Kalanchoe LUCIAE

Kalanchoe LUCIAE - Paddle plant, Flapjack pancake plant, Kalanchoe luciae.

Kalanchoe is a genus of succulent plants in the family Crassulaceae. In nature, there are more than 200 species. The natural habitat for this plant is the tropics and subtropics. For example, it can be encountered in Africa, New Guinea, Asia, Australia, as well as Madagascar. It has long been cultivated as an ornamental flowering and medicinal plant. Among kalanchoes, there are herbaceous perennials, succulents, and subshrubs.

Leaves of almost all species of this plant are thick and fleshy, while stems can be either creeping or erect. The height an adult plant can reach varies by species. Thus, there are representatives that can grow up to 1.5 m (5 ft) in height, and there are those whose size does not exceed 20 cm (8 in). Flowering in them is quite long and abundant. Their multiflorous umbel-like inflorescences come in various colors, for example, white, red, yellow, or pale pink.

This plant is quite undemanding and very easy to care for. It also adapts very quickly to indoor conditions. Considering that it grows quickly and propagates easily, it is easy to understand why kalanchoe gained such popularity among plant growers. Kalanchoe has many folk names: tree of life, room doctor, indoor ginseng, and it is called "surgeon without a knife". Its great advantage is that it is completely safe. When it comes to choosing plants for a child's room, kalanchoe fits very well.

Kalanchoe luciae is a branching succulent reaching 60 cm (24 in) in height and 20 cm (8 in) in width. It forms a rosette with a thick stem, short internodes, and large, paddle-shaped, rounded, fleshy leaves. It usually creates secondary branches at the base. Each stem is monocarpic. The main stem survives for many months during the maturation of the flowering stalk, and then dies. A mature plant, after three to four seasons, comes into bloom in late winter with flowers at the base of the leaves, and then perishes. The inflorescence is slender, cylindrical, and the flowers are tubular, white or pale greenish-yellow, small, and fragrant. Each plant produces only one flowering cycle throughout its entire life.

It has unique large, thick, paddle-shaped, rounded gray-green leaves, wider than they are long, with a reddish blush along the edges. Younger leaves and stems have a white, powdery coating that serves as protection against harsh sun. Young leaves grow vertically and parallel to each other, while older leaves at the base of the plant begin to spread out. In the sun, they take on a bright red hue, enhanced even more by autumn cold. Sometimes the leaves color entirely into a wine-red hue. In shade, they remain uniformly green. This plant can be grown in shade, where the leaves lose most of their color but maintain interesting form and texture, although stem internodes elongate greatly. Drought-resistant, they do not tolerate frost.

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

Seeds have a low germination speed; usually the first seedlings appear after 2-3 weeks, although they may sprout in 1 week under very favorable conditions, and conversely, in less optimal conditions may take up to 7 weeks to germinate. After the first sprouts appear, the cover is removed, and after about a month, when young plants strengthen, grow to 1.5 cm (0.6 in) in height, and develop several true leaves, they are repotted into individual pots.

The next repotting is carried out by potting on 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 promote lush bushiness, the tips of growing plants are gently pinched. After the formation of 4-5 well-rooted shoots, the stems are trimmed again. Plants grown from seed bloom after a year.

© Greeniverse. All rights reserved.

Almost all kalanchoe species can be grown in a wide range of temperatures. 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 do not form. In spring and summer, kalanchoe is watered moderately, and if the plant is kept in the sun, watered abundantly as the top layer of substrate dries out; in winter - significantly less often, with soft settled water, without stopping watering completely, as severe desiccation 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 urban 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. Cactus fertilizer can be used. Repotting is carried out as necessary (for overgrown plants). Soil for repotting is neutral or slightly acidic (pH 5.5-6.5). Plants grow well in standard succulent mix, with the exception of epiphytic species, for which leaf mold should preferably be added and fertilizing feedings applied for profuse flowering. Young plants are repotted into a mixture of 4 parts sod soil, 2 parts leaf mold, and 1 part each decayed peat and sand. Conifer soil can be used instead of peat.