What Is a Calandiva Plant?

Kalanchoe Characteristics

• Kalanchoe is a succulent plant, which means it has adapted to dry conditions by storing water in its stems and leaves. The dark green leaves are thick and fleshy and may be finely or deeply scalloped. Kalanchoe grows from 6 to 18 inches tall with an equal spread, and it holds its flowers above the leaves in clusters, called umbels. Kalanchoe flowers in a palette of colors that includes red, orange, pink, yellow and white.

Calandiva Series

• The Calandiva series was bred from a single plant discovered at a Swedish nursery. The multi-petaled kalanchoe was taken by Dutch plant breeding company, Fides, which developed the Calandiva series from this original stock plant. Traditionally, kalanchoe flowers have four petals, but the Calandiva series has blooms with 32 petals. This abundance of petals gives the appearance of tiny roses that are massed on bloom stalks so dense they form a solid carpet of color above the foliage. The Calandiva series includes "Calandiva Birken" with hot pink flowers, "Calandiva Tylo" with flame red flowers and "Calandiva Leonardo" with purple flowers.

General Care

• Kalanchoe grows as a perennial in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 10 and 11, but is grown as a houseplant in other areas. If you grow it outside, kalanchoe flourishes where it receives four hours of sun daily but is protected from the harsh afternoon sun. Indoors, it prospers in brightly lit areas and on sunny windowsills. Its foliage may burn if it touches the window pane. Essential to kalanchoe’s healthy growth is proper watering and choice of growing medium. As a succulent, this plant has moderate to low watering needs and may rot if its roots remain in waterlogged soil. Water only when the soil is dry, and then water it until it drains freely, emptying the bottom saucer of excess moisture. Use soil that contains 50 percent coarse sand or a mix that is packaged for cacti and succulents.

Reblooming

• Calandiva kalanchoes typically bloom once a year, but they require a little extra care to bloom each year. Commonly, the plants are sold while they’re in bloom, so all you have to do is keep it watered lightly and enjoy the long-lived flowers. As a short-day plant, kalanchoe responds to light triggers before it sets flower buds again. Around the first of October, when day lengths are shorter, you can imitate nature by placing a box over your plant to exclude all light. You may also place it in a closet, but any light coming into the closet from around the door frame disrupts its need for total darkness. Leave the box in place for 14 to 16 hours every day for four to six weeks until you see flower buds forming. Then, you can stop covering your plant with the box. The buds will continue to develop and the flowers typically begin to open in January.