How does flowering Kalanchoe reproduce? Reproduction of Kalanchoe

Kalanchoe, which can be propagated by leaves, pups, cuttings, seeds, layering, is considered a fast-growing plant, like all succulents. It is not easy to propagate, but very simple. Sometimes it’s enough to take a fallen leaf from one of your neighbors (unnoticed) and stick it in your house, and soon you can get a good flower, of course with... No matter how unpretentious Kalanchoe is considered, some manage to, as they say, destroy the plant in the bud.

But today we are talking about propagation and I want to talk about all types of Kalanchoe, how to propagate them more conveniently and quickly.

How to propagate Kalanchoe at home

Not all varieties of Kalanchoe can be propagated in the same way. Many people probably know and even at home have “viviparous” species that form babies on their adult leaves, that’s what brood buds are called, which sometimes grow on their own near the mother bush, completely without our participation.

These species include Kalanchoe pinnate and Degremona. You will not see children in other species, but nature has done its best for them, providing them with good methods of reproduction, such as axillary buds or using fleshy leaves. But let's take things in order.

Kalanchoe - leaf propagation

This type of propagation is very simple and you can use it at any time of the year. Kalanchoe reproduces quickly and well with leaf blades. It is enough to cut off a healthy adult leaf and dig it a little into a fertile substrate. It must be covered with a glass or jar on top to create a favorable atmosphere inside, around the future plant. Soon you will notice how a new plant has formed from the leaf.

Not all species, of course, form such roots. But they can be propagated by cuttings, for example, when you replant a flower or do pruning. Choose a good shoot, preferably a young one, with small bright green leaves, cut it so that it is not too long, from 6 to 8 cm and place it in a glass of water to obtain roots.

Some highly branching species need to be propagated only by cuttings; their shoots must be constantly removed to make the bush more luxuriant.

Don't be afraid to cut off the petioles for propagation. After all, some species have apical flowering and if you do not renew the bushes, then the long shoots will stand half-scarred and the appearance will be completely ugly.

Bushes obtained from cuttings must be shaped and the tops pinched so that more side shoots grow.

Reproduction of Kalanchoe by children

Those who have Kalanchoe species that form brood buds know how easy it is to propagate them. I constantly remove many small bushes that have sown on their own and have taken root near the mother bush.

The babies are small Kalanchoes that are fully formed and suitable for planting in the soil. As they ripen, they fall from the leaves and scatter everywhere; when they hit the soil, they immediately take root.

How to propagate Kalanchoe by axillary buds


If no children are formed on them, then an axillary bud is formed on them, just as nature took care of these plants and did everything so that they reproduce easily.

You may have noticed, if you have such types of Kalanchoe at home, when the old leaf falls off, a little higher up, a small head of cabbage sticks out in its axil, this is the axillary bud. You can wait until the bud is completely ripe and falls off, then just plant it in moist soil. Or you can cut it with a sharp knife as soon as its stem extends a centimeter and then plant it. Such propagation also quickly allows you to obtain an adult plant.

How to propagate Kalanchoe by offspring


Sometimes you don’t want to cut the leaves off your beautiful pet, but, alas, it doesn’t produce children. There is a good way to quickly reproduce and obtain high-quality and healthy plants - propagation of Kalanchoe by offspring.

What needs to be done to get these same offspring? You need to wait until the plant blooms and pinch off its crowns and growing points. By doing this, you will stimulate the formation of new shoots near the mother bush. All that remains is to separate them and plant them in moist soil. For quick rooting, a mixture of peat and clean sand, in equal parts, is suitable. And if you separate the offspring without damaging the roots, then it will grow very quickly.

Propagation of Kalanchoe by seeds

In early spring, from late February to April, you can sow Kalanchoe seeds. This method is also quite simple, because the seeds always have good germination.

For this method of propagation, we need to prepare a soil mixture so that it is light and sufficiently fertile. Suitable soil is made from turf soil, humus and peat, taken in equal parts and with the addition of half a part of coarse river sand.

The seeds need to be distributed over moist soil, not covered, but lightly pressed into the soil. Cover the top with glass or film. We place the container in a place where the temperature constantly remains around 20 degrees.

When growing Kalanchoe from seeds, you need to constantly check the soil to ensure it is always moderately moist. When shoots appear, the film must be removed. Then, when the plants grow a little, it will be possible to plant them in their permanent places.

This wonderful plant is a succulent., it has a thick green stem (may become woody over time) and fleshy, succulent leaves. Almost all of them bloom beautifully. Kalanchoe comes from the tropics, was first discovered in Madagascar, then quickly spread throughout Europe thanks to its unique healing properties.

Kalanchoe Degremon and Kalanchoe Pinnate are especially popular now in home floriculture specifically for medicinal use. After all, Kalanchoe is a real “house doctor” for the vast majority of us; its juice successfully treats the nose, throat, heals wounds, cuts and much more. Kalanchoe is also very popular among cosmetologists; its juice perfectly regenerates the skin.

When does it reproduce?

Reference! Kalanchoe reproduces quite easily, and in various ways - “babies” on the leaves, seeds, cuttings, etc.

In some ways, you can successfully propagate the plant all year round, and in some ways - at certain times. For example, it is best to start propagating by cuttings after the end of flowering (when the plant is pruned) or after formative pruning. It will be most effective to start propagating by seeds in early spring.

It's great that There are several options for breeding Kalanchoe, you can choose the one that is most convenient for you.

If the goal is to get a large number of new plants, then, of course, the best way is to sow seeds.

And if you just need to propagate for yourself and get several young specimens, then It is best to plant “babies” or root cuttings.

Let's take a closer look at how Kalanchoe reproduces.

Methods

Cuttings

All types of plants reproduce in this way; the best time for the procedure is spring. Cuttings root easily both in water and in soil (use equal parts universal soil for indoor plants and sand). To get a cutting you need:

  1. cut off a part of a branch or stem approximately 6–8 cm long with 2 or 3 pairs of leaves, tear off the lower ones;
  2. then we just leave the cut cuttings to lie in the air so that the cuts dry;
  3. then we plant them in pots (5–7 cm in diameter) so that the lower leaves lie directly on the ground;
  4. water and place in the window (not in the sun).

Attention! The soil should be kept moist throughout the entire rooting period; after two weeks, young bushes will form from the cuttings, completely fertilized. If you want to root the cuttings in water, then the same dried cuttings should be placed in a container with water, where there should be about 2 - 3 cm of water.

Leaf

Can be propagated throughout the year. Plant the cut leaf in moist, fertile soil and cover it with a jar or glass on top. Very soon a new plant will begin to form - literally on gases.

You can not even use a whole leaf, but parts of a leaf - in this case, a new young plant will also quickly develop from each part, or you can even not cut anything from the bush at all - you can successfully propagate Kalanchoe with old fallen leaves, they very quickly take root in water.

This the best propagation method to obtain a large number of seedlings:

  1. first you need to prepare the soil (be sure to add sand), do not forget to put a layer of drainage at the bottom of the pot;
  2. sow the seeds in moist soil - simply spread them on the surface and press down lightly with a spoon or finger;
  3. then cover the container with the seeds with film and place it on the windowsill (where it’s warm);
  4. The soil should be ventilated regularly and not allowed to dry out.

The germination rate of the seeds is always good, they quickly and actively begin to germinate and form; as soon as the seedlings grow a little, they will need to be pruned (weak sprouts are best removed immediately), and after 2–3 weeks each plant can be planted in its own separate pot.

Children

An amazing method, however, it is only possible for the “viviparous” Kalanchoe - Cirrus and Degremon. “Children” (miniature rosettes) are formed along the edges of the leaves. They immediately form not only leaves, but also a root system, that is, they are immediately ready for planting.

As soon as such “babies” fall to the ground, they immediately turn into independent plants and begin to grow quickly, but the problem is that there are too many of them and they begin to interfere with each other’s development, so they need to be carefully removed from under bush and plant in separate pots. Of course, you don’t have to wait until the “babies” fall to the ground, but you can carefully break them off the leaf and put them in a separate container.

Offspring

To use this method of propagation, the plant must be healthy and mature. After flowering has finished, pinch off the tops of all stems., thereby providing an incentive for the formation of new young shoots next to the mother bush.

After some time, when this young tribe has grown to approximately one-third the height of the mother bush, they need to be carefully separated (without damaging the roots) and planted in separate pots.

This is also an interesting method, but it cannot be applied to all species. For example, Kalanchoe paniculata leaves fall off after flowering, and in the place where they grew, such miniature heads of cabbage appear - these are new buds. Under natural conditions, these buds fall to the ground (from their own gravity) and take root easily.

Well, at home, you don’t need to wait for this moment at all; you need to carefully cut them off and plant them in light soil (the soil must contain sand). After about a week, roots will form, and after 3 weeks they can be planted in a permanent place in pots.

Reference! If there is a need to propagate flowering Kalanchoe, then this can also be done in different ways, but the most suitable are: cuttings or seeds. It would be correct to do this in the spring.

If you are propagating from cuttings.

  • You can use either stem or leaf cuttings.
  • Daytime temperatures should be between 20 - 24 degrees, and night temperatures - 20 - 18 degrees.
  • There should be a lot of light, but not bright sunlight.
  • Only undamaged healthy material can be taken for propagation.

If you propagate by seeds.

  • Sow seeds in sterilized and well-moistened soil.
  • Gently press the seeds into the ground and do not cover them; place a bag or glass on top.
  • Provide sunlight (diffused).
  • The temperature is not lower than 22 degrees.
  • Ventilate daily.

Now you know how to propagate flowering Kalanchoe.

How to root?

  1. You need to prepare the right soil, it should be loose and well-permeable to water and oxygen; it’s very good if it contains perlite, sand or coconut fiber.
  2. Place a good layer of drainage on the bottom of the pot (it’s best to take an unglazed clay pot); you can fill the pot one-third with it.
  3. Further, the rooting process itself is similar for all varieties - both flowering and non-flowering Kalanchoe. We root the cuttings (leaf or stem) in prepared light soil (we deepen the leaf cuttings slightly into the soil, and deepen the stem cuttings by about 4 - 6 cm) and wait for new plants.

Further care

So that after planting the Kalanchoe flower develops well and grows healthy, you need to provide the correct one for it at home:

  • maintain a moderate temperature, the minimum should not fall below 8 degrees;
  • You will need to water about once a month;
  • the lighting should be bright, but direct sunlight is possible only in the morning or evening, not at lunchtime;
  • carefully inspect for the presence of pests and promptly treat the plant if they are suddenly discovered.

Conclusion

As a result, we can confidently conclude that the Kalanchoe reproduction process is an activity for your own pleasure, because it proceeds easily and simply. After getting acquainted with this wonderful plant, you immediately want to have the same one.

For some of us, when we name it, we associate it with the bitter taste of its juice - these are childhood memories when our parents treated us for a cold. So, if you don’t already have this plant, be sure to get one.

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The amazing flowering succulent Kalanchoe reproduces in several ways. Flower growers need to know how to propagate Kalanchoe at home in accordance with the variety. For example, most often Dergomona, pinnate and tube-flowering Kalanchoe are propagated by species buds. But the varieties with fleshy leaf blades, cuttings and leaves, Blossfeld and Mangina - offspring. Paniculaceae reproduce by axillary buds, and perestate and tomentaceae reproduce by seeds.

But this does not mean at all that another technique cannot be used.

The African succulent, which is all varieties of Kalanchoe, takes root easily and simply. Even a beginner can cope with the process after first learning how to plant a Kalanchoe shoot. Plants reproduce by vegetative and seed methods. For the first option, old leaf blades that have fallen due to their maturity can even be used.

Let's consider all the options for breeding Kalanchoe.

Leaf blade with and without petiole

Kalanchoe can be propagated by leaves at any time of the year. Kalanchoe, propagated by leaves, retains all the characteristics of the mother plant. The procedure looks like this:


Rooting occurs very quickly. The process of formation of the root system does not take more than 10 days.

Important! Kalanchoe can reproduce by part of a leaf. This method is used in the industrial cultivation of plants.

Naturally, it is best to use freshly cut leaves, which are full of strength and energy. If you use wilted leaf blades as planting material, they should be germinated in a glass of water.

Young cuttings

Kalanchoe, which can be propagated by cuttings after the bush is formed, blooms in the year of the procedure. The rooting period is 14 days. For the procedure, cuttings 5-10 cm long are used. If the sprout is too long, it is trimmed.

Advice! The tops of shoots with soft, fleshy tissues take root best. Root planting material directly in the soil or in a glass of water.

Reproduction by children

Not all varieties are grown by children, because not all species form leaf buds. “Viviparous” Kalanchoes form their babies on leaves. If you look closely at the babies, you can see tiny leaves and miniature roots. The plant sheds its young, which, with the help of the formed root system, cling to the soil surface and quickly begin to grow.

When planting Kalanchoe children, you should very carefully remove them from the mother bush and plant them in nutritious, loose soil.

Axillary buds

Only a few varieties reproduce by axillary buds. If, after the leaves fall off, buds of new branches appear in the axils, then you can begin propagating the variety. When learning how to propagate flowering Kalanchoe at home, the gardener should either know for sure the variety of his green pet, or act intuitively. But in any case, the air buds are removed after the plant forms a full-fledged stem 2-3 cm long.

Planting material is cut from the parent with a sharp, disinfected blade and planted in a loose substrate, which contains a large amount of sand. Axillary buds take 1-2 weeks to take root. The formation of young leaves and noticeable growth of the trunk indicate the success of the procedure.

Offspring

Only some varieties that form basal shoots are propagated by offspring. To stimulate the formation of offspring, it is necessary immediately after the flowers wither. The formation contributes to the development of the children and within a month many saddles appear next to the main trunk.

When determining how to take a shoot from a Kalanchoe, the gardener should understand that a strong plant takes root best. Therefore, the offspring are grown on the mother plant and only after they become a mature crop are they transplanted.

Separate the planting material from the mother plant very carefully. Disembarkation is carried out immediately after removal from the parent. For propagation, nutritious soil prepared from peat, sand, and garden soil is used.

Seeds

To propagate succulents, the seed method is also used. Kalanchoe seeds are characterized by a high germination rate. If professional rules are followed, seedlings are amicable and uniform.

Agricultural technology for seed propagation of Kalanchoe:


For flawless germination, the greenhouse should be periodically ventilated and the surface of the soil should be sprayed with warm water. When shoots appear, the film is removed and the seedlings are grown to 2-3 leaves. After the miniature bush has formed, it is carefully transplanted into separate pots with nutritious soil.

  • Professionals recommend flowering Kalanchoe, the propagation of which allows you to get many beautiful bushes, placed in bright places without direct sun. This will help to form a uniform crown without burns on the leaf plates.
  • For planting material, use light soil, which is prepared from equal parts of peat, sand, garden soil and half the amount of humus. For planting grown specimens, heavier soil is used.
  • Young Kalanchoe, cuttings of which were used for propagation, are kept in a dark place, constantly pinching the tops of the shoots. The procedure will allow you to form an even, lush crown with abundant flowering in the first year of cultivation.
  • It is best to root leaves and cuttings in damp sand or sphagnum moss. Rooting in water very often leads to rotting of the lower part of the cutting.
  • Propagating Kalanchoe is not difficult at all. The plant almost never rots and takes root in just 10-20 days. And by providing it, you can enjoy abundant flowering every year.

The tropical plant Kalanchoe was brought to Europe at the beginning of the 19th century and at first few people knew about it. Nowadays it is a popular ornamental and medicinal plant, and growing it at home, as well as caring for it, is not difficult. It is not difficult to propagate the desired type of Kalanchoe, having first familiarized yourself with the different methods.

Characteristics of Kalanchoe

The undemanding nature of Kalanchoe is explained by its characteristics. In nature, it grows on light soils, receiving enough light, so when growing flowering species at home, it is not at all difficult to independently prepare a soil mixture for it (leaf and turf soil, sand - all in the same proportions) and choose a well-lit place.

The culture is not demanding when it comes to watering - like a succulent plant, it stores moisture in its fleshy leaves and stem. It is recommended to water only when the soil dries out by 1-1.5 cm.

The plant easily tolerates a summer temperature increase of up to 30 ° C, but in winter, during the dormant period, the best conditions for it are a cool (16 ° -18 ° C) room. It is especially important to maintain the temperature for flowering Kalanchoe species. They react to high winter temperatures by not flowering or by growing significantly smaller flowers.


Reproduction of some varieties of Kalanchoe

The distinctive features of a particular variety of Kalanchoe play an important role in the methods of reproduction. Medicinal Degremona and Cirrus, as well as Tubeflower can be propagated by cuttings, children, suckers, leaves.

To propagate the Blossfeld and Mangina varieties, in addition to the above options, the seed method is used. And, what is very important, the varietal characteristics are preserved.

Felt Kalanchoe is easily propagated by both leaf and stem cuttings, and by seed, and for the paniculate-flowered variety, the method using axillary buds is convenient.

There are several options for propagating flowering Kalanchoe at home, and the choice of one depends on the type of plant and the purpose of cultivation. If you want to get more material for planting, it is better to use the seed method, and if you only need a few seedlings, then it is more profitable to use leaves, cuttings, and suckers.


Information! Vegetative methods of propagation can be used throughout the year, following the rules of care in the future, and the seed method can be used in the spring (April-May).

Cuttings

The method of propagating flowering Kalanchoe by cuttings is convenient to use after formative pruning, since many strong branches remain suitable for rooting. The best time to carry out the procedure is spring, when all processes in the plant are most active. Flowering will occur in about 7 months.

How to do it:

  • trim the cut branches, leaving 6-8 cm in length and 2-3 pairs of leaves;
  • to prevent rotting, the cuts must dry out, so place the cuttings in a semi-dark place for several hours;
  • prepare plastic cups (250 ml) or small pots (diameter 8-9 cm) with drainage holes;
  • build a drainage layer, for example, from small pebbles or crushed bricks;
  • you can use special soil for succulent plants, adding a little sand;
  • bury the cuttings into the soil up to the first leaves and water, subsequently keeping the soil moist, but without flooding;
  • Place the container in a bright place where there is no direct sunlight or draft.


Rooting occurs well even without soil. You need to fill the container with water (2-3 cm) and lower the dried cut into it. If you pour more water, the cutting will receive less oxygen.

Sheet method

When propagating by leaf, you can take specially cut leaves or only part of the leaf blade, or you can use an already fallen leaf. The old (fallen) leaf needs to be cut off so that the rooting process goes better.

The cut must be dried for 3 hours, then slightly buried in a ready-made or self-prepared soil mixture (the mixture option is described above), and watered.

Reference! When planting, the leaf plate can be placed both vertically and horizontally.

Cover the container on top with a jar, a cut plastic bottle, or a bag. The greenhouse should be ventilated to prevent condensation from accumulating.

It takes about a month to root. When the emerging sprouts grow and three pairs of leaves form on them, the seedlings are ready to be transplanted into a separate pot. Flowers will appear after a year.


Use of brood buds

Brood buds are the so-called “babies” that form between the cloves on the leaf of the mother plant. Such varieties of Kalanchoe are called viviparous (pinnate, trumpetflower, Degremona).

Propagating them with the help of “babies” is very simple, since they already have two leaves, roots, and when they fall on the soil, rapid rooting occurs. Grown young plants can be replanted. They should not be left near the mother bush, since they are cramped and grow weak, with a thin, elongated trunk.

Some do it simpler - collect the children and immediately put them in an individual container.

Use of axillary buds

Kalanchoe, for example, paniculata, tends to shed its leaves. A shoot similar to a shaggy cabbage head soon appears above the place where the leaf attaches to the trunk - this is the axillary bud. In nature, when it grows to a certain size, it breaks off and, falling, takes root.


At home, propagation is done differently - they cut off a bud that has grown to 1-2 cm with a sharp tool and plant it in a prepared soil mixture with a large amount of sand. After 7 days, the roots will sprout, and after about 7-9 days the seedling will begin to grow intensively.

Reproduction by offspring

The shoots of root buds that appear as a result of pinching the top of the Kalanchoe after finishing or after pruning are called suckers. When the shoots grow up, they are dug into the soil, cut off from the mother bush and transplanted into a separate container with a soil mixture (river sand and turf soil in a ratio of 8:2).

Important! The surface of the cuts near the shoot and bush must be sprinkled with charcoal powder to prevent infection.

You can also separate the offspring when replanting the plant. After removal from the ground, the roots should be washed to make it easier to untangle the roots and select the cutting location. A scion planted in this way takes root very quickly because the roots are already well developed.


Seed method

Kalanchoe is propagated by seeds when a new species or a large amount of planting material is required. To preserve varietal characteristics, vegetative propagation is used.

The seeds are distributed evenly, at a distance of 3-4 cm from each other, over the surface of the soil (peat + sand), lightly sprinkled and moistened. The container covered with film is placed in a warm (22-24 ° C) bright place, sometimes opening for ventilation and removal of condensation.

The cover is removed after the sprouts appear. The soil should be moistened regularly to prevent the thin roots from drying out. At the age of 2-3 weeks, the seedlings are transplanted into separate small containers - in a large container, the root system spends energy on mastering the volume, as a result, the growth of the above-ground part slows down.


Reproduction errors

Quite often, when propagated by cuttings or leaves, the lower part of the cutting (leaf) begins to rot. The reason is insufficient drying of the cut. You can, if the rotting surface is small, cut off the rotten area, dry the cut as expected and plant the leaf in new soil. If the affected area is large, then the cutting cannot be used.

Possible errors during reproduction:

  • too long a petiole leads to rotting of the lower part of the leaf;
  • lack of moisture causes the thin roots of the seedling to dry out;
  • cuttings from old branches take less root;
  • in a container that is too large, the plant grows worse because it spends energy developing the root system in order to occupy the entire volume;
  • the pot is in a draft - temperature changes negatively affect growth;
  • room temperature below 20 °C - at low temperatures growth slows down, roots develop poorly and may rot;
  • direct sunlight on a young plant causes burns.

It is not difficult even for novice gardeners to propagate Kalanchoe at home using any of the proposed methods. The culture is unpretentious, easily gets along with other plants, the main thing is to know its requirements and create the necessary, very simple, conditions for it.

The name "Kalanchoe" unites many succulents with similar characteristics. There are more than 200 species in the genus, and no fewer forms have been bred through selection. However, the appearance, size, and method of propagation of plants can vary greatly.

There are at least 6 ways to breed Kalanchoe at home. Some of them are simple, but only suitable for certain species. In this article we will look at two universal methods applicable to all plant forms - propagation by cuttings and leaf blades.

The natural environment for representatives of the Tolstyankov family is the difficult conditions of the tropics. The climatic zone is characterized not only by humus-rich soils, but also by poor rocky soils in the highlands, an excess of moisture in the summer and a lack of moisture in the winter season.

To compensate for the difficult growing conditions, nature has provided many ways in which Kalanchoe maintains the population of the genus. Reproduction options differ depending on the type of succulent:

  • Varietal varieties of Mangin and Blossfeld are grown from cuttings, root shoots, and seeds.
  • All varietal forms of Degremon, Kalanchoe pinnate, and also Tubeflower are successfully propagated by all known methods - rooting of leaves and stem cuttings, basal suckers, brood buds, and growing seed seedlings.
  • “Cat Ears” or K. tomentosa (Felt) can easily be taken from cuttings, but seeds can also be planted.
  • The number of rare Kalanchoe paniculata is most conveniently increased with the help of axillary buds, which are formed after the flowers wither.

In each case, the method is chosen based on the purpose. Seed propagation is considered the most labor-intensive and time-consuming. It is used when you need to obtain planting material in large quantities.

Note: planting leaf and stem cuttings are universal methods of propagating Kalanchoe, which even novice gardeners can handle.

Plant propagation by cuttings

Household Kalanchoe is considered a succulent characterized by rapid growth, so cuttings allow you to get a young plant in the shortest possible time. A bush from a cutting grows on its own within 3-4 weeks.

Cut branches take root well in light substrate or water. You can cut succulents all year round, but the best results are obtained in the spring, when they awaken after a period of dormancy.

Rules for taking cuttings

  1. Strong and succulent shoots are suitable for propagation using this method. You can use the twigs left over when forming the bush.
  2. The minimum cutting length is 5 cm, the maximum is 10-12 cm.
  3. It is desirable that the rooted shoot have at least 3 short internodes.
  4. In order for the Kalanchoe to retain its varietal characteristics and for the bush to grow aesthetically pleasing and neat, it is better to take branches from the top of the plant.
  5. Remove leaves from the bottom, leaving only 2-3 pairs on the branch.

Make cuts with a clean, sharp tool, and sprinkle the wounds on the plant with crushed coal.

Important point! Immediately after harvesting, it is advisable to dry the cuttings - leave them in the open air for a period of 6 hours to 1-2 days. This will protect the stems from rotting.

It is also known that in Kalanchoe placed in extreme conditions, regeneration processes start faster, which contributes to faster rooting. If you leave the cutting in the air for a longer time, roots may appear without water; the plant will try to reach the ground with them.

There is no consensus among gardeners about the drying time - it all depends on the area of ​​the cut.

What to do next

Kalanchoe cuttings produce roots both in water and in soil. In the first case, it is enough to put the air-dried shoots in a jar. Pour a little water - a level of 2-3 cm is enough, since with a larger volume there will not be enough air for the development of roots.

The cut of the cutting should not reach the bottom of the jar, the temperature is +23...24º C. After the roots have formed, plant the plant in a soil mixture for succulents.

To plant a cutting in a pot, take either clean, damp sand, or prepare a light substrate with good aeration. In the first case, after complete rooting, the Kalanchoe is transplanted to a permanent place; in the second, this is not necessary. The composition of the substrate may be different:

  1. ready-made store-bought mixture intended for succulent plants;
  2. universal soil for indoor plants and the same volume of sand;
  3. a mixture of turf soil, leaf soil, peat, humus, coarse sand in the proportion: 1: 1: 1: 1: 2.

The root system of Kalanchoe is small, so a pot with a diameter of 5-10 cm is enough for cuttings.

Please note: succulents do not tolerate stagnant waterlogging. Therefore, the main condition for proper planting is the presence of holes in the bottom and a drainage layer consisting of pebbles, expanded clay, and sand.

Plant the cuttings in the substrate to a depth of 1-1.5 cm - so that the soil reaches the lower leaves. Place the pot on a windowsill with intense but diffuse lighting, making sure the soil does not dry out.

There is no need to cover the cuttings on top with film or a jar - there is enough moisture in parts of the succulents for rooting.

Propagation of Kalanchoe by leaf

Leaf rooting can be called a method for the lazy. The easiest way to obtain a seedling is to leave the fallen leaf lying under the mother plant and forget about it. But with this approach there is a risk that the Kalanchoe will grow stunted or sick.

Propagation by leaves is carried out in several stages:

  1. Choose a healthy leaf that is dense to the touch - without stains, tears, or signs of drying.
  2. Use a sharp tool to cut off the leaf blade.
  3. Dry the sections for several hours, if the leaf is large and fleshy - up to 2 days. At the same time, avoid direct sunlight.
  4. Lightly press the prepared leaf into the substrate vertically or at an angle.
  5. If the leaf is small, there is a risk that it will dry out faster than take root - cover it with a transparent greenhouse. This will reduce moisture evaporation.

Note: the leaf for propagation can be divided into fragments and rooted each separately. In this case, the parts are dropped vertically.

For propagation by leaves, the same substrate is suitable as for cuttings. After about 3-4 weeks, small buds will begin to grow along the edges of the leaf. When the children grow up and take root, they can be separated from the mother leaf for planting in separate pots.

Subtleties of care before rooting

Until the planted cuttings or leaves acquire their own root system, you need to maintain comfortable conditions:

  • provide young plants with plenty of light, but protect them from burns;
  • keep them warm - at an ambient temperature of about 23-25º C;
  • do not allow the soil to become waterlogged or completely dry out;
  • protect Kalanchoe cuttings from drafts and temperature stress;
  • for irrigation, use settled water heated to ambient temperature;
  • It is better to moisten the soil using a household sprayer so as not to disturb the young plant again.

An important point: it is better to underfill Kalanchoe water than to overfill it. Therefore, start watering only after checking the moisture content of the planting mixture.

Why does a Kalanchoe cutting not take root?

When propagating succulents by cuttings, it should be remembered that in nature the peak of reproduction occurs in the spring, when daylight hours increase in the tropics and there is no excessive heat and extreme humidity. Therefore, at home, you do not need to be too zealous with care: over-water and place the seedling in the sun.

Among gardeners, Kalanchoe is considered a very flexible flower. It grows well in poor soils and tolerates lack of watering.

Succulents have such a developed mechanism for preserving the ancestral population that they are able to take root in harsh conditions. Kalanchoe only needs light, a little moisture and warmth. This is what you should start from when propagating by leaves and cuttings.

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