Very often on the window sills among the diversepotted flowers can be found Kalanchoe. The homeland of this plant is Madagascar and South Africa. Kalanchoe not only distinguishes a beautiful appearance, but also extraordinary healing properties.
One of the ancient legends explains the appearanceKalanchoe in different countries of the world. For the first time this name is mentioned in the record of the ship's journal, made in the XVIII century. Russian merchants trading in Africa faced an amazing case of healing one of the sailors. He contracted a very dangerous and rare disease - a tropical fever, so it was decided to leave him on the South African island in order to save the rest of the team from certain death.
Returning a month later, the ship againmoored to this island and the sailors were surprised to find his comrade quite healthy. It turned out that the locals were able to cure him of the deadly disease with the help of the leaves of the plant, which they called Kalanha (health). Today, many housewives grow Kalanchoe houses, whose birthplace is southern Africa.
This herbaceous perennial belonging to the genuspulkovyh, differs very fast growth. The opposite leaves are juicy, fleshy, usually green, sometimes yellowish or with a blue-gray tint. The lower ones are ovoid, and the upper ones are pinnate. The flowers are collected in paniculate inflorescences, their color can be orange, pink, white or reddish.
Growing at home like exotic flowers,It should be remembered that the birthplace of Kalanchoe (houseplant, brought to us from the tropics) is a completely different climatic conditions. Therefore, for his comfortable well-being requires appropriate care. Nevertheless, this plant quickly adapts to the existing conditions and belongs to the category of the most unpretentious. Like most southern plants, Kalanchoe calmly suffers a lack of moisture, but needs warmth and sufficient lighting.
Today, the most diverse soil mix forindoor plants can be purchased at the store. Composition intended for cacti and succulents, is quite suitable for Kalanchoe, whose birthplace is the tropics. It is only necessary to add one sixth of the rotted compost to it. It is quite possible to use universal soil for planting, mixing it by about one-third with fine expanded clay.
If desired, the soil mixture is preparedon your own, this is nothing complicated. It is necessary to take the turf and leaf land (in the ratio 4: 2) and one part of the sand and peat. They add a little humus or dry manure.
Since the birthplace of Kalanchoe (indoor plants,settled on our windowsills) is South Africa with its tropical and subtropical climate, the plant is not at all afraid of the sun. In order for it to fully develop, you need good lighting. If a slight shading of Kalanchoe cannot be damaged, the lack of light will lead to deformation and loss of decorative qualities.
Air temperature must be maintained.quite high - about 22 ⁰C. Drying and dropping off of leaves is an indication that the room is too hot. But in winter, the plant feels better at a temperature of 15 ⁰C. If the thermometer is 10 ° C and below - the flower may die.
Kalanchoe (the homeland of the plant is different dryclimate) is able to accumulate water, so the drought endures quite calmly. Much worse for this plant is excessive moisture, which can lead to rotting of the roots and damage to the leaves.
Kalanchoe is watered as the soil dries out, as a rule, twice a week in summer and very rarely in winter. Spraying the leaves is carried out only when necessary, when you need to clean them from dust.
There are more than 200 different types of Kalanchoe.All of them grow today in tropical countries. Some of them are so different from each other that it is difficult to believe in their relationship. The only thing that unites all these plants Kalanchoe - homeland.
Пришедшее к нам из Центрального Мадагаскара Kalanchoe TOMENTOSA (or Kalanchoe felted) has leaves rounded off at the base, the surface of which is covered with thick down. Because of this, their coloring seems silvery.
A very common type is Kalanchoe Degremona.
Decorative view of Kalanchoe BLOSSFELDIANAit is distinguished by small leathery leaves that take on a reddish shade in sunlight. Many commercial farms grow blooming specimens of this Kalanchoe year round. The birthplace of the flower is the central part of Madagascar.
Thick and juicy stem has Kalanchoe TUBIFLORA (Kalanchoe trumpet-flower). On the gray-green fleshy leaves in large groups formed daughter rosettes.
Kalanchoe MANGANII has upright thinstems slightly curved towards the end. They are located leaves up to 2.5 cm long. The duration of flowering is affected by the humidity of the air, so this plant needs spraying.
Where the birthplace of Kalanchoe, in natural conditionsthis plant can grow up to one and a half meters tall. Nevertheless, it has been grown for a long time in indoor conditions and is highly valued for its decorative and healing qualities.
