Supermarket kalanchoes (Kalanchoe blossfeldiana) are succulents grown mainly for their flowers. They have been hybridized and sold as flowering plants long before succulents in general became popular.
Succulents are plants that look like flowers, and although all succulents produce them, they’re generally not the reason people buy them. Yet one succulent, the supermarket kalanchoe (Kalanchoe blossfeldiana), has been commercially grown—and sold—for its bright, cheery blooms for decades.
Because Kalanchoe blossfeldiana produces bouquet-like clusters several times a year, and tolerates conditions that would kill most nonsucculent plants, it has great commercial value. Hybrids come in every warm hue as well as shades of cream, white and multicolored blends.
A variety known as calandiva has ruffled petals. Each dime-sized calandiva floret resembles a tiny chrysanthemum.
For an eye-popping floral display, tuck several supermarket kalanchoes into a window box or flower bed.
Kalanchoe blossfeldiana plays well with other succulents, adding bright pops of color for weeks at a time.
And when you combine several of the same kind in one pot, you’ll get what looks like one big, lush, amazingly colorful plant.
For best results:
— As with most succulents, supermarket kalanchoes want good air circulation, three or four hours of bright but not hot sun daily (morning sun is best), protection from frost and extreme heat, and soil that’s moist but not soggy.
— Deadhead spent blooms and let the plants rest until the next round. If these succulents have a downside, it’s that they’ll bloom themselves to the point of exhaustion. With TLC they’ll recover.
— Deadhead spent flowers. This seems obvious, but the plants are repeat bloomers. They’ll perform better and look best with old flowers out of the way.
–Use with rosette succulents to create floral-style compositions. Supermarket kalanchoes with cream or pastel blooms look especially good with rose, pink and/or teal echeverias.
– If, after successive bloom cycles, the plants go downhill, take cuttings if you want the same color again, or simply discard the plants. Replacements are easy to come by.
Sources: If you’re in the San Diego area, Weidner’s Gardens nursery in Encinitas is one of the top growers of Kalanchoe blossfeldiana hybrids, and their plants are perfection. Otherwise, you can usually find Kalanchoe blossfeldiana in the garden section of big box stores…and of course, in supermarkets.
Related info on this site:
About Succulents, an Overview
This is the perfect place to start if you’re uncertain about succulents: Debra’s dozen favorites, all hand-selected for skittish beginners. These easy-grow varieties are… [Continue reading] 
How to grow, care for, and create more succulents.
True, succulents are the easiest plants on the planet, but like all living things, the more you know about them, the higher your success rate and the fewer worries you’ll have. Here are the basics for [Continue reading]
The post Supermarket Kalanchoes: Succulents Grown for Their Flowers appeared first on Succulents and Succulent Garden Design | Debra Lee Baldwin.
from Succulents and Succulent Garden Design | Debra Lee Baldwin https://ift.tt/2AQwybC
via IFTTT
No hay comentarios:
Publicar un comentario