5 saves
Kalanchoe
We track 7 varieties; the ones most used by real gardeners.
The 7 most-saved Kalanchoe varieties
6 species of Kalanchoe
Each one is a parent of the varieties above.
Track your Kalanchoe in Sow
Save the Kalanchoe you grow and get care reminders timed to your zone.
How to grow Kalanchoe
Whats common across all Kalanchoe varieties in our catalog — drawn from the care records of the 7 most-grown of them.
The Kalanchoe year
- FertilizeApril–August100% of varieties
Apply a balanced, low-concentration liquid fertilizer once or twice during active growth.
- PropagateMay–July86% of varieties
Take stem or leaf cuttings, allow them to callus for a few days, and insert into a well-draining medium.
- Winter PrepOctober and November86% of varieties
Move outdoor container plants indoors to a bright location before the first frost.
- PruneMarch–May71% of varieties
Prune back sparingly if stems become leggy, avoiding cuts into old, leafless wood.
- Check for PestsJune–August71% of varieties
Check indoor plants for mealybugs, scale, and spider mites, especially in dry air.
Do
- Allow the soil to dry out completely between waterings.
- Provide bright winter light and respect the plant's natural winter dormancy cues.
- Use a balanced, low-concentration liquid fertilizer once or twice during the active spring and summer growing season.
- Water only when soil is dry to prevent overwatering 🌱
- Provide bright, indirect sunlight for healthy growth
Avoid
- Do not overwater or allow the plant to sit in stagnant, wet soil.
- Do not cut hard into old, leafless, woody stems during pruning as they fail to regenerate reliably.
- Do not ingest any part of the plant or allow pets access, as it contains toxic cardiac glycosides.
- Avoid overwatering which can cause root rot ❌
What goes wrong with Kalanchoe
| Problem | What you'll see | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Mealybugs | White, cottony masses on stems and leaf axils, primarily under indoor or greenhouse conditions. | Wipe pests off with an alcohol-dipped swab or apply insecticidal soap. |
| Aphids | Small insects clustering on soft new growth, causing distorted foliage. | Rinse off with a sharp spray of water or apply insecticidal soap. |
| Spider mites | Fine webbing on foliage under dry, indoor conditions, leading to speckled leaves. | Increase air circulation and spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil. |
| Scale insects | Small, hard brown bumps on stems and leaf undersides. | Scrape off manually or treat with systemic insecticides or horticultural oil. |
| Root rot | Foliage wilting and stems collapsing at the base due to overwatering or poorly draining soil. | Reduce watering immediately, repot into fresh, gritty soil, and discard severely rotted plants. |
| Powdery mildew | White, powdery fungal patches on leaves triggered by overcrowding and high humidity. | Improve air circulation, space plants apart, and avoid overhead watering. |
| Root Rot | Soft, blackened roots and wilting plant | Reduce watering, improve drainage, and repot if necessary |
Making more Kalanchoe
Stem cuttings
- Select healthy stem segments and let them callus for 2 days.
- Plant cuttings in well-draining soil.
- Water lightly after roots develop, around 4-6 weeks.
- Place in bright, indirect sunlight.
- Maintain dry soil until roots establish.
Stem Cuttings
- Cut a healthy stem section during the active spring growing season.
- Allow the cut end to callus in a dry, shaded spot for a few days.
- Insert the callused end into a well-draining, gritty potting medium.
- Water sparingly until roots establish and new growth appears.
Kalanchoe questions
How many types of Kalanchoe are there?
The Sow catalog tracks 7 distinct Kalanchoe varieties. The most popular — ranked by 5 real gardeners — are shown first above.
What zones does Kalanchoe grow in?
Across its varieties, Kalanchoe covers USDA Zones 9–10. Individual varieties differ — each plant page lists its exact range, and Sow filters the catalog to your zone automatically.
When does Kalanchoe bloom?
Most Kalanchoe varieties bloom in early summer, fall, late winter. Staggering early, mid, and late varieties extends the genus's season in one bed.
Which Kalanchoe should I choose?
Start from the most-saved varieties above — popularity across thousands of gardens is a strong signal of reliability — then filter by your zone and sun. In the Sow app you can preview any of them in a photo of your actual yard before you buy.