Plant Of The Month - November - Kalanchoe

One of the prettiest succulents, the flowers of the Kalanchoe are very long lasting and are available in a host of colours.

Commonly known as ‘Flaming Katy’ this popular indoor plant is easy to care for.  The fleshy leaves retain water well, and because of this, they should not be watered too frequently, so allow the soil to dry out inbetween watering.  

Kalanchoe originate from Madagascar, where the conditions are warm, dry and airy.  Do not put your plant on a cold windowsill, as it is likely to wilt if the temperature drops below 12c.

Kalanchoe are available throughout the year, and although most are discarded once the flowers fade, they may re-flower if the plants are fed occasionally and kept warm.  If your plant needs repotting, use a mix of John Innes No 2 compost mixed 50:50 with potting grit, although this may encourage green growth at the expense of flowers.