Kalanchoe blossfeldiana leggy is a common problem which many succulent enthusiasts have to face.
However, you can fix it with a few methods. It is important to identify the root cause of it and treat them accordingly.
This article is about all the possible root causes which could cause these issues and the treatments you could do to remedy it.
What is Kalanchoe blossfeldiana?
Kalanchoes in general are a versatile diverse flowering succulents. Out of this, Kalanchoe blossfeldiana is famous as a unique looking plant which has its own beauty and majesty.
Many people go after these plants to grow them as house plants due to their easy maintenance. Kalanchoe blossfeldiana is a perennial plant and they are hardy in USDA hardiness zones 7-11.
Kalanchoe blossfeldiana is a dark green perennial succulent where it will comprise scallop-edged leaves along with clusters of flowers which arise right above the foliage.
They tend to grow in an upright, branched manner. They bloom with red, pink, or yellow flowers and the specialty about the flowers is that their blooms stay alive for a longer period.
How do I fix my leggy kalanchoe?
First thing you should do is to shift your Kalanchoe blossfeldiana plants to a bright sunny spot.
When you spot your beloved Kalanchoe blossfeldiana has become leggy, you will start to think as to why it happened and how to save them.
However, if you manage to find it out at the beginning itself , you can fix the issue with some simple treatments.
The exposure for bright sunlight will be beneficial in treating the leggy Kalanchoe blossfeldiana plants.
However, it is very unlikely that you keep the stretched-out plants that way as it will make the plants look ugly. You cannot bring their original shape and look to the plants.
However, this is not something which you need to worry as pruning the plant would be quite crucial here.
If you are into gardening, you know how important it is to prune your plants. It would be quite effective in maintaining the shape of the plant’s health as well as the desired shape you wish to have.
It is not that hard either. What you need to prepare is a pair of clean scissors and gardening shares to start the proceedings.
If you spot your Kalanchoe blossfeldiana plants growing taller, you need to start trimming them first.
You should first have an idea as to how much you should trim depending on the Kalanchoe blossfeldiana plant’s overgrown part and then snip it off as you wish.
When pruning you need to first start it off from the crown part and then trim them while using the sharp pruning shears.
You should leave behind a few inches of the stem base whilst ensuring that they have a couple of leaves also.
It is vital that you leave the stem to have a few leaves so that it will perform much better.
Further it will be critical for the photosynthesis process as well. Never throw away the cuttings of the plants and you can share them with your friends and get them to propagate them and make new plants.
When you finish pruning the plants you should leave them exposed to bright sunlight.
How to stop kalanchoe from getting leggy
Lack of proper sunlight is one of the prominent reasons to make your Kalanchoe blossfeldiana plants leggy and become taller than you anticipated.
The exposure for sunlight is crucial when growing the Kalanchoe blossfeldiana plants. It will ensure that your Kalanchoe blossfeldiana plants are growing healthily and beautifully.
In case your Kalanchoe blossfeldiana plants are growing abnormally tall, it is an indication to let you know that they are not getting adequate sunlight which they lack for their proper growth.
This is what you call etiolation in scientific terms.
To stop them growing taller, you need to ensure that they are receiving sufficient sunlight. Whenever you spot any early sign of them becoming taller, you need to expose them under bright sunlight.
If you have grown them indoors and if you find it difficult to provide sufficient sunlight, you can consider placing grow lights closer to the plants. You can easily find grow lights in the market and anybody can afford them too.
Alternatively, you can move the plants closer to a bright sunny window where they can gain adequate sunlight levels.
Besides, you may even shift the plants outside for some time also where they can gain sufficient sunlight levels.
How do you propagate leggy kalanchoe?
One might think propagating a succulent is a hard task, but it is not.
Propagating a plant is quite vital when you are trying to give a new beginning for the plants. You can get amazing results from less effort.
You can easily use the cuttings you obtain from pruning for this purpose. You may use either the crown part or the stem cutting for this purpose.
Once you have the cuttings , you need to leave them in a dry and warmer place and let them wither and develop callousness.
You can dip the cuttings in a rooting hormone so that the root formation of the cuttings will be stimulated.
It is up to you to decide as it is not a compulsory step to do. Next fill the containers with the potting medium and place the cuttings right in the middle of the pot.
I encourage you to mist the cuttings several times on a daily basis and you will see how they start to form roots within three to four weeks’ time.
When they establish in the pots, you can cut back on watering and continue with the regular care treatments.
Why is my kalanchoe falling over?
When your Kalanchoe blossfeldiana plants are overgrown and become too big, their stems become weaker, and chances are that it may topple over too.
In addition to lapses in your care, treatment for prolonged periods may also cause the Kalanchoe blossfeldiana plants to fall over.
How do you shape a kalanchoe?
You need to first cut back the overgrown part of the Kalanchoe blossfeldiana plants ideally after they complete flowering.
They will rebloom annually given that they get all the proper care treatment they need. First trim their flower stalks.
The lack of sunlight could be the root cause which resulted in the plants becoming leggy. Hence as aforesaid , you should shift them somewhere where they can gain enough sunlight.
First, If you spot any of the stem is damaged or dead, you could cut them off right to the base. Next cut within half an inch of a leaf node to shape the plants.
Ideally you need to locate a leaf node which has grown in a pointed manner to the exact direction you want the stem to grow.
Next you can make a cutting in a 45 degrees angle whilst using sterile sharp pruning shears. Then the new growth will start to branch in that leaf node direction.
Ensure that the lower side of the angled cut’s height is the same as the leaf nodes on the other side of the stem.
How tall can Kalanchoe grow?
Usually, kalanchoe grow up to 8 inches – 12 inches in height.
Why is my Kalanchoe so tall?
The lack of sunlight is what causes the kalanchoes to become taller and leggy. It is critical that you expose them for proper sunlight as then only they can grow healthily and vigorously.
Hence if you ever spot that your kalanchoes plants become leggy, it is an indication to let you know that they are running short of proper sunlight.
Finally
Before concluding this, it is critical that you expose the Kalanchoe blossfeldiana plants to adequate sunlight as only then they can grow firmly and vigorously.
You should keep a close eye and see whether your plants are growing healthily and vigorously. It is very easy to bring these plants back to normal if you attend to it well in advance.
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