Propagation of Outdoor Kalanchoes

Planting

• In moderate climates, kalanchoes can be grown outdoors, but must be planted in pots in sterilized soil due to their sensitive root system. Lay small pebbles at the bottom of a 6- to 8-inch pot to aid in drainage and fill your pot with a soil containing equal parts peat moss and perlite. Plant cuttings in this soil in early spring or summer and place the pot in indirect sunlight in a closed plastic bag to increase humidity levels.

  To propagate from seed, sow in open flats in moist peat-perlite soil. Cover in sealed plastic to increase humidity. Keep your plant indoors for about two to three weeks to give it time to establish. Remove the plastic when growth is visible above the soil and move outside when weather permits.

Care

• Kalanchoes require outdoor temperatures between 60 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Their roots are sensitive to cold, and plants can die after only a few hours in colder temperatures. In climates where fall and winter months are cool, bring your kalanchoe plant indoors. Repot each spring in fresh soil and place in an outdoor area where it is protected from wind but where it still receives enough sunlight. Direct summer sun will burn kalanchoes, but direct sunlight during fall and early spring months can help your plant develop a rich reddish-brown perimeter color on its leaves. Fertilize kalanchoe plants only when you see new growth using a standard potting fertilizer such as 20-8-20. Apply at about one-fourth the recommended rate monthly.

Watering

• Kalanchoe plants like water but only when the soil is almost dry. The sensitive roots of this plant will rot if too much moisture is present, so don’t allow your kalanchoes to remain in standing water. During periods of rainy wet weather, bring your plant inside or place it in an area where it is protected from excessive moisture and empty excess water from your pot’s tray after each watering. Kalanchoes can tolerate dry conditions, but prolonged or frequent dryness can inhibit growth.

Bloom and Dormancy Cycles

• Prune off blooms that have died back as needed. This allows the plant to rest as it cycles between blooming and dormant periods. Reduce watering during dormancy cycles as well. Increase watering only when new buds form, signaling your plant is in bloom once more. Kalanchoes cycle between blooming and dormant periods throughout the year. The season does not affect these cycles. Blooming depends on the amount of light your plant receives. Provide your plant eight to 10 hours of light per day or less for optimum blooming; too much light can inhibit production of flowers.