Kalanchoes continue to be one of the most popular flowering succulents. Here are some newer varieties.


The Calandivas

Several new shades of the Calandiva kalanchoes are now available. Calandiva Yellow is covered with huge flower clusters. The soft yellow blooms are fully double. With row after row of petals, they look rose-like. The throats are pinkish to red, which lends a bicolored effect. The vigorous
plants have large, attractive green foliage.

Calandiva Soft Orange is medium in height. The vigorous plant is a mass of fluffy, double orange blooms. These range in color from light to medium and appear in large clusters.

The Calandivas are rather carefree and rarely suffer from insects or diseases. These are sold in attractive pots with the color matching that of the blooms.


The Queen Kalanchoes

There are several new varieties of the Queen kalanchoes. These can be grown indoors and outdoors. As an outdoor landscape plant, they tolerate drought, wind, and hot sun. They also hold up well under rainy conditions.

Queen African Delicious kalanchoe is a new addition to this series of kalanchoes. This has dark green, segmented foliage. It usually isn’t quite as tall as the Calandivas. The lovely pinkish-red blossoms have red centers.

The Queen Rose Flower kalanchoe is just so appealing. This new color is particularly romantic—a bright red. Very floriferous, this has very decorative buds and full flowers with many petals.


The Kaliber Kalanchoes

The Kaliber kalanchoes also have much to offer. Five new colors in this series have been added to the lineup. Kaliber Lavender has large clusters of lovely, pinkish-purple blossoms.

Kaliber Orange is a clear, medium orange. The plant is literally smothered with masses of blooms.

Kaliber Red kalancho has scarlet red blossoms. The buds are yellow. Kaliber Star is a particularly lovely bicolor. The yellow petals have orangish centers.

Kaliber Yellow is a true lemon yellow. The blossoms are particularly large.


Caring for Kalanchoes

As flowering pot plants, these require very little attention. Just water when the surface of the potting soil becomes dry. These don’t require any fertilizer except if you plan on keeping it after it quits blooming.

For the most part, it is hard to get flowering kalanchoes to rebloom. Flowering is determined by the day length. The use of indoor lighting in our homes isn’t conducive to reblooming. Greenhouses can create artificially dark conditions to force them into bloom just as they do with poinsettias at Christmas.