Can Kalanchoe be pruned in winter? What should I do if Kalanchoe grows too long after it blooms?

Kalanchoe is a semi-succulent plant that needs plenty of sunlight to grow and should not be watered excessively. It usually blooms in winter, especially around Christmas. Kalanchoe has a variety of bright colors and is the choice of many people for indoor cultivation. So can Kalanchoe be pruned in winter?

Can Kalanchoe be pruned in winter?

When caring for Kalanchoe in winter, if it appears to be growing too tall, it is recommended that you do not prune it.

Because in winter, if the Kalanchoe grows too tall, it is mainly because of lack of sunlight or too frequent watering. If you trim it at this time, it will only affect the flowering of the Kalanchoe. Moreover, the time for pruning the Kalanchoe is generally chosen to be during the peak growth period or after the flowering period.

During the growth period, pruning is to control the growth height of Kalanchoe and promote the differentiation of lateral buds. Pruning after the flowering period is mainly to reduce nutrient consumption and trim the shape.

What to do if Kalanchoe grows too long after blooming

In the process of caring for Kalanchoe, light is very important. If we only provide Kalanchoe with a large amount of fertilizer and less light, it will easily cause leggy growth. Therefore, when caring for Kalanchoe, we need to increase the sunshine time and do a good job of water control.

Because when caring for Kalanchoe in winter, if you water it too frequently, the plant will easily grow too tall. If water accumulates in the soil, it will easily cause root rot. Therefore, when caring for Kalanchoe, we need to choose peat soil that is loose, breathable and well-drained for cultivation.

In addition, if the branches of Kalanchoe are growing too long, we need to pinch and top them. We only need to keep two or three pairs of leaves at the bottom. From September to November, we can apply diluted phosphorus and potassium fertilizers twice a month, which can effectively prevent the Kalanchoe from growing too long.

How to prune Kalanchoe

There are two situations for pruning Kalanchoe: pruning after flowering and pruning during the growing season.

After the Kalanchoe has finished blooming, you can start pruning directly from the first section of the bottom large leaf. If you want it to bloom again, after the flowers fade, there will be small flower buds on the three leaves below the top. Find one pair of leaves with more flower buds and cut off all the upper parts.

Then, according to the short-day characteristics of Kalanchoe, place it in a place with more than 4 hours of light for maintenance, spray it with potassium dihydrogen phosphate two or three times, and it will bloom again in about a month (the temperature must not be lower than 15 degrees).

The second flowering will consume most of the nutrients. It is not recommended to bloom three or four times, as it will have a great impact on the plant.