My Poor Kal!

by Helen
(St. Louis, MO)

Hi! This is my first Kalanchoe plant and it was nice and full and beautiful when I bought it a couple of months ago. I've only watered it twice, and about a week after the second watering the leaves started to dry out and shrivel up.

I was going to try propagating it, but decided to cut the dying leaves off instead, and as you can see, there is new growth on the stalks. Have I done enough, or is there more that I can do to regrow a healthy plant?

It sits about 15 ft. from a North facing window with blinds.

Comments for My Poor Kal!

Click here to add your own comments

Jul 08, 2020

Closer, and not North
by: Jacki Cammidge, Certified Horticulturist

This explains it all. That's not enough light for this type of desert plant. They need LOTS of light, and bright.

So before you totally destroy it, move it immediately into bright light, like in a south or east facing window, with sheer curtains if you like, but no blinds. Failing that, get a grow light for it. If you can, get it outside for the summer, as long as there is no chance of frost or cold winds where you are.

More on light requirements for succulent here.

More on grow lights here.

Jul 08, 2020

Saving Kal
by: Helen

Thanks for the feedback, Jacki! I can't put it in a south facing window, but I do have an east facing area I can transfer it to. Will try that and let you know how it works out after a while.

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to Ask the Horticulturist.