Kalanchoe THYRSIFLORA

Kalanchoe THYRSIFLORA - Paddle plant, Flapjack paddle plant, Kalanchoe thyrsiflora.

Kalanchoe are succulent plants in the stonecrop family (Crassulaceae). More than 200 species exist in the wild. The natural habitat for this plant encompasses the tropics and subtropics. For instance, it can be encountered in Africa, New Guinea, Asia, Australia, and Madagascar. The plant has long been known in cultivation, grown as both an ornamental flowering and medicinal subject. Among kalanchoes there are herbaceous plants (perennials), succulents, and subshrubs.

In nearly all species of this plant, the leaves are thick and fleshy, while the stems can be either creeping or erect. The height that a mature plant can reach varies by species. Thus, there are representatives that can grow up to one and a half meters (5 ft) tall, as well as those whose size does not exceed 20 centimeters (8 in). Their flowering is quite long-lasting and profuse. Their multiflowered umbel-like inflorescences come in various colors, for example white, red, yellow, or light pink.

This plant is quite unpretentious and very easy to care for. It also adapts very quickly to indoor conditions. And considering that it grows fast and propagates easily, one can see why kalanchoe has earned such popularity among flower growers. Kalanchoe has many common names: tree of life, indoor doctor, indoor ginseng; people call it a "surgeon without a scalpel". Its great merit is that it is completely safe. When it comes to choosing plants for a child or a children's room, kalanchoe could not be more suitable.

Paddle plant inhabits rocky slopes in South Africa. Herbaceous perennials up to 60 cm (24 in) tall, densely leafy. Leaves are obovate, up to 15 cm (6 in) long and 7 cm (2.8 in) wide, bluntly rounded, silvery-white, the lower ones in a rosette, densely arranged, while the upper ones are spaced farther apart and smaller than the lower ones.

The inflorescence is a panicle (thyrse). Flowers are yellow, the corolla tube urceolate-swollen, 4-angled, 1.5 cm (0.6 in) long, with small rounded petals up to 0.5 cm (0.2 in) long. It flowers profusely in April-May. A highly ornamental plant. After flowering, the plants form numerous bulb-like buds that are widely used for plant propagation.

Seeds are sown on the surface of a light, loose substrate mix diluted half-and-half with sand (a mixture of cactus soil and sand in equal parts can be used), lightly pressed in without covering from above. Sowing is moistened from a spray bottle, placed in a mini-greenhouse or covered with film, and germinated in the light at a temperature of 18-22 °C (64-72 °F). Seedlings require ventilation. Overwatering and drying out of the sowings must be avoided.

The seeds have a slow germination rate; usually the first sprouts appear after 2-3 weeks, though they can pip within 1 week under very favorable conditions, or conversely, take up to 7 weeks to germinate under less ideal conditions. After the first sprouts appear, the cover is removed, and about a month later, once young plants grow stronger, reach 1.5 cm (0.6 in) in height, and develop several true leaves, they are transplanted into individual pots.

The next repotting is carried out by transfer after 1-2 months, when the seedlings become cramped in their pots. A substrate of humus or sod soil, peat or compost, sand, and leaf mold is preferred.

To form a bushy shape, the tips of grown plants are carefully pinched out. After 4-5 well-established shoots have formed, the stems are trimmed again. Plants grown from seeds begin to flower after one year.

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Almost all kalanchoe species can be grown across a wide temperature range. In summer - within 18-28 °C (64-82 °F), in winter - not below 10-12 °C (50-54 °F), best of all at 16-18 °C (61-64 °F). At high temperatures in autumn and winter, flower buds fail to initiate. In spring and summer, kalanchoe is watered moderately; if the plant is kept in full sun, it is watered generously as the top layer of substrate dries out, while in winter watering is much less frequent, with soft settled water, though watering is not stopped entirely because severe drying causes heavy leaf drop. Water can be poured into the saucer rather than from above. Thanks to fleshy leaves covered with a waxy coating or numerous hairs, all kalanchoe plants tolerate the dry air of city apartments well. Air humidity plays no significant role for the plant. Kalanchoe does not require misting, but on a hot summer day this can only benefit the plant.

In summer, mineral fertilizers are applied weekly, and organic fertilizers once every 2 weeks. In autumn, when buds are setting, feeding can be repeated. You can feed with fertilizer for cacti. Repotting is carried out as needed (for overgrown plants). The soil for repotting is neutral or slightly acidic (pH 5.5-6.5). The plants grow well in standard potting mix for succulents, with the exception of epiphytic species, for which adding humus soil and applying fertilizer feedings is desirable for abundant blooming. Young plants are repotted into a mixture of 4 parts sod soil, 2 parts leaf mold, and 1 part each decomposed peat and sand. Conifer soil can be used instead of peat.