The Fleurette Plant (Kalanchoe blossfeldiana) is a popular and vibrant houseplant known for its long-lasting color and straightforward care. This succulent perennial is a favorite among gardeners due to its dense, colorful flower clusters, which provide significant decorative appeal indoors. Understanding its specific needs ensures it remains healthy and consistently produces striking blooms.
Identifying the Fleurette Plant
The Florist Kalanchoe (Kalanchoe blossfeldiana) is a succulent native to Madagascar. This explains its preference for dry conditions and its fleshy structure. It is characterized by thick, glossy, dark green leaves with a distinctive scalloped edge. The plant maintains a compact, bushy form, typically growing between 6 to 18 inches high indoors. Its most striking feature is the profusion of small, four-petaled flowers. These flowers grow in dense, upright clusters (umbels) above the foliage and display vivid colors, including red, pink, orange, yellow, and white.
Essential Care Requirements
Providing the right light intensity is important for the health and flowering potential of the Florist Kalanchoe. This plant thrives in bright, indirect light, such as near an east or west-facing window in summer, or a south-facing window in winter. Avoid intense, direct afternoon sun, especially in warmer climates, as this can scorch the succulent leaves.
As a drought-tolerant succulent, water the Fleurette Plant sparingly to mimic its native arid environment. Overwatering is the most common cause of decline, often leading to root rot. Allow the top inch or two of the soil to dry out completely before administering a thorough watering.
The planting medium should be very porous to facilitate rapid drainage. A specialized cactus or succulent potting mix works well, or blend standard potting mix with a gritty material like perlite or coarse sand (1:1 ratio). During the active growing period of spring and summer, apply a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer once every four to six weeks to support growth.
Encouraging Blooms and Propagation
To encourage the Fleurette Plant to bloom again, mimic the short-day conditions of its natural winter cycle. This process, known as photoperiod manipulation, requires the plant to receive 12 to 14 hours of complete, uninterrupted darkness daily. This regimen should be maintained for about six weeks to trigger the formation of new flower buds.
During the daily dark period (achieved by placing the plant in a closet or under a light-proof box), it still needs 10 to 12 hours of bright, indirect light. Once buds appear, cease the darkness treatment. Keep the plant at slightly cooler nighttime temperatures, ideally around 60°F, to prolong the blooms. Deadheading, or removing spent flower stalks, also diverts the plant’s energy toward new growth and subsequent flowering cycles.
Propagation
The Florist Kalanchoe is easily propagated using stem cuttings. Select a healthy, non-flowering stem section about two to three inches long, making a clean cut just below a leaf node. The cutting must then be left in a dry, warm location for several days until a protective layer, called a callus, forms over the cut end. Once calloused, the cutting can be planted directly into well-draining succulent soil where it will develop roots and establish itself as a new plant.