Japanese name: カランコエ Scientific name:Kalanchoe Blossfeldiana Group
[Overview]
A group of garden cultivars developed from Kalanchoe brossfeldiana.
A succulent evergreen perennial.
The leaves are simple and alternate, thick, with rounded teeth on the margins.
Cymes at the tips of long flower stalks arising from the leaf axils bear many small 4-petaled flowers in dense clusters.
Flower colors are varied, and there are also double-flowered cultivars.
[Cultivation]
Propagate by stem cuttings or leaf cuttings.
It prefers a sunny, well-drained, well-ventilated environment.
In poor light it becomes leggy.
It can overwinter at 5°C or above, so it can overwinter outdoors if protected from frost and cold wind.
Place pots on a shelf or similar so air can reach the bottom, and move them out of the rain during long rainy spells.
For potted plants, water in spring and autumn when the soil surface dries, and keep on the dry side in midsummer and winter.
For plants in the ground, rainfall is sufficient.
It dislikes heat and humidity, so in summer place it in an airy spot in partial shade.
Apply a small amount of slow-release fertilizer from spring to autumn, except in midsummer.
Cutting it back in spring keeps the plant well balanced.
Pests and diseases include spider mites and scale insects.
