are even more specialized. For example, the kalanchoe fedtschenkoi, also native to Madagascar, has the same distinctive, rounded leaves as its more popular cousin, but requires no soil to grow. Instead, this species of kalanchoe gets all its nutrients from the air.

Care

• Once kalanchoe seeds are planted, the plant will reach flowering maturity in a matter of months, depending on the variety. Planting from seeds means the plants will take longer to mature, but the kalanchoe can also be started from cuttings taken from adult plants. When planted in soil, the woody stems from adult plants will grow roots and develop into new plants. All kalanchoes are succelents, and store water in their leaves and stems much like a cactus does. This means that they're relatively easy to care for, and can successfully weather periods of neglect. They are extremely susceptible to cold, however, and leaves will begin to wilt when exposed to temperatures below 40 degrees Fahrenheit for only a short time.

Precautions

• The leaves of the kalanchoe are toxic if ingested, so care should be taken if the plants are left within reach of children or pets. Signs of kalanchoe poisoning include vomiting and diarrhea, and pets that chew on the leaves will often require veterinary care. This toxicity gives the kalanchoe its other names, including the Devil's Backbone.