Kalanchoe Blossfeldiana Entretien Plant Information

Identification

• According to Edward F. Gilman at the University of Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Kalanchoe blossfeldiana is a succulent perennial that grows to between 6 and 12 inches tall. It has dark green foliage with scalloped leaves and large clusters of yellow, red, pink, or orange flowers that blossom in both the winter and spring.

History

• The kalanchoe is originally from Asia and Africa. It was discovered in Paris in 1927 by a German seed merchant named Robert Blossfeld, who named it the Kalanchoe blossfeldiana, and introduced it as a houseplant. The plant gained international recognition during the 1980s, according to the Kalanchoe website.

Considerations

• Kalanchoes grow best in well-drained soil. These plants require very little water or fertilizer. They are propagated by seed or by cuttings. The species is generally resistant to pests, but sometimes caterpillars and mealybugs can be a problem, according to Gilman at the University of Florida.