Florist Kalanchoe
Scientific Name: Kalanchoe blossfeldiana
Category: plant
Brief Description
A popular succulent houseplant known for its vibrant clusters of small, long-lasting flowers and fleshy green leaves.
Characteristics
Thick, waxy, scalloped dark green leaves. Small four-petaled flowers arranged in dense clusters (cymes) that can be red, pink, orange, yellow, or white.
Habitat
Native to the Tsaratanana Mountains in Madagascar, typically growing in humus-rich soil on rocky plateaus.
When to Find It
Naturally blooms in late winter to early spring, but can be induced to bloom year-round in cultivation by controlling light exposure.
Conservation Status
N/A
Ecological Role
Provides nectar for pollinators in its native range; primarily used globally as an ornamental indoor and garden plant.
Easily Confused With
Begonias, which have thinner, non-succulent leaves, or other Kalanchoe species like K. pinnata which has different leaf structures and hanging bell-shaped flowers.
Observation Tips
To encourage re-blooming, the plant requires a period of 'short days' (14 hours of darkness per day for several weeks). Ensure well-draining soil to prevent root rot.
Interesting Facts
It was one of the first plants sent into space, carried to the Soviet Salyut 1 space station in 1971. Like many succulents, it uses Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (CAM) to perform photosynthesis efficiently in dry conditions.