Question
I am a middle school science teacher an I have several plants in my classroom.  I have several Kalanchoe plants that are in six inch round self-watering pots.  None have blooms and have not had any for many months.  I have them in a windowsill.  Am I doing something wrong.

Also, I have a yellow Portulaca with no current blooms.  It is in a 10 inch round pot in a window sill.  What can I do to encourage blooming?


I have an umbrella plant that I have had for about 18 months.  It is looking very shabby.  IT has sticky stuff on the leaves.  I cut it back, which was probably not a good idea.  their is new growth, but it is right on top of the soil at the base of the plant.  How do I get rid of sticky leaves?  What should I do to encourage new growth ?

Answer
Hi Tonia,

Most of the flowering Kalanchoes that are sold today are hybrids that were bred to bloom prolifically at point-of-sale, but are weak bloomers after that. Do your best, but keep your expectations low as far as flowering goes. Kalanchoes need a very sunny windowsill, preferably one that faces south and is not obstructed by any trees or buildings nearby. Having dark nights of 12 hours or more promotes flowering, so keep lights off at night. Keeping it potbound is essential to flowering. If you repotted into a larger pot, then it will not flower again until the plant has filled tho pot with roots. Finally, the soil must dry out a quarter of the way down into the pot before it is watered. Many self-watering pots keep the soil too moist for Kalanchoes, so that could be a problem.

Portulacas are rarely used as indoor plants because they require so much sun and indoor sunlight is much less intense than outdoor sun. You can try keeping yours alive over the winter by placing it on your sunniest windowsill and allowing the soil to dry out almost completely between waterings. It will look weak and scraggly for most of the winter, but if you can keep it alive long enough to move it outdoors once the warm weather returns, then it may bloom next summer.

"Umbrella Plant" usually refers to a Schefflera, so I assume that is what you have. If it is looking shabby that could be because it is not in front of a sunny window or it is in a pot that is too large or it is not drying out properly between waterings. Any one of those conditions will weaken a Schefflera and make it more attractive to plant pests. The stickiness is caused either by scale insects or mealybugs, which suck on plant sap and secrete the sticky substance called honeydew. These critters are not causing the plant to look shabby, but are simply taking advantage of a weakened plant.

To treat scale or mealybugs mix a spray solution of 5 parts water, 1 part isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol and a squirt of liquid soap. Then, thoroughly spray all leaf and stem surfaces until they are dripping wet. This is very messy, but thoroughness of coverage is critical to success in eradicating these pests.

Keep in mind that you will have to correct whatever is stressing your Schefflera if you want it to survive. Eliminating the pests will not be enough. Once again, good light, a tight pot and soil that is allowed to dry about a quarter of the way down into the soil are the keys to producing healthy new growth.

I have written an article on Schefflera care that I will email for free to you (or anyone else) who sends a request to me at [email protected].

Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions.

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Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

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