Are you looking for a new houseplant for your living room? Perhaps you need a nice plant for your office or someone else in your home?
Many people love kalanchoe plants and calandiva plants. When you look at both of these plants, it’s easy to see that they’re similar.
Despite the similarities, there are important differences that need to be noted. What are the differences between kalanchoe plants and calandiva plants?
Read on to learn about both of these plants. It’ll help you to pick which option will work out best in your home.
Understanding the Differences Between Calandiva and Kalanchoe Plants
Calandiva plants and kalanchoe plants are incredibly similar. It’s fairly common to find the plants being sold under both names.
You might come across a plant in a garden center that is listed as a kalanchoe plant and a calandiva plant. Why is this?
Calandiva plants are actually a hybrid type of kalanchoe plant. Specifically, calandiva plants are a hybrid of the Kalanchoe blossfeldiana plant.
These hybrids have the same care requirements as the proper kalanchoe plants. A calandiva plant will also need to be kept in the same USDA hardiness zones.
It’s most common to see these plants being used as houseplants. However, they will do well when grown outdoors so long as the USDA zone is correct.
About Calandiva Plants
You’ll find that calandiva plants haven’t been around for a very long time. The kalanchoe variety that calandiva plants are based on was discovered in 1926 and brought to Europe in 1930.
At first, these plants only had red flowers. It was bred to have flowers in many different colors over the course of the years.
The calandiva plant was a mutated version of the kalanchoe plant. This was discovered in 1998.
It’s a relatively recent discovery that has become quite popular in recent years. The plant was bred in the Netherlands and it looks amazing.
When you look at a calandiva plant it’s going to have some clear differences from a kalanchoe plant. The standard kalanchoe plant that calandiva plants are based on are beautiful, but calandiva plants take things to the next level.
Calandiva plants produce blooms in more colors than the kalanchoe plants. The blooms can be pink, white, red, orange, purple, or pink-white.
Also, the flowers on calandiva plants look quite a bit different. They look similar to roses and have flower clusters with many petals.
A calandiva flower contains thirty-two petals. There are only four petals on a kalanchoe flower.
So there are substantial physical differences between a standard kalanchoe plant and a calandiva plant. If you want very showy flowers, it might be worthwhile to seek out a calandiva plant.
How Tall Are Calandiva Plants?
You’ll find that calandiva plants can grow to be anywhere from six inches tall to one and a half feet tall. Generally, the plant will be almost as wide as it is tall.
Exactly how tall the plant will grow will depend on various factors. If the plant receives ample sunlight and is cared for properly, it’s more likely to reach its maximum growth potential.
Caring for a Calandiva Plant
Caring for a calandiva plant is essentially the same as caring for a kalanchoe plant. You’ll do the same things that you would for the kalanchoe plant that the calandiva plant is a hybrid version of.
Watering these plants the right way is important. You want to ensure that the plant is allowed to dry out between watering sessions.
It’s easy to harm the plant if you water it too much. Always touch the soil to ensure that the top two inches have started to dry out before watering it.
These plants do best when placed in nutrient-rich soil. It’s also important to use soil that drains well so that the plant won’t sit in water.
You’re supposed to try to keep the soil moist during the growing season. You just don’t want the soil to be soggy since that would be bad for the plant.
It’ll be good to give a calandiva plant fertilizer during the growing season. You can give this plant a liquid fertilizer on a monthly basis during the growing season so long as you’re careful.
Follow the instructions on the fertilizer and be sure not to use too much. Too much fertilizer can do more harm than good.
Calandiva Sunlight Requirements
Getting these plants the right amount of sunlight will help them to grow strong. These plants won’t do well if you keep them in low-light environments.
If you’re planting a calandiva plant outdoors, you can put it in full sunlight. Some enthusiasts say that it’s best to give these plants bright indirect sunlight if the sun is too harsh, though.
When caring for a calandiva plant indoors, it’s good to give it as much sun as you can. Ensure that the plant is placed in a sunny room where it’ll get enough light.
These plants grow in unusual ways when they don’t get enough sunlight. It’s likely that the plant will look thin or lanky if it isn’t placed in proper lighting conditions.
Final Thoughts
You’ve learned a lot about calandiva plants and kalanchoe plants now. Calandiva plants are a hybrid type of kalanchoe plant that many people adore.
They’re very beautiful plants that produce flowers that have thirty-two petals. The general care requirements are pretty much the same as kalanchoe plants.
If you choose to buy one of these plants for your home, you’ll likely be pleased with the results. Kalanchoe plants also look very nice, and that means that you can’t go wrong with either option.
These are relatively easy plants to care for no matter what. Just be sure not to water them more than you’re supposed to and you should have a good experience.
Both kalanchoe plants and calandiva plants are rather popular. You can find these plants being sold in garden centers throughout North America.
Don’t hesitate to buy one if you’re interested. They’re good plants that will certainly brighten up whatever room in your home you choose to place them in.
They can also be grown outdoors if you live in the right USDA hardiness zone. These plants can’t handle cold temperatures, though, and that means that they’re best kept indoors when you live in a place that has cold winters.
Growing up with a mom who filled her home (inside and out) with all sorts of plants, Lisa got her start in gardening at a young age. Living now on her own with a home and yard full of plants (including an indoor greenhouse), she shares all the gardening tips she’s gained over the years.