What is therapeutic Kalanchoe and how to care for it?

Kalanchoe medicinal is an amazing plant that is grown at home. Its peculiarity is that it immediately performs two functions: therapeutic and decorative.

Initially, the flower was grown in the climate of Madagascar. At home, he is not whimsical in terms of care, blooms with beautiful pink flowers, but only this period is short. Learn more about this flower and the features of caring for it in our article.

Botanical Description and History

Reference! Kalanchoe is a perennial plant, whose height is 4 m. Among the representatives of the genus there are herbaceous crops, shrubs, as well as lianas and epiphytes. Homeland plants are the islands of Madagascar, New Guinea, Australia, Asia.

Kalanchoe leaves are fleshy and juicy, with petioles. The flowers are collected in multi-flowered inflorescences in the shape of an umbrella. They are at the top, extremely rare on the sides. The color of the flowers is:

• white
• purple
• yellow;
• bright red.

Flowering is quite plentiful. Occurs in the autumn-winter period.

Other names

Plant name synonyms:

• Bryophyllum calycinum;
• Bryophyllum pinnatum;
• Cotyledon pinnata;
• Crassula pinnata.

Description and photo

The following types of medicinal Kalanchoe are distinguished:

Behar

This type of Kalanchoe is large, since its height reaches 2 m. When grown at home, it has a beautiful appearance, even without flowering. The reason is wedge-shaped leaves with serrated edges that give the flower an attractive look. The variety refers to flowering. With proper care of it, flowering will be long. The color of the flowers is yellow with longitudinal stripes of purple. You can learn more about Behar Kalanchoe here.

Tessa and the Cup

These varieties of medicinal Kalanchoe have hanging flowers. Tessa is distinguished by pink or peach inflorescences, and the Alloxecum is red or orange. Both species are suitable for home growing. Differ in simplicity in leaving.

Blossomfeld

This is a popular houseplant that has beautiful red blooms. Its inflorescences have an umbrella shape. With proper care, the plant blooms throughout the year.

Watch the video on the proper care of Blossfeld Kalanchoe:

Kalandiva

This is a dwarf variety of Blossfeld. It differs in compact size, large inflorescences with double petals. Great for home growing. More information about the types and care of Kalanchoe Kalandiva can be found here.

The properties

• The above types of medical Kalanchoe cope with the flu virus.
• In the treatment of colds and colds, this is the most popular remedy.
• Use juice as drops and for rubbing in the nose. It can be used to treat children and adults.
• Kalanchoe is characterized by a bactericidal, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effect.
• It also has healing properties, cleanses the blood and introduces harmful toxins from the body.

Landing Features

The landing process is simple, but requires compliance with certain recommendations:

1. Seed planting should be carried out in April.
2. Deepen the seeds heavily into the ground is not worth it, just slightly crush.
3. Cover the seedlings with polyethylene, set the container in a sunny place.
4. Watering is carried out with water at room temperature, from time to time, airing, removing shelter in the evening for 10-15 minutes.
5. As soon as the first shoots appear, the polyethylene is removed.

Advice! As soon as the sprouts will be 1 month old, then they will be dived into boxes. And when 2 leaves appear, plant them in small-diameter pots. In seedlings that are well rooted, pinch the top. Pruning stems is performed repeatedly when forming 4-5 shoots.

Lighting and location

Kalanchoe requires sunlight. Only in this way will the leaves get a beautiful rich color and a burgundy border. Only protect the flower from direct sunlight. Otherwise, the leaves will deteriorate. This can be eliminated if you place the pots on the windows facing east or west. After flowering for 2 months, remove the flower from the window in a shaded place.

Soil requirements

Kalanchoe healing prefers loose and nutritious soil. It is best to cook it yourself using the following components:

• deciduous land - 4 parts;
• turf land - 2 parts;
• compost - 1 part;
• sand - 1 part.

Care

Watering

Kalanchoe officinalis has a thick stem, so it is in it that the plant accumulates moisture. Under natural conditions, it is saved in dry periods. Thus, minor interruptions in watering the flower are not terrible. But Kalanchoe is negative about excess water.

Attention! When overflowing, the root system of Kalanchoe suffers, as a result of which the process of decay develops. In addition, depending on the season, the humidification mode is different.

In warm time, watering Kalanchoe has its own characteristics:

• moisturize with cool water;
• the procedure should be carried out only after the earth has completely dried in a pot;
• when watering, do not touch the stem, as it does not absorb moisture and a rotting process may occur;
• if there is more water than required, then you should immediately get rid of its excess by removing liquid from the sump.

The main rule when watering Kalanchoe is better to underfill than to overfill. The plant can survive 3-4 days of drought, but it is already impossible to cure rotting roots.

Fertilizer

Kalanchoe has rather modest requirements in this regard, so it is often not necessary to add nutritional compounds. Do this only if necessary. In winter, you can not use top dressing for Kalanchoe.

When performing top dressing, use purchased drugs. Only the dosage should be 2 times less than that indicated in the instructions. Try in late spring.

There are rules for this:

1. completely dissolve the fertilizer in warm water;
2. the mixture should cool;
3. add nutrient solution to the soil.

IMPORTANT! Only if all these recommendations are followed, the roots can absorb all the fertilizers. During flowering, Kalanchoe should be fed with complex formulations to extend this period.

Pruning

Flowering plant species need pruning. In the process of its implementation, cut off all old and unhealthy parts. The flower stalk is also removed under the root, but only after flowering has ended.

Common Diseases and Pests

When growing medicinal Kalanchoe, the following diseases and pests can affect it:

1. Gray rot. The main reason for its development is an excess of moisture and improper lighting conditions. Leaves cover spots with a gray coating. The disease is actively spreading to nearby plants. Fungicides are used for treatment.
2. Powdery Mildew It is characterized by whitish plaque and falling leaves. The disease occurs as a result of too dry air or heat. Fungicides are used for treatment.
3. Rot. This disease is characterized by black and wet spots on the plant. Insecticides are used for treatment. But when the treatment was useless, then throw the plant away.
4. Ring spotting. It is characterized by circles that are formed on the leaves of Kalanchoe. This disease is not treated, so the diseased flower is disposed of.
5. Multi-claw tick. You can recognize its presence by brown crusts on the leaves of the plant. Because of this, their growth stops, and then they curl. A tick is a parasite of white or transparent color. To combat nm, use soapy water and further treatment with insecticides.
6. Aphid. When this insect is damaged, the leaves become yellow and deformed. In addition, a sticky coating forms on their surface. To combat, use a soap solution and insecticides. Aphids are characterized by active spread to neighboring plants, so you have to carefully monitor the condition of the flower.
7. Mealy Red It is easy to recognize it, as a whitish coating forms on the veins of the leaves. To combat insects, remove the weight of the affected leaves and treat with insecticides.
8. Shield. When this parasite is damaged, the leaves dry and fall, the stem is covered with a sticky coating. Because of this, plant growth stops. The collection of scabs is carried out manually, and then wash all leaves with a soap solution.

Breeding

The process of propagation of Kalanchoe is carried out in several ways:

• cuttings;
• "kids";
• seeds.

Planting seeds is carried out in the cold season. It is better to sow seeds in the cold period, without deepening them into the ground. Seeds should be checked all the time so that the soil above them is always moist. Germination process lasts a month. And as soon as the leaves appear, then plant the plant in pots.

Reproduction by "children" can not always be carried out. The fact is that small daughter plants are formed on the leaves of "viviparous" Kalanchoe. Other flower varieties do not form them. Kids have as many leaves and roots.

Adult plants themselves drop their excretory buds, the rooting of which occurs at the foot of the mother plant. They can be planted in separate containers with fertile soil. Carefully break off the fully formed children from the adult leaf and slightly into the prepared substrate.

Medicinal Kalanchoe is a popular home plant, which, in addition to attractive decorative water, has healing properties. It’s easy to care for him, but the benefits are enormous. This is a great choice for those who are not used to messing with potted plants.