Propagating Kalanchoes

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Many (or most) succulents can be swiftly propagated via stem cuttings, including all the prettiest kalanchoes. So in just a few steps, you can have a lot of new plants for free! Regularly taking cuttings is also a form of pruning that curbs the natural etiolated growth they tend to produce after a few growth seasons. Read on to learn about propagating kalanchoes!

Things you will need for propagating kalanchoes

• Sharp knife or secateurs
• Plastic pot or other container with proper drainage holes
• Succulent potting soil
• Old pencil
• Mist spray bottle

About the soil medium

You can cut corners by buying a commercial succulent mix, or make your own by mixing equal parts of coarse river sand, perlite and hydrated palm peat.

Before you begin propagating kalanchoes

Use household bleach to thoroughly sterilise your cutting tools, and soapy water to wash the pots you are going to use. It is best practice to work as cleanly as possible to prevent fungal infections.

Prepare the cuttings

When propagating kalanchoes, it’s important to choose healthy, vigorous, non-flowering stems. Make a straight cut, severing the stem as close to the base as possible. The cuttings should be about 7 – 10cm long. Remove the lower leaves along the stem, leaving just a few at the tip of the cutting. The cutting will live off the nutrients stored in its fleshy leaves.

Place the cuttings in a dry pot or box in shade for 2 – 3 days to allow a callus to form over the cut in the stems – this prevents rotting.

Plant the cuttings

• Fill up your clean pot with damp soil.
• Using an old pencil, make regularly spaced holes in the soil and insert each cutting into a hole, firming the soil down around it to keep it upright. Any leaves should be well above soil level to prevent them from rotting.
• Use your mist spray bottle to water them well before placing the cuttings in a warm place with bright light but not direct sunlight.
• Mist the cuttings often to keep the soil moist, but not soaking wet.
• Rooting should take 2 – 3 weeks. If a gentle pull on a stem meets with resistance, it is a sign of root growth.
• The cuttings can be transplanted into separate pots when you see the first signs of new top growth.

3 popular kalanchoes to propagate

Kalanchoe ‘Tessa’

This kalanchoe is a lovely hybrid with bright red tubular flowers at the ends of thin stems. It has a spreading growth habit that makes it perfect as a groundcover as well as for hanging baskets and window boxes.

Kalanchoe pumila

This is a cute and tough groundcover with powdery grey leaves with a lilac tint. Clusters of lilac to pinkish purple flowers appear in winter. This is also a lovely plant for patio pots.

Kalanchoe blossfeldiana

Less commonly known as the widow’s thrill, this kalanchoe is often described as a flamboyant and colourful succulent that blooms profusely when the days are short and the nights are long – which means winter! Flower colours include white, cream, pink, yellow, orange and red. We are also privileged to enjoy the ‘Calandiva’ series, which has dense clusters of double flowers.

READ MORE: How to master Indoor Plant Propagating