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Are you suffering from diseases in your kalanchoe plant? If so, here’s an easy-to-remember tip. Most, if not all, Kalanchoe diseases are the result of improper care practices.
It’s often something you do or don’t do. For example, you can submerge or overwater the plant.
Or maybe it went too long without checking for parasites. Whatever the problems and diseases are, they are often related to your kalanchoe care practices.
So while we cover the most common problems and illnesses with the kalanchoe plant, we’ll also look at the best way to care for it. Here it goes:
Contents
What to do with a long-legged Kalanchoe plant?
Legs with your kalanchoe plant come down to three main factors: pruning care, access to sunlight, and pot size.
If an area is missing, the plant may exhibit leggy growth, which won’t give you the opportunity to have a bushy plant that will beautify your space. Let’s focus on the three possibilities:
size care
Most varieties of Kalanchoe begin to show pots after a few years. If you want them to stay bushy, you will need to prune the flowers.
After the plant has finished flowering, prune any unwanted growth. Note that these plants bloom every year.
So how to prune it? Work by cutting a third of the length of the stem. This means next season’s growth is strong and healthy.
Keep the shape of the plant in mind when cutting and trimming in a way that doesn’t damage the aesthetics of the plant.
When a stem is dead or has sustained significant damage, it is best to start over. Cut the stem at the base or where the branch meets the stem.
Shaping the plant is also easy. Find a leaf node that points in the desired direction of growth. Cut the stem at a 45 degree angle with clean scissors.
New growth will move to the leaf node. Please note that you must sterilize all pruning tools. Otherwise, they can act as a route of contamination and damage the plant.
You may also be interested in: How to Fix a Leggy Wandering Bean Plant?
replant
Kalanchoes are succulent and that makes them ideal for anyone who wants minimal care practices.
They can live in the same pot for years without repotting. However, you may need to repot them after some time.
You can tell it’s time to repot when the roots start to come out of the pot’s drainage holes or appear on the surface of the soil.
If the water has been in the soil longer than it used to, you may need to check your plant for attached roots.
When repotting, find a larger pot where the plant can grow for a while before it needs to be replaced again.
If you already like the size of your plant and don’t want to move it to another container, you can always prune the roots.
Remove the plant from the container and use clean tools to cut off a significant portion of the roots.
Keep in mind that if you work with a pot that is too big, the plant will concentrate its energy on filling the pot with its roots.
This can stunt plant growth for a while, and you can take this into account when making changes.
Relief
Another major problem you may face is lack of proper light exposure. Kalanchoes do well in rooms with access to bright natural light.
Note that this does not mean that the plant should be in full sun. Either way, leaving the plant in full sun can stunt its growth.
Any high temperature can also cause this growth retardation. The best approach is to leave the plant close to full light so the rays don’t hit the plant directly.
In this way, the flowers will be much brighter, which will give an aesthetic boost to the interior.
If the light is not enough, the Kalanchoe, like many other light-loving plants, will begin to grow in the direction of the light. Over time, it will appear long.
Why are my Kalanchoe leaves soft?
Kalanchoe is a hardy plant that grows in almost all regions. But like any other plant, this one has its limits, especially when it comes to watering.
Excessive watering will only harm the plant. Remember this is a succulent. For example, it absorbs water which it stores in its leaves and stems.
You can tell your plant has been overwatered if it has soft, mushy leaves that look lighter than normal.
Depending on the degree of overwatering, the leaves may also appear translucent and may drop off.
What happens if you overwater the plant? The roots will absorb what they can and if they can’t they will rot from being in water too long.
On the positive side, once you notice the plant is in danger, you can save it by taking timely action.
First, watch for signs of overwatering, such as leaf softening and changes in leaf color and texture.
If these are present, stop watering immediately and let the soil dry out completely before watering again.
In some cases, you may need to repot the plant by changing the potting mix and cutting out damaged root areas.
And if the situation is dire, you may need to propagate a new plant from a cutting of the old plant. The earlier you intervene, the less likely you are to resort to extreme measures.
Why does my Kalanchoe have wrinkled leaves?
While overwatering is bad, giving your plant less water than it needs can also be the cause of its death. This can create wrinkled leaves on your kalanchoe.
An underwater plant has wrinkled, weak leaves that drop off quickly as the plant slowly wilts and dies.
This is caused by a lack of water in the stems and leaves as the roots cannot absorb enough to keep the plant alive.
The good news is that rescuing a plant underwater is much easier than rescuing a plant with rotting roots.
All you have to do is adopt good watering techniques, and the plant will respond within days with a recovery.
Once the plant returns healthy, observe proper watering patterns.
How often should you water a Kalanchoe?
Always make sure the soil is dry before watering. The best way to check if you need to water the kalanchoe is to stick a thumb finger into the ground.
If it is dry, you can water it. If not, check the next day. If you have trouble estimating watering needs, use a moisture meter.
Keep in mind that good irrigation technique is not enough to keep the plant healthy.
You also need to make sure the pot has adequate drainage; otherwise, the roots will still be in water every time you water them, even if you flush the water.
How do you treat powdery mildew on a Kalanchoe?
powdery mildew on your kalanchoe is due to the spread of fungi and shows white spots on the leaves of the plant. If the disease progresses without any intervention, the plant may die.
Keep in mind that this disease is easily airborne from plant to plant and must be contained immediately.
Spray the plant with a fungicide and watch your watering techniques. Make sure the plant is not getting too much water.
You should also avoid giving the plant dry air and high temperatures in which this fungus thrives.
Why are my Kalanchoe leaves turning yellow?
Your kalanchoe plant can turn yellow for a number of reasons. One is the lack of light, especially in winter.
We discuss what you can do when there is access to natural light. But in winter, you have to go further and invest in artificial light.
Two is low air temperature. This plant generally does not like temperatures below 10°C and turns yellow when the temperature drops.
You should move the plant to an area with adequate heating or supplement whatever is available in the house.
Third, we have incorrect irrigation techniques. In this case, you can overwater or flood the plant, which can be fatal.
Why Are My Kalanchoe Leaves Curling?
When you don’t follow recommended care practices, your kalanchoe plant becomes susceptible to disease. Curled leaves are often a sign of a virus attack.
You can check if this is the case by looking for black spots on the surface of the leaves.
If present, these are warning signs that parasitic fungi have taken up residence on your plant.
These fungi infect plants that grow at low temperatures and plants that receive too much water. You need to change the soil to deprive the mushrooms of a home and cut off all the damaged leaves.
You should also reduce the frequency of watering and move the plant to a warmer part of the house.
Keep in mind that cool, damp conditions can also set the stage for gray mold, which is just as serious.
Final Thoughts: How to Cure Your Kalanchoe Disease?
For a succulent, the Kalanchoe is fairly easy to care for, as long as you maintain the required care practices.
Whenever you encounter a problem, ask yourself what else you can do regarding care routines to get rid of your kalanchoe diseases.
Before you go, here are some more related articles that I encourage you to read below to solve more of your gardening problems:
How to solve your ming aralia problems
How to maintain a Monstera?
Top 10 Common Fatsia Japonica Problems
How to save a dying Dracaena marginata plant?
Happy gardening!
Written by: Daisy Njeric