Question
QUESTION: I have had very good luck with this plant until this year as it is Winter and no blooms. Have been fertizing once wkly and have it in a West window.

ANSWER: Hi Elaine,

You didn't actually ask a question here. I assume your question is about why your Kalanchoe has not bloomed this year. Let me know if I have misunderstood.

You haven't provided any care information other than its location and your fertilizer regimen, so it is hard for me to say just what the problem is.

To flower, Kalanchoe must have been in strong sunlight all year long and be very potbound. If you repotted since the last flower cycle, then that is the most obvious reason for no flowers now. In addition, Kalanchoes are short day plants, meaning that in the fall they must receive short days of sunlight and long nights of darkness for 6-8 weeks. Sometimes indoor lighting can disrupt the plant's need for long hours of darkness each day. Finally, colder temps and drier soil in the fall will also help promote flowering.

Fertilizer is largely ineffective in promoting flowers and you are overdoing it. Use it no more than once per month at half strength.

So there are many factors to promote Kalanchoe flowers and the more of these factors you control properly, the better the chance of flowering. Despite all that there are no guarantees because many Kalanchoes are hybrids that have been genetically manipulated to produce one big burst of flowers at time of sale, but the trade off is only weak flowers thereafter. There is nothing you can do about that.

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

If this information has been helpful, please click the Rate Volunteer bar below and enter a rating and nomination for me. I am a volunteer on this site so Ratings are the only compensation I receive for answering plant questions.

Need more information? Visit my website at www.HorticulturalHelp.com
or email me at [email protected]
or call me at 917-887-8601 (EST)
 
Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks but I have repotted this yr. and will hold back on fertilizer.

Answer
Hi Elaine,

The unnecessary repotting explains the lack of flowers. Sorry you didn't know that sooner. If the pot is more than an inch larger than the previous pot, then your plant is at high risk of root rot because all the extra soil takes so long to dry out properly.

I have written an article on repotting that I will email for free to anyone who sends a request to me at my address below.

If this information has been helpful, please click the Rate Volunteer bar below and enter a rating and nomination for me. I am a volunteer on this site so Ratings are the only compensation I receive for answering plant questions.

Need more information? Visit my website at www.HorticulturalHelp.com
or email me at [email protected]
or call me at 917-887-8601 (EST)
 
Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC