Why Kalanchoe from the store doesn't bloom at home: key reasons.

It’s common to encounter a situation where a plant looks stunning in the store, adorned with lush flowers, but loses its charm after a few months at home. Kalanchoe often becomes leggy, sheds its lower leaves, and its stems become bare. To help the plant adjust at home and maintain its beauty, ProstoWay offers some advice.

Store-bought plants often appear flawless due to growth stimulants that enhance their marketability. Additionally, not all plants are sold with the potential to thrive and bloom for many years. Many are annuals that would be better suited for garden beds rather than indoor pots.

How to Help Kalanchoe Adapt

To make it easier for the plant to adapt and bloom, it's crucial to create the right growing conditions:

1. Lighting. Kalanchoe needs sunlight but only tolerates it well during the first half of the day. If light levels are adequate, the leaves remain green. In low light, the stems stretch, and the leaves pale, leading to a lack of blooms.

2. Temperature. The optimal temperature is up to +27°C. The plant prefers cooler conditions but cannot withstand cold drafts.

3. Watering. Water stagnation leads to rot. In summer, it should be watered 2-3 times a week, while in winter, once a week is sufficient. It does not require misting.

4. Fertilizers. An excess of nitrogen results in excessive leaf growth and hampers blooming. Too much phosphorus can cause lower leaves to drop while the remaining ones turn yellow. A deficiency in phosphorus leads to premature flowering. Curled leaves indicate a potassium deficiency. Use fertilizers designed for succulents at half the recommended dosage on the packaging, applied biweekly from mid-spring to mid-autumn.