What is Kalanchoe Don Sergio and how to properly care for it?

Posted on 03/08/2016

Kalanchoe is an indoor ornamental plant that can be seen on many windowsills in modern apartments. And there is a logical explanation for this: all its popular varieties are picky at home and are capable of providing a therapeutic effect on the human body. But even the most unpretentious flower in the house requires attention and needs proper care: fertilization, transplantation, watering and pruning. The pruning process is very straightforward. But in order not to harm the plant, you need to know how to do it correctly. Namely: what time to choose for this procedure and its sequence.

Botanical description and history of origin

Kalanchoe Don Sergio - belongs to the large family of the jerky, a genus of succulents, natives of tropical Africa, South America, Asia. This species has about 200 varieties of bred hybrids. New varieties feel great on our windowsills, they are not whimsical and not capricious. Due to its origin the flower stores water well, therefore it is always healthy and fragrantonly a little effort is required.

Kalanchoe Don Sergio is a hybrid variety; Kalanchoe Kalandiva, which lives in wildlife in Africa and southeast Asia, is considered its progenitor. Kalanchoe Don Sergio is an ornamental flower; unfortunately, it does not have healing properties like its relatives, but it is attractive for its amazing flowering, which can last up to six months.

The flowers themselves are medium-sized, bright orange. The leaves are medium, curly, fleshy, bright, rich green, as if covered with gloss, shiny. Even when the flower is not blooming, it looks very attractive. Kalanchoe Don Sergio tolerates pruning well, recovers quickly.

Other names

In literal translation "Kalanchoe" means "plant of life". In his historical homeland Kalanchoe Don Sergio is called the Flower of Fate.

Why do you need pruning Kalanchoe

The plant is pruned in order to remove excess peduncles and leaves. This procedure is necessary for the formation of the bush - giving it a lush and neat shape. When a flower grows in the form of a small but lush bush, it looks aesthetically pleasing rather than elongated thin and long stems that stick out randomly in different directions.

However, pruning is not only decorative. It is necessary for a plant to create the most favorable conditions for its existence. Also, the juice that accumulates inside the Kalanchoe is evenly distributed over the processes, filling all the leaves and buds. The flower becomes juicy and more resistant to wilting or drying out. Also, cut leaves that have begun to hurt or dry out do not take on some of the nutrients.

A razor blade or sharp table knife should be used for this procedure. Picking leaves by hand can damage the plant. It is recommended to remove peduncles and leaves in the morning, preferably before lunchtime.

Varieties and their photos

Orange

A heat-loving flower, especially in winter, requires a lot of light and heat. It grows up to 25 - 30 cm. The leaves are bright green, fleshy, patterned, slightly elongated.It blooms with an orange bush, the flowers themselves are small, up to 1 cm in diameter. Flowers are collected in dense inflorescences.

Rosalina mix

The stems are short, the flower grows up to 25 - 30 cm. The leaves are fleshy, bright, dark green, oblong, patterned along the edges. The flowers are bright orange in color, miniature. They grow up to 1 cm in diameter. On a small peduncle, flowers form dense bouquets - umbrellas. Bloom for a long time, about 2 months, new buds ripen to replace them - from this flowering lasts quite a long time. You will learn about other types of Kalanchoe in a separate article.

Kalanchoe is not only curative. If you decide to grow flowering species of this plant on your windowsill, then you made the right choice. It is ideal for interior decoration and attracts attention with its beautiful white, pink, red and yellow colors.

Pruning Kalanchoe depending on its variety

Depending on the plant variety, pruning rules may differ from each other. In nature, there are about 200 species of Kalanchoe, but few species live at home. The most popular are ornamental flowering varieties such as Kalandiva or Blossfelda, which most often bloom with bright red or pink flowers. The leaves of these species can be trimmed in any quantity. Even if you cut off all the additional branches, leaving only a short central stem on the crown, then this plant will again be covered with a thick cover after a while.

But as for varieties that bloom with yellow, orange or white peduncles, the situation is more complicated. They belong to rare hybrids, and are more whimsical in care. Therefore, excessive leaf removal can harm them.

Correct pruning at home for a flower is painless. But, if after this procedure wounds began to form in the form of decay, then they should be sprinkled with a small amount of wood ash.

Transplant: rules and tips, instructions

The adult Kalanchoe Don Sergio flower is transplanted once a year due to the frequent growing seasons. This is the peculiarity of this particular type of Kalanchoe.

Important! Most often, when transplanting, the transshipment method is used. This allows you to painlessly transfer a flower from one pot to another, more spacious. The flower will more easily transfer the planting, the root system will take root more easily, since the earthen lump is preserved. The composition of the substrate must be identical.

Transplant rules Kalanchoe Don Sergio:

1. Choose the correct size of the pot, it should be 1 - 2 cm larger in diameter than it was.
2. Disinfection of the pot and planting tools - pour over with boiling water, treat with a weak solution of manganese or copper sulfate.
3. Place a good drainage layer at the bottom - clay shards, expanded clay or coarse sand. Drainage layer - 2 - 3 cm.
4. It is recommended to add superphosphate to a prepared substrate - 15 - 20 g per 1 kg of substrate.
5. We pour the substrate into the pot without tamping.
6. We moisten the soil well in the old pot so that the root can be easily extracted.
7. We soak the old earthen lump so as not to damage the root during inspection.
8. We carefully cut out diseased and damaged roots.
9. We remove withered, sluggish leaves.
10. We place the root in a new pot along the root collar, it should be at the level of the substrate.
11. We deepen it by 1 - 3 cm.
12. We moisten the substrate, add, slightly compacting it.
13. We seal not with a hand, but with a stick so that the substrate remains loose.

Lighting and location

Kalanchoe Don Sergio loves light, but the direct sun should be feared, burns may appear on the leaves. If the pots are set in a southerly direction, shade the window with a light curtain. It is not recommended to grow a flower on the north window, lack of light and heat will inhibit growth and flowering.

reference... East and west windows are best suited.

In winter, additional lighting is usually added with special lamps to increase the daylight hours to 10 - 12 hours.

Soil requirements

It is important to ensure neutral soil acidity and good air permeability. to prevent decay of the roots and stems of the Kalanchoe Don Sergio.
The soil can be purchased in specialized stores, or you can create it yourself using the necessary components, which can also be purchased at any flower shop.

Soil composition:

1. Drainage base-2 - 3 cm thick.
2. Drainage consists of expanded clay, clay shards, coarse sand.
3. Sand - 1 part.
4. Peat - 1 part.
5. Sod land - 1 part.
6. Leafy land - 1 part.
7. Humus - 1 part.

Attention! When transplanting transfer methods, the substrate should be of the same composition. Before planting, experienced florists are advised to calcine the earth in the oven for disinfection.

You can use a simplified version of the potting mix:

1. Drainage 2 cm.
2. Simple garden land - 3 parts.
3. Sand - 1 part.

It is recommended to take a medium pot, no more than 10 cm in diameter. The root will sit well in it and develop sufficiently. Avoid large containers, the root will be located over the entire area, wasting extra "strength", which will damage the development of leaves and stems.

Features of care after transplant

If all the conditions are met, the Kalanchoe will transfer the transplant without problems. However, after transplanting, the plant acclimatizes for a couple of days. At this time, the bush must be protected from bright sunlight, try to maintain the air temperature that is optimal for it, do not water for 3-4 days - during acclimatization, it is especially important to prevent waterlogging of the earth.

Post-transplant problems and solutions

1. Kalanchoe does not bloom. One of the reasons is too large a pot. Choose small, tight pots to grow your plant. Excess fertilization can also affect the flowering period of the Kalanchoe.
2. Leaves wither and turn yellow. The roots may have been damaged during transplantation. In any case, after transplanting, the amount of soil increased, and the roots need time to get used to the new volume, so it is worth watering the Kalanchoe a little less often.

Kalanchoe can be grown by any plant breeder, even one who sometimes forgets about caring for their green pets. However, this does not mean that the plant does not require care at all. Timely and correctly performed Kalanchoe transplant will help ensure that the green healer will not only benefit you, but also decorate your home.

How to take care of it properly?

• Temperature: in the hot summer months - 23 - 28 ° C. In winter, the permissible air temperature is 11 - 12 ° C. Kalanchoe Don Sergio feels best at a temperature of 17 - 18 ° C.
  The room should be cool enough, make sure that the temperature does not rise above the permissible standards. Do not allow the substrate to dry out, but it is not recommended to fill the flower, especially in the autumn-winter period.

  In winter, it is better to place the pots away from the radiators, Don Sergio does not tolerate too active warm streams of Kalanchoe.

  Do not put pots under vents, fans and air conditioners, avoid drafts.

• Air humidity - moderate, no more than 50 - 60%. In stagnant humid air, fungus may appear or roots will begin to rot.
• Watering. Kalanchoe Don Sergio is a succulent, it retains water well, so watering should be moderate. Frequent and abundant watering is strictly contraindicated for a tropical flower. Between watering, the substrate should dry out well, stagnation of moisture in the pot is not allowed.
  Observe the flower and adjust the water regime according to the season, the condition of the leaves and the substrate. In the summer, it is enough to water once a week; in the very heat, you can add a light spraying of the leaves. You can refresh the leaves with a damp sponge, but strong moisture is undesirable. In winter, watering is reduced by 2 times.

  Reference. Immediately after watering, the water from the pan must be poured out. Florists even advise to wipe the tray and the bottom of the pot dry so that the infection does not spread. Do not expose flowers to water.

  Read also:  Why azalea sheds leaves and what to do at home

  Watering should only be done with purified, filtered or settled water at room temperature.

• Pruning. It is necessary for the formation of a beautiful bush. Kalanchoe Don Sergio tolerates a "haircut" well, this species grows rapidly. But don't prune the flower during flowering. After it has faded, you need to cut the peduncles to their base. The Kalanchoe is cut off only with disinfected tools; you cannot break off the stems and leaves with your fingers.
  Pruning Kalanchoe Don Sergio is an excellent stimulation of the emergence of new shoots with buds for flowering.
• Top dressing. For Kalanchoe, Don Sergio must be special, with a mark: for succulents or cacti. This type of Kalanchoe does not require frequent fertilization.
  The leaves are lethargic, they began to turn yellow - additional feeding with minerals is required.

  We fertilize the flower only in summer and spring; in the cold season, feeding is undesirable. Before feeding, dilute the special fertilizer in boiling water to better dissolve the drug. Pour a cooled, weak solution over the substrate.

Pruning after flowering

Pruning Kalanchoe at home after flowering is simply necessary.

During the preventive procedure, leaves and flowers are removed. The leaves are cut, as usual, one at a time, two extreme. Now let's talk about how to trim the Kalanchoe after flowering correctly. The step-by-step procedure is as follows: first of all, you need to carefully examine the flower to find out if all the flowers have faded; peduncles should be removed to the very base, otherwise the plant may begin to rot. Whenever the plant has bloomed in lush color, every flower stalk should be carefully removed. Then pruning is carried out. It is better to carry it out early in the morning, in extreme cases you need to manage it before noon. Thanks to this simple procedure, the formation of new stems that are ready to bloom is stimulated. When the Kalanchoe pruning is completed after flowering, the green space needs rest. At this time, it is watered less, the pot is placed in a slightly darkened place. In forty days the flower will recover and come to its senses.

Kalanchoe is a stunningly beautiful flower. Gardeners love it not only for its amazingly beautiful flowering period, but also for its medicinal properties. Pruning Kalanchoe, as you have seen, is a simple procedure. It must be carried out periodically so that the bush has a beautiful rounded shape. If you follow all the rules, then your flower will always look great and develop well.

Common diseases and pests

The main cause of Don Sergio's Kalanchoe diseases is improper care. The most common problems are:

• The stems are pulled upwards - a lack of light. This complicates and inhibits flowering.
• Kalanchoe Don Sergio became lethargic and lifeless - there is not enough nutrients in the substrate, fertilize the soil.
• Excessive moisture, stagnation of humid air in the room ends with a disease of the roots and stem. Flowering with improper moisture is also problematic.

The most dangerous pests of the Kalanchoe Don Sergio:

1. Mealybug Is the most dangerous pest. It feeds on juice, causes black mold, you can lose a flower altogether in a short time. White drops appear on stems and leaves. Urgent measures: spraying with mineral oil, cleanse of diseased leaves.
2. Powdery mildew - leaf disease, white spots and plaque appear on them. This is a fungus, the flower begins to ache from overheating. Therefore Kolanchoe Don Sergio drops the leaves. You need to normalize watering, make the air temperature cool, or move the pot to a cooler place.In this case, spraying with fungicides will help. Be careful: the disease spreads very quickly and can infect other flowers nearby.
3. Late blight. Signs: ugly brown spots and bloom appear on the leaves. It's rot. The reason is stagnation of air, increased moisture content of the substrate. Treatment: treat the leaves with fungicides, pick up additional fertilizer, you need to reduce watering.
4. Gray rot. Signs: the leaves have become sticky, covered with a grayish bloom. I need an urgent transplant of Don Sergio's Kolanchoe. Here, a mandatory measure is to change the substrate, disinfect the pots and transplant tools. It is important to adjust watering, temperature and humidity. For prophylaxis, treat the flower with an antifungal solution.

We suggest reading articles about other types of this beautiful and useful plant, for example: Kalanchoe Degremona, Mix, Sadovoe, Latsiniata, Bekharskoe and Felt.

Watering the plant correctly

In watering Kalanchoe, the rule is "it is better to underfill than to overfill." The plant accumulates a sufficient amount of moisture. Excessive watering and frequent presence of water in the pan can cause disease and rotting of the plant.

However, infrequent watering can also adversely affect the growth and health of the plant, especially during the period of active growth and the warm season. In this case, watering once a week can be considered sufficient only with daily spraying of the flower.

If the plant stays in dry soil for a long time, then it will begin to lose its leaves. Just by this sign, you can determine whether the plant needs watering or not: if the leaves become lethargic, yellow and soft, it is necessary to water the plant as soon as possible, but if the leaves are poured and green, then the plant has enough moisture.

It is worth noting that watering should be carried out only with settled water (more than a day), or with fresh water from springs.

Reproduction

For reproduction, seeds, shoots, leaves of an adult Kolanchoe Don Sergio are used.

Seeds

1. Moisten the substrate well.
2. Spread the seeds without sprinkling them with earth, you can squeeze a little.
3. Cover the box with plastic wrap.
4. We ventilate 2 times a day by lifting the film.
5. The first shoots will appear in a month.
6. We are waiting for the appearance of 2 - 3 leaves on young shoots.
7. We plant in separate pots according to the transplant rules.

Leaves and stems

The simplest way, easily accessible even for an inexperienced grower.

1. Place a leaf or a cut stalk in water or wet sand.
2. Cover the seedling with a glass or transparent jar.
3. As soon as a leaf or stem has roots, you can plant it separately in a pot.
4. Sometimes a leaf plate or stem is immediately planted in a pot with a substrate and covered with a transparent jar.
5. Young shoots develop quickly and sprout.
6. 2 seedlings are usually planted in one pot.
7. The whole process takes 8 - 10 days.

Caring for this decorative flower is not difficult at all. Kolanchoe Don Sergio, despite the apparent fragility and delicacy, is not whimsical at all, this tropical flower does not require special care and long-term hassle. Water carefully, watch the light and fertilize in time, cut it off - the flower will generously reward you with its fragrant appearance and flowering.

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Common mistakes

Unfortunately, novice florists can sometimes make mistakes when caring for Kalanchoe. Most often these are:

1. Too abundant watering in winter, but moderate is needed.
2. Too little watering in the summer, the plant begins to suffer from a lack of moisture and this will have a very bad effect on flowering as a consequence.
3. Artificial creation of humid air. Frequent spraying (which is not necessary at all), because of this, fungi and other diseases can appear. Kalanchoe loves dry air.
4. Not providing enough light.If the plant is placed in a shaded place, then, naturally, not only will it not bloom, but will gradually lose all the leaves.
5. Lack of constant control over the flower. It must be regularly examined for the presence of various harmful insects that can appear at any time and cause very great harm to Kalanchoe. Because of their attacks, succulent leaves will begin to dry out, gradually fall off and the plant quickly loses the strength that is required for flowering.
6. Too zealous "feeding" with fertilizers, because of this, the plant grows quickly and increases the green mass, but does not want to bloom.
7. Fear of removing unnecessary things - that is, the bush is not pruned and pinched, and if you do not cut it off, then you can completely forget about flowering. Kalanchoe must be formed, thanks to pruning, a lush, beautiful inflorescence is obtained (the buds are laid on young branches, which quickly appear after correct pruning).

How and when to trim

There are several types of pruning: initial, preventive and after flowering. Each of them is produced in a certain period of the life cycle, corresponding to the season.

The initial pruning is carried out to young plants immediately after transplanting in the spring. For older specimens, branches are shortened throughout the growing season - preventive pruning is carried out. During the flowering and dormant period, no manipulations are made to form the crown, but the peduncles are removed immediately after the last corollas wither. The exception is sick or pest-affected tops of the pagons or individual leaves, which are removed even during the rest of the plant.