Kalanchoe uniflora (Trailing Kalanchoe) Indoor Care, Propagation and Common Problems

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Kalanchoe uniflora also called Coral Bells, Coral Berry or Winter Bells is one of the climbing Kalanchoe varieties and bears fleshy, bright-green leaves and bright red to red-violet, bell-shaped flowers.

Coral Bells is spectacular among popular flowering plants for a hanging basket, a pedestal or a tabletop where the pendulous stems and colorful flowers can hang down beautifully.

Botanical name: Kalanchoe uniflora
Family: Crassulaceae
Common names: Trailing Kalanchoe, Coral Bells, Coral Berry, Winter Bells

Origin

Kalanchoe uniflora (Trailing Kalanchoe) is native to Madagascar.

Flowers

The flowers in Coral Berry are bright red to red-violet, bell-shaped and appear in winter.

Size

Winter Bells is a trailing plant whose stems can reach upto 3 feet long and is one of the favored hanging succulents for indoor growing.

Is Kalanchoe uniflora toxic?

Yes. The ASPCA has listed Kalanchoe Plants as toxic to animals. They contain Calcium glycosides which are toxic to animals. Keep the plants away from the reach of children and pets to avoid any mishaps.

Where to Buy

Trailing Kalanchoe are a great addition to any collection. You may acquire these plants online from Etsy (Link to Etsy).

Kalanchoe uniflora Care Indoors

To care for Kalanchoe uniflora indoors, provide bright light with 4-6 hours of sunlight, warmth of 18-28⁰C, humidity of 50-55% and moderately moist, fertile, free-draining soil coupled with fortnightly feeding during the growing season.

Trailing Kalanchoe requires annual repotting at the beginning of the growing season. Pruning is needed to keep it neat as well as promote flowering. Keep on reading for more on these growing conditions and how to achieve them.

Watering

Water Kalanchoe uniflora thoroughly during the growing season and allow the top 2-3 inches of soil to dry out between waterings. Keep the soil moderately moist and take care not to overwater to prevent rotting, yellowing, leaf drop and lack of blooms.

Cut down on watering in the cold period to maintain the soil almost dry since growth is minimal. Do not allow the soil to dry out completely to avoid wilting, drooping, yellowing and leaf loss.

To avoid shocking this tropical plant which can result in reduced growth and leaf fall, water with tepid (room temperature) water. Only use chlorine-free water to prevent staining of the leaves.

Make sure that the soil is free-draining and the pot has a drainage hole. Always discard excess water from the saucer to prevent waterlogging which can lead to rotting and death of the plant.

Light Requirements

Trailing Kalanchoe grows best in bright light with at least 4-6 hours of direct sunshine per day to encourage flowering. Keep it away from hot midday sunlight to prevent scorching.

If light is not enough, the plant will become leggy with wide spaces between the leaf and will not bloom. Where the natural lighting is not sufficient, you may use a full spectrum grow lights to add on it.

Turn the pot regularly to ensure the plant receives light on all sides for even growth and prevent legginess.

Temperature & Humidity

Kalanchoe uniflora prefers a warmth of 18-28⁰C. Keep it away from cold drafts to avoid sudden drops in temperature which can cause stunted growth, yellowing and leaf drop.

Trailing Kalanchoe has no need for extra humidity; a humidity of 50-55% is adequate for this plant. Make sure there is good air circulation to prevent fungal diseases.

Potting Soil

The best soil for Kalanchoe uniflora should be rich in organic matter, loose and free-draining to avoid gwaterlogging. The soil should be loose enough to allow water to drain out fast enough. A Cactus and succulents potting mix is ideal for the plant.

Fertilizer

Feed Trailing Kalanchoe with a phosphorous-rich, water-soluble fertilizer every 2 weeks when the plant during the growing period to promote flowering.

Do not feed in the cold season as the plant is in the dormant stage and feeding at this time can lead to fertilizer burn and death of the plant.

Repotting

Repot Kalanchoe uniflora every year after the rest period (cold season). Use a clay pot one size larger than the current one. Do not repot a plant that is in flower as the repotting shock can shorten the flowering period.

Ensure that the pot has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy as it can lead to root-rot and eventual loss of the plant. Check out these pots with drainage holes on Amazon.

Pruning & Grooming

Pruning Trailing Kalanchoe involves removal of dead flowers to maintain the plant tidy. Prune the tops after flowering is over and place the pot in a shaded place.

Keep the soil almost dry for a month and then position the plant in a spot with bright light and water normally. Doing this will initiate more flowering.

Clean the leaves by wiping with a damp soft cloth to get rid of dust and discourage pest and disease infestations.

How to Force Trailing Kalanchoe to Rebloom

Trailing Kalanchoe is a short day plant. This means that it requires a rest period of short days for 6 weeks to hasten flower bud formation.

To achieve this, place the plant in a dark cupboard or cover it with an opaque cardbox for 14 hours per day for 6 weeks. Alternate this with bright light for 10 hours per day during this period.

Keep the plant warm, away from draughts and do not feed or water it during this rest period.

When the flower buds appear, at the end of the 6 weeks rest period, move the plant to a brightly lit place, water and feed it, and resume routine care.

Using this method, you can trick the Trailing Kalanchoe to bloom at any time of the year.

Kalanchoe uniflora Propagation

Trailing Kalanchoe is best propagated at the beginning of the growing season from stem-tip cuttings or from leaf cuttings.

1. Propagating Trailing Kalanchoe from stem-tips cuttings

1. Take a stem-tip cutting of about 4-6 inches from a healthy plant. Ensure each cutting has 2-3 leaf nodes as this is where new growth will come from.


2. Strip off the lower leaves and allow the cutting to dry (callus) for 1-3 days before planting to prevent rotting.


3. Insert the stem-tip cutting into moist, free-draining soil. Use a pot with a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy as it can lead to rotting.


4. Cover the set up with transparent polythene to raise humidity inorder to hasten rooting and establishment.


5. Place the set up in a warm, brightly-lit place and maintain the soil moderately moist through out.


6. Allow the new plant to be well established before transplanting after which routine care can begin.

2. Propagating Trailing Kalanchoe from leaf cuttings

1. Take a leaf cutting from a healthy plant. Ensure that the petiole is intact as this is where new growth will emerge from.


2. Allow the cutting to dry (callus) for 1-3 days before planting to prevent rotting.


3. Insert the cutting's leaf petiole into moist, free-draining soil while ensuring that the leaf midrib also comes into contact with the soil.


4. Confirm that the pot has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy as it can lead to rotting.


5. Cover the set up with transparent polythene to raise humidity inorder to hasten rooting and establishment.


6. Position the set up in a warm, brightly-lit place and maintain the soil moist through out but not soggy.


7. Once the plantlets have grown at least one set of leaves, carefully seperate them and pot in individual pots.


8. Place the new plant in a warm, well-lit spot after which routine care can begin.

Related Content: How to Propagate Kalanchoe Plants in 5 Easy Ways.

Kalanchoe uniflora Problems & Remedies

Trailing Kalanchoe problems are lack of blooms, drooping leaves, leaf drop, leggy growth, pests and diseases among others. Keep reading for more on these problems and how to solve them.

Lack of blooms

Lack of blooms on Trailing Kalanchoe is caused by too little light, nutrients deficiency or inconsistent watering.

How to fix it

Too little light: Move the plant to a brighter spot where it will receive bright light with some 4-6 hours of direct sunlight or instal a grow light if the natural lighting is inadequate.

Nutrients deficiency: Feed the plant with a phosphorous-rich, water-soluble fertilizer every 2 weeks during the growing season to promote flowering.

Inconsistent watering: Water the plant thoroughly during the growing season while allowing the top 2-3 inches of soil to dry out but do not let the soil dry out completely.

Drooping leaves

Drooping leaves off Kalanchoe uniflora is caused by inconsistent watering, soggy soil or temperature stress.

How to fix it

Inconsistent watering: Do not water on a schedule. Water when the top 2-3 inches of soil dry out but never allow the soil to dry out completely.

Soggy soil: Use a free-draining soil and a pot that has a drainage hole.

Temperature stress: Keep the plant away from sources of drafts like AC units, hot air vents, windy doors, drafty windows among others.

Leaf drop

Leaf drop on Trailing Kalanchoe is caused by inconsistent watering, soggy soil, too little light or temperature stress.

How to fix it

Inconsistent watering: Water when the top 2-3 inches of soil feel dry but never allow the soil to dry out completely. Do not water on a schedule.

Soggy soil: Use a pot that has a drainage hole and free-draining soil.

Too little light: Move the plant to a brighter spot where it will receive bright light with some 4-6 hours of direct sunlight or instal a grow light if the natural light is not enough.

Temperature stress: Keep the plant away from drafts coming from hot air vents, heat sources, AC units, windy doors among others

Leggy growth

Leggy growth on Kalanchoe uniflora is caused by overwatering and too little light.

How to fix it

Overwatering: Water only when the top 2-3 inches dry out and use a pot with a drainage hole and well-draining soil.

Too little light: Position the plant in a brighter spot where it will receive bright light with some 4-6 hours of direct sunlight or instal a grow light if the natural lighting is not enough.

Pests

Common pests of Trailing Kalanchoe are mealybugs, spidermites, scale insects and aphids which are common in dry conditions.

How to fix it

1. Isolate the infested plant to reduce spread to the rest of the plants.


2. Treat the infested plant with neem oil or insecticidal soap as per the manufacturers' instructions.


3. Regularly check underneath the leaves for these pests and carry out timely control measures.


4. Maintain the plant well pruned to depress the pests infestations.


5. Set the pot on a wet pebble tray or group the plants together to raise humidity to discourage the pests.

Diseases

Kalanchoe uniflora is prone to the following 2 diseases:

1. Powdery mildew which presents as moldy leaves and flowers. It is enhanced by overwet conditions coupled with poor air circulation.

How to fix it

1. Cut off the diseased parts to minimize spread.


2. Isolate the affected plant to reduce spread to the other plants.


3. Treat it with neem oil as per the manufacturer's recommendations.


4. Maintain a good air circulation to discourage the infestation.


5. Do not mist or wet the plant as moisture on the foliage creates suitable conditions for this disease.

2. Leaf spot disease which is characterized by brown, soft leaf spots and is prevalent in wet conditions coupled with poor air circulation.

How to fix it

1. Remove and burn the affected parts to minimize spread to other plants.


2. Treat the affected plant with a systemic fungicide and ensure to follow the manufacturer's instructions.


3. Avoid wetting the leaves during watering or water from the bottom instead.


4. Ensure good air circulation for the plant to discourage the disease.

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