Question
Hi there! I just purchased a pot of assorted plants. I although I was able to identify some of them online,I am having difficulty identifying one of them. I found a photo online that is similar to my arrangement: http://www.flowershopnetwork.com/flower-pictures/pl00207/garden-plantergreen-&-b... The plant I can't find anything online about is the flowering one. I have no idea how to care for it, and would appreciate any help! :) Thanks so much!
~Susan~

Answer
Susan,

The blooming one is a kalanchoe. Pronounced 揷ollin-co-wee,?this plant genus from Madagascar includes 125 species ranging in height from a few inches to tree-sized. The popular indoor plant variety is generally 2 to 4 inches tall and 2 to 4 inches in diameter.

Kalanchoe features a central cluster of delicate flowers in orange, red, pink, or white and blooms can last for many months. Flowering plants can be purchased in pots as small as 2 inches, so some owners prefer to transplant them to a slightly larger and prettier container. A four-inch pot is plenty large enough for one plant, and a 6-inch container could be used to cluster two or three plants together.

When preparing a new pot for kalanchoes, keep in mind that these plants are succulent, meaning their fleshy leaves store water, so much like a cactus, they don抰 like to be over-watered. They need a soil that drains well, typically half peat and half sand or perlite. The pot, of course, needs to have a hole in the bottom for drainage. A few pebbles in the bottom of the pot will help, as well.

While it's blooming, watering once a week should be sufficient. Make sure containers drain thoroughly. Left in wet soil, the roots can be prone to rot, so be sure the soil dries out between waterings. An ordinary plant fertilizer can also be applied about once every two weeks.

Other than avoiding direct sun in the hotter months, kalanchoes can tolerate a wide variety of lighting conditions, though faring best in bright indirect light. (You抣l recognize too much sun exposure when the leaves begin to look 搒unburned.?

This site has additionad info.  http://www.krismers.com/Kalanchoe_care.pdf

If you have more questions write again. Good luck.

Darlene