How Do You Take Care Of Aurora Borealis Kalanchoe?
How do you take care of Aurora Borealis Kalanchoe? Aurora Borealis Kalanchoe is a succulent that grows slowly. Despite this, it may be cultivated indoors or outdoors because to its minimal care nature. The following are some of the aspects to consider when caring; Sunlight Aurora Borealis Kalanchoe thrives in full to partial shade of…
How do you take care of Aurora Borealis Kalanchoe?
Aurora Borealis Kalanchoe is a succulent that grows slowly. Despite this, it may be cultivated indoors or outdoors because to its minimal care nature. The following are some of the aspects to consider when caring;
Sunlight
Aurora Borealis Kalanchoe thrives in full to partial shade of sunshine, and should be kept in a bright setting. If you want to plant this succulent in a container, bear in mind that it should be placed near to a window ledge that receives early sun and is protected from extreme heat. If you intend to plant it in a garden, ensure that it receives adequate sunshine.
Soil
A well-drained, light soil is necessary for the survival of the Aurora Borealis Kalanchoe. To guarantee that the soil you use is adequate, select a well-draining cactus or succulent soil. If you cannot locate this, you may use 50% sand or perlite for the potting soil/cactus mix. A 60/40 mixture of peat moss and perlite may also serve to enhance drainage.
Watering
Aurora Borealis Kalanchoe is a slow-growing cactus, with a moderate degree of drought tolerance. It is best to water in the morning or just before nightfall.
Watering for the plant is preferred when it is in direct sunlight and during the first six to eight weeks after planting. After that, water the plant only during dry periods
Temperature
Keep Aurora Borealis Kalanchoe is a delicate plant that cannot survive freezing. Though it is not as finicky as other indoor houseplants that require a temperature range of 55 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit to grow, this plant does not require much attention other than to avoid freezing.
Fertilizers
Aurora Borealis Kalanchoe is not fertilizer-dependent. However, to maintain it as healthy as possible, regular feeding to supplement its nutrition is a good idea.
While liquid or pellet fertilizers are recommended to meet your plant’s nutritional requirements, ensure that you give your plant the exact amount and type of nourishment it requires immediately.
Humidity
Aurora Borealis Kalanchoe can survive with a moderate degree of humidity. The conditions it thrives in are moderate to high humidity, with little or no direct sunlight.
Propagation
When you need to grow aurora borealis Kalanchoe, which is slow in growth due to its semi-glossy leaves, use cuttings from mature plants or offsets. This will ensure that you will have healthy and strong plants in no time.
Repotting
Repot Aurora Borealis Kalanchoe annually to help it thrive in its optimal growing conditions. It is best to repot this plant in spring or late summer, just before the growing season. It is also essential to ensure that you remove offsets or small Aurora Borealis Kalanchoe plants from the same pot before re-potting.
Pruning
Aurora Borealis Kalanchoe is not a plant to be trimmed excessively. While pruning, only remove dead and dead stems.
What is Kalanchoe Aurora Borealis?
Aurora Borealis Kalanchoe is a marvel to behold. Commonly referred to as Bryophyllum Fedtschenkoi Variegata or Aurora Borealis, this plant can communicate how it feels by changing its colors in response to variations in temperature, soil moisture, and sunshine.
Vertical growth is a characteristic of this succulent plant. It has spreading branches that root along the ground, forming vast colonies.
If allowed to its own ways over an extended length of time, this plant will often take over an entire region. They may reach a height of 60 cm in optimal conditions and scatter their young around the margins of their leaves.
How do you propagate Aurora Borealis Kalanchoe from stem cutting?
To propagate Aurora Borealis Kalanchoe, use its offsets, stem or leaf cutting. It can be propagated from a succulent cutting using a sharp pair of scissors. The following are procedures when propagating Aurora Borealis Kalanchoe by Stem cutting;
To identify the plant
Observe the plant by looking at its different parts. The leaves are always brownish, shiny and slightly hairy. The small white flower buds can be clearly seen on the underside of the leaves. The stems of this plant may grow up to 20 cm long.
Take a cutting
Use a sharp pair of scissors to cut a healthy stem or leaf. Ensure that the cut is clean and smooth, with the portion of the stem or leaf remaining intact. Use water to remove any soil form the stem or leaf. Remove any dead or damaged parts of the stem from your cutting.
Planting your cutting in potting mix
Remove offsets from the parent plant if you have any before transplanting them into individual pots filled with succulent mixture. After removing the cuttings from their parent plant, rinse them thoroughly and let them drain completely before transplanting them into individual pots filled with prepared soil.
Watering
Apply enough water to moisten the soil below the roots of the cutting and keep in place for at least 24 hours. Keep your cutting well moist for at least 2 months after planting it outdoors in pots or containers. The soil should be kept moist but not saturated.
Heat
The potting mixture should be kept in a warm environment to hasten germination and keep your cutting healthy until it roots firmly at the base of its stem.
Transplanting outdoors
After two months, when the stem or leaf of your cutting has rooted well, transplant it outdoors in a prepared bed with rich succulent soil that drains well, or into a container filled with commercial cacti and succulent potting mix.
Does Aurora Borealis Kalanchoe blooms?
Aurora Borealis Kalanchoe flowers are tender and require minimal maintenance. They bloom when it reaches a height of 30-40 cm, most likely in the beginning of summer. The flowers are white to greenish white, with five petals and appear in round heads.
They contain many stamens that produce yellow pollen, which is why they are glistening and shiny. Blooming is easy to recognize, as it will happen early in the morning or at night. However, if your plant blooms, you need not worry as the flowering is a natural process for all succulents in summer.
What is the growth rate of Aurora Borealis Kalanchoe?
The growth rate of this succulent is slow. The leaves become dark green and glossy with a smooth texture when it grows larger. These leaves are covered with soft hairs that are mostly seen on their undersides.
Aurora Borealis Kalanchoe flowers profusely during the summer when grown in well-drained soil and can reach up to 20 cm in height. The light green leaves have many short soft hairs and is glossy when grown in conditions with a moderate to high humidity.
How often do you water Aurora Borealis Kalanchoe?
Aurora Borealis Kalanchoe requires moderate watering. It can survive with a 0.5 – 1.0 inch of water per week depending on your climate, region, and size of the plant. High humidity is essential to this plant’s growth.
The plant grows faster when the soil is consistently kept moist rather than kept wet all the time. Overwatering will eventually lead to root rot and leaf rot while under-watering may slow down growth and cause desiccation of foliage.
When growing, the plant requires ample water. Water the plant regularly and keep the soil moist at all times but ensure that there is not excess water. To make sure that your Kalanchoe gets enough water, place a saucer under each pot to catch excess drainage. Watering will be slower in winter while speed up during hot summer months.
How do you prune Aurora Borealis Kalanchoe?
To prune Aurora Borealis Kalanchoe, use a sharp pair of scissors to remove dead, damaged or diseased stems. As they grow vigorously, they also tend to get top-heavy so pruning will help them retain their balance and prevent them from breaking in strong winds. The following are ways when pruning Aurora Borealis Kalanchoe;
Dividing and removing dead and damaged stems
You can easily divide the plant by cutting it into 2 or 3 parts. If a large part of your plant is damaged, you can cut away the dead portions to prevent spreading of diseases. You should remove diseased or damaged parts if they are causing your plant to produce less leaves.
The excess growth that happens when you prune the plant is normal and your plant will find its balance after some time.
Removing old leaves and reshaping
Old leaves should be removed, as they tend to get tough and leathery with time. As they lose water through the leaf surface, they start to wrinkle; their surface will also begin to dry and flake off. Leaves may drop naturally if you do not remove them.
Do not cut the leaves of your plant but instead, simply pull it off gently as this will help in avoiding leaf drop later on. Leaves are removed from the stem and you can use a sharp pair of scissors to do so.
Use a sharp pair of scissors for cutting cuttings: in this case, you will not need any worry about the cutting being too long as every part that has been cut will be in the same size.
Removing old succulent plant that is no longer useful
The older dead portions of your plant may interfere with its growth, so they should be removed. This will allow the plant to grow unhampered by excess stems and leaves.
Removing old succulent plants will also promote better ventilation, which minimizes health issues. So, if you want a healthy succulent plant, you should remove old succulent plant every now and then.
Rejuvenating your Aurora Borealis Kalanchoe
Pruning is done periodically so your Aurora Borealis Kalanchoe can look its best at all times. To rejuvenate your Aurora Borealis Kalanchoe, remove the damaged portion of your plant while keeping the healthy part intact.
Use a sharp pair of scissors to avoid damaging the plant’s root system. You should remove dead or damaged stems, as they can form diseases.
Rejuvenating the base of your cutting
If you want to restore your cutting back to its former glory, you should cut off the old portion of the plant from the base where most of it had roots but you do not want to damage its leaves or stem, just simply prune it away with a sharp pair of scissors.