Why does not Kalanchoe bloom, but gives only foliage?

Why doesn’t Kalanchoe bloom, but only leaves grow? This question arises in many gardeners. When buying in a store, the seller assures that the care is very simple. So people relax, not really caring about the plant.

Sorry, there will be no magic. Without care, only dandelions bloom. And about Kalanchoe will have to dance. Not so long, but if you need a result - magnificent flowering, then some time will have to be allocated.

What provokes Kalanchoe to bloom? Just a few factors:

• shine
• water
• temperature
• a haircut

So we will consider all the items in detail.

Lighting

Most people think that plants need a lot of sunlight to bloom. This is so, but only in part. Kalanchoe loves bright lighting. But here's the catch: the plant lays flower buds only in short daylight hours. That is, no more than 10 hours.

How to get out of the situation? Very simple. To do this, you need a dark shelter. It could be a thick paper cone, a cardboard box, or even a piece of opaque cloth. For example, black covering material. Any of the above needs to cover the Kalanchoe at 19.00, and in the morning, at 7.00 to open.

By the way, Kalanchoe is not afraid of direct sunlight. Therefore, it can be safely grown on southern or western windows.

On the northern windows, the plant may simply not have enough light. The plant will begin to stretch, the leaves are crushed and fall off. So you have to acquire special lamps, or come up with another way. Otherwise, instead of a fluffy flowering bush, get a long, skinny bald branch.

Ideal would be windows facing east. There is enough bright light, plus the sun leaves after dinner. This means that no additional dimming is required.

Tip. Kalanchoe can be safely grown in the back of the room. Naturally, additional illumination lamps will have to be turned on all year round.

Watering and temperature

Failure to observe proper watering is one of the reasons for the lack of flowering of Kalanchoe. Not everyone knows that this is succulent. And they pour water as soon as the top layer of the earth in the pot dries. And why should a plant strive to continue its genus with flowers and seeds, if there is always enough fluid? You can safely build green mass.

In winter, the apartment is almost always hot and dry air. In such conditions, flower buds are not laid. It is necessary to slightly change the temperature policy in order to admire a fabulous bouquet afterwards.

Under natural conditions, Kalanchoe is cool in autumn and winter, the land is dry. In spring and summer, it rains regularly, the air is warm and humid. Therefore, when growing in a room, you need to strive to create a similar microclimate. I.e:

1. Autumn gradually reduce watering. Guided by the principle of dried topsoil plus another 3-4 days.
2. The ambient temperature is also gradually reduced, bringing to + 19-21 ° C.
3. Sometimes the plant itself is sprayed, about once a week.
4. With the advent of spring, watering is increased, reaching the norm. But do not overdo it! Rotting roots will not contribute to flowering accurately.
5. The temperature of the content is raised to + 25-27 ° C.
6. Spraying is speeded up up to 3 times a week.

Thanks to these actions, the laying of flower buds will begin in the fall. And in the spring, Kalanchoe will wake up and begin to bloom actively.

And further. Make good drainage in the tank. At home, Kalanchoe is accustomed to loose rocky soil. Therefore, his roots breathe freely. And if there is a swamp in the pot, then the plant will simply become sick and die. What kind of flowers are there?

Tip. Water is maintained for irrigation, but not boiled. Indeed, in nature boiled rain does not happen.

A haircut

A very important point for flowering. The fact is that flowers grow only at the tips of young shoots. And what usually happens? Faded Kalanchoe, cut and left. Let it grow as you wish. So he wants to pull a couple of long branches. There will never be flowers on them again.

In order for the plant to lay flower buds, it is necessary to provoke the formation of side shoots. This is most convenient to do in the summer, when there is an active growth of branches. All you need to do is pinch the old tops. However, this may not be enough.

Until September, you will have to regularly inspect the plant and conduct a haircut. If you let things go by themselves, then the bush will not be magnificent. It will simply continue to grow several side branches, and by the time of flowering it will completely lose its shape.

Some gardeners do not rack their brains at the correct pinching of the shoots. They simply root small shoots in the new soil, and old plants are thrown away or left as a mother liquor for the production of young shoots.

Tip. Kalanchoe cannot be formed in autumn and winter. By mistake, you can cut flower buds along with the tops of new shoots.

Other factors

We examined the main reasons why Kalanchoe does not bloom, and only leaves grow. But besides direct ones, there may be indirect culprits. They also should not be discounted.

Top dressing
Flowering always takes a lot of strength and nutrients from any plant. And if those growing in nature can calmly replenish supplies from the earth, then indoor ones have to help. After all, in the pot there is no normal amount of trace elements.

Any mineral fertilizer of a complex composition is suitable for feeding. It is not at all necessary to look for a special one for succulents. It is enough to simply reduce the dosage of the universal composition. 2 times better.

Just do not feed Kalanchoe too often. After all, it is used to very poor nutrition. An excess of fertilizers can lead to the development of diseases or tissue necrosis. By the way, how many times a season to give Kalanchoe top dressing, it’s not so easy to say. This should be written on the packaging. We advise no more than 1 time per month. In winter and autumn they do not fertilize at all. This is a time of rest and preparation for flowering, and excess nutrition will disrupt the normal cycle. Kalanchoe will grow, but will not bloom.

Pot size
Some sources recommend replanting Kalanchoe annually in a new pot. But do not explain the reason. It is interesting, for what purpose does the plant need a different vessel each time? Not otherwise than a tribute to fashion. How else to explain such a regular invasion of the root system? And where do you have to wait for flowers when the plant only does what adapts?

Do not once again open the root system and transplant Kalanchoe annually. This is required only when the roots become really cramped in the pot. And it is advisable to carry out the entire procedure in the summer, after the end of the next flowering.

In principle, you can make a transplant in the fall, but only until the moment the hibernation and laying of flower buds begins. And do not choose a pot that is much larger in size than the previous one. In too loose a container, Kalanchoe will become lazy and will not bloom.

Pests
In our climate, among the insects there are no lovers of Kalanchoe. But the aphid does not make out which continent its "food" came from. She often enjoys juice from plump leaves. As a result, the plant becomes weakened, it does not have forces for flowering.

If March has come, and on the Kalanchoe the buds are not yet visible, despite the excellent conditions of detention and competent care, then carefully examine the entire plant. You need to be a very inattentive person or a complete blind man in order not to notice uninvited guests. Moreover, the appearance of Kalanchoe during infection with aphids always makes us wish for the best.

If pests are found, they immediately bathe the plant in a solution of laundry soap as a whole. At the same time, the soil in the pot is necessarily covered with foil or dense polyethylene.

With a severe defeat, and this happens even with the most diligent owners, soap does not help. Have to use insecticides. Of course, the drugs are chemical, but here you need to decide which is more important. The choice is between the terry principles of organic farming and the health (flowers) of Kalanchoe. First save Kalanchoe from death, and only then reproach yourself for using industrial facilities. Do not forget about basic care.

Disease
Kalanchoe practically does not get sick. But sometimes it can be attacked by bacteria or spores of fungi. In most cases, the plant will cope on its own, if not disturbed. For example, excessive watering. Because the roots are suffocating, the green mass weakens, and sores develop. There will be no flowering in any case.

First you need to help Kalanchoe recover and recover, and only then wait for the buds. To do this:

1. Treat the bush with any systemic fungicide. It will help stop the spread of ailments.
2. Adjust the irrigation schedule, because most diseases of Kalanchoe are various rot from excess moisture.
3. Change the infected soil in the pot to a new one.
4. Be sure to inspect the root system. If necessary, trim rotten roots and burn them with ordinary medical green.
5. Once every 8 days, spray Kalanchoe with a solution of any adaptogen. It can be aloe juice, zircon, epin.

The last point is performed until the complete recovery of Kalanchoe. And in the future they try to take care of him carefully, but without fanaticism. Sometimes excessive care does more harm than good. It will be useful for the plant to take a break from the excessive love of the owners.

In general, it is very simple to find the reason why Kalanchoe does not bloom, and only leaves grow. Take a closer look at your plant and follow the recommendations for care. Then it will take quite a bit of effort, and as a result, elegant caps of inflorescences will appear that will delight the owners for at least 5 months.

Video: proper care for Kalanchoe