PLANT INFORMATION

CARE

Customers are gradually becoming aware that Kalanchoe Blossfeldiana is a pot plant of exceptional quality.

The brand name DIAMOND Kalanchoe is one of the most long-lasting of all flowering pot plants and is also easy to maintain. The plant likes plenty of indirect sunlight, but can tolerate either full sun or shade. If it stands in full sun, the leaves will turn red and the colour of the flowers will be more intense. Even with little or no light, the plant will still perform well but the colour of the flowers will be paler and overall life expectancy will be reduced. A bright position is particularly recommended for the winter months.

Give the plant little water and allow it to dry out between waterings. Kalanchoe is resistant to dry conditions, but this will speed up the normal flowering season. During periods without water, the thick leaves act as a kind of reservoir, keeping the plant fresh and healthy. Fertilising is not necessary.

When the plant has finished flowering for the first time, you can try and induce a second flowering by keeping it in a dark place for 14 hours per day during a 4-6 week period. 


ORIGIN

The Kalanchoe is a member of the succulent family of plants (Crassulacae). There are more than 100 different varieties, of which at least 60 are found growing in the wild on the island of Madagascar. Many others are found in the southern part of Africa, with a more limited number in Asia and South America. The plant was named by the botanist Adamson in 1763. The most well-known house plant variety is the Kalanchoe Blossfeldiana, which is also known as the coral plant.

This plant first came to Europe in 1928, when it was introduced by Robert Blossfeld into his nurseries in Potsdam, Germany. Soon afterwards the plant also began to appear in Denmark, where it has been cultivated since 1932. Initially, only the varieties with coral red flowers were grown. However, modern cross-breeding techniques have resulted in the creation of varieties which range in colour from yellow, through orange, to red, pink and lilac. There is even a white variety. As a result, Kalanchoe is one of the most widely sold pot plants in Europe, with sales in excess of 150 million plants each year.

The Kalanchoe is a succulent. Among the features typical of this family are the thick, water-filled leaves, which give the plant a greater ability to resist drought in the wild or the heat of an indoor window sill. As a result, the Kalanchoe is a long-lasting plant, which has adopted its life cycle to equatorial conditions. This means that it begins to flower when the days become shorter (less than 11 hours of daylight).

BREEDING AND IMPROVEMENT

In order to provide a wide range of Kalanchoe's in the most popular colours and with a long life expectancy, Horizon has been an active breeder for a number of years. The main objectives of this breeding work are:

Colour: clear colours, in keeping with the latest trends.
Life-expectancy: long-living plants, so that satisfied customers are likely to return.
Easy to grow: which allows continuous production of the very best quality plants.

Breeding improvements mean that it is possible to introduce new varieties on a regular basis. These varieties better meet the key criteria listed above and allow the Kalanchoe to adjust to current market demands in terms of colour and shape, but without detracting from its hardiness and longevity.