How to Prune a Kalanchoe Flapjack

Commonly known as flapjack kalanchoe, Kalanchoe thyrsiflora is a species of flowering succulent that is native to parts of southern Africa. It is widely cultivated for its unusual leaves, which are round in shape and densely packed with a glaucous grayish-green coloration edged with red. As with most succulents, flapjack kalanchoe requires little attention in a garden setting, but it does benefit from occasional pruning to remove shriveled leaves and spent flower stalks, as well as to improve the overall appearance of the plant if it becomes leggy with age.

Utility knife
Cotton ball
Rubbing alcohol

Instructions

- 1
  Clean the blade of a utility knife using a cotton ball dipped in rubbing alcohol. Rub both sides of the blade several times to sanitize them. Let the blade dry completely before using it to prune the flapjack plant.
- 2
  Remove shriveled, yellow or unhealthy looking leaves at their point of origin. Place the blade of the utility knife against the base of the leaf. Apply light pressure while slicing through the base. Do not cut the neighboring leaves.
- 3
  Remove the 3-foot-tall flower stalk after the blossoms die and fall off. Cut the stalk at its base as close to the trunk as possible. Make the cut straight across, flush with the base, using the sanitized utility knife. Avoid nicking the leaves when removing the flower stalk.
- 4
  Prune the flapjack kalanchoe in early spring to improve a leggy appearance. Pull or slice off the leaves along the leggy, exposed stem to reveal the growth nodes. Dab the growth nodes with a cotton ball to wick away moisture. Watch for new leaves emerging from the growth nodes three to five weeks later, which will give the plant a fuller, bushier appearance.

What Causes a Houseplant's Leaves to Fall Off?

Size of a Sugar Beet Plant Flower

Plant Basics