Okay, so, I’ve been getting into this whole plant thing lately, and I decided to try my hand at growing a Calandiva. You know, those cute little plants with the flowers that look like tiny roses? They’re supposed to be pretty easy to take care of, so I figured, why not?
First off, I went and picked up a Calandiva from my local plant store. It had these gorgeous, bright pink flowers that were just starting to bloom. I made sure to choose one that looked healthy, with no signs of pests or diseases. It seems like they do pretty well in pots, so I didn’t bother repotting it. I just left it in the pot it came in and found a good spot for it in my apartment.
Find a Good Place
- The spot I chose gets bright, indirect sunlight for most of the day. I read that these plants like that kind of light, so I put it near an east-facing window. I think an east or west facing window sill is great in the summer, and I’ll move it to a south facing window in the winter.
When it came to watering, I tried to be careful not to overdo it. I let the soil dry out a bit between waterings. I’d stick my finger in the soil, and if it felt dry about an inch down, I’d give it a good soak. If it’s too wet, it can get root rot, which is no good. I did read online that to encourage reblooming, I should give it about 14 hours of darkness each day. To do that, I can just put it in a dark room or cover it with a black plastic bag. It’s really important to keep a good watering schedule.
I noticed that these plants are supposed to bloom in the winter and spring. It was winter when I got mine, and sure enough, it started flowering like crazy! Those little rose-like flowers are so charming, and they lasted for weeks. I read that they can last up to 6-8 weeks, which is longer than regular kalanchoe flowers.
As the days got longer, the blooming slowed down. I figured that was normal since they bloom in the winter and spring. I read that they need long nights to get ready to bloom, so I started putting it in a dark closet for about 14 hours each night. I wasn’t sure if it would work, but I wanted to see if I could get it to bloom again.
So far, my Calandiva has been doing great. It’s still alive, which is a win in my book! I’m hoping that by giving it those long nights, it’ll bloom again soon. Fingers crossed! It’s been a fun little experiment, and I’m learning a lot about these plants along the way. It’s pretty rewarding to see something you’re caring for thrive, even if it’s just a little plant. They say that Calandiva make great gifts, and I totally get why. They’re not too hard to take care of, and those flowers are just so darn pretty. I might just have to pick up a few more as gifts for my friends.
