As a houseplant already flowering in a decorative pot, the Flammende Käthchen usually only has a very compact size, since it is mostly young plants that have flowered for the first time. With good care, the Kalanchoe blossfeldiana can also be quite vigorous, so that pruning can ultimately be appropriate for an aesthetic shape and in favor of flowering.

The Flaming Katy can also be cut for the vase

The best time for the cut

There can be at least three good reasons for cutting back the plant of Flaming Katy:

  • the unattractive "growling" of the shoots in a location that is too dark
  • the extraction of leaf or shoot cuttings
  • using the flowers as perennial cut flowers

Since this houseplant is also sold flowering in the winter months, the time for the first pruning can only be determined to a limited extent by the seasons. Of course, the Kalanchoe blossfeldiana can only be used as a cut flower if it is still in full bloom and the flowers have not dried up. Otherwise, however, the time immediately after flowering is ideal for a caring pruning of the plant.

The correct procedure for cutting a Flaming Katie

You can proceed with courage when pruning the Kalanchoe blossfeldiana, as it tolerates a strong pruning quite well. However, they also wanted to be careful not to cut too deeply. At the base of the plant there should always be eyes left, from which the plant can sprout again. Use clean and sufficiently sharp tools for the cut so as not to damage the plant health more than absolutely necessary. If the pruning is done to shorten a tall growth form, the Flammende Käthchen should then be moved to a lighter location. Pruning these plants can also be easily combined with repotting them in fresh succulent soil.

Multiply the Flaming Katie at the same time as the cut

In order to easily grow young plants of the Flammenden Käthchen, the top 10 to 15 cm of the shortened shoots are cut off and collected when pruning. These cuttings should then be allowed to dry for at least 24 hours before they are placed in a lean soil-sand mixture or in a glass of water to root. The newly grown specimens must also hibernate sufficiently dark to be able to form buds for flowering in the following year.

tips

In principle, the succulent Kalanchoe blossfeldiana should actually be watered no more than once a week, even in summer. Directly after a cut during the summer months, watering should then be carried out at somewhat more regular intervals (but still sparingly) in order to compensate for the evaporation losses of the plants due to the numerous cut injuries.

Category:

Vegetable garden