Tree of life (something about Kalanchoe)

In many homes, the "Tree of Life," which is frequently connected to the kalanchoe plant, serves a purpose beyond simple aesthetics. Due to its hardiness and ease of maintenance, kalanchoe has gained a special place in homes all over the world. It’s a low-maintenance plant that grows well in busy households.

But the charm of the kalanchoe plant goes beyond its aesthetic appeal. Many people think it has therapeutic qualities, and it’s seen as a symbol of vigor and health in some cultures. Because of this, the plant has earned the moniker "Tree of Life," which reflects its reputation for bringing health and happiness into homes.

The Kalanchoe offers both practicality and symbolism, making it a great choice for those who enjoy gardening or are just looking for something low maintenance. Let’s examine why this commonplace plant has grown to be such a cherished part of family life.

Decorative species

These plants bloom beautifully or have an attractive appearance. Kalanchoe blossfeldiana is a low plant (grows up to 30 cm) with fleshy round leaves and bright flowers of different colors – yellow, pink, red, purple. Grows well in a bright room with shading from direct sunlight. Tolerates dry air. Water moderately, sparingly in winter. Propagated by cuttings and seeds. Little secret: usually this Kalanchoe is bought in the store already blooming and every time they lament that it does not bloom again. In order for the plant to bloom again, you need to arrange a "dark" for it. To stimulate flowering, the daylight hours for Kalanchoe are reduced to 8 hours, the rest of the time the plant is covered with an opaque paper bag. Kalanchoe mangina is significantly different from the previous species. This plant is very graceful and beautiful: small lanceolate leaves up to 2.5 cm long, orange-red flowers, bell-shaped, drooping on long legs. Kalanchoe beharensis. Perennial herbaceous plant. Stems are branching, bare, covered with scars at the attachment points of fallen leaves. Leaves are preserved mainly in the upper third of the shoot, crosswise opposite, 10 cm (up to 20 cm) long, 5-10 cm wide, wedge-shaped or triangular, coarsely toothed, wavy, covered with a grayish waxy coating, fleshy. Petioles are attached to the plate not at the base, but at some distance from the edge, on the underside. Inflorescence is apical, up to 50-60 cm high, umbellate. Flowers up to 7 mm long, yellow, four-membered. Blooms in summer. Homeland – about. Madagascar. Kalanchoe tomentosa. A plant with silvery-gray dense pubescence of leaves, the tips of which are painted brown. Kalanchoe tubular. Narrow, rolled-up leaves with adventitious plants at the ends. Growing up to 90 cm, the plant ceases to please the eye. All viviparous plants have small bell-shaped flowers, most often reddish. To give the plant a more decorative appearance, you should cut off its top (which can be rooted) – then the plant will release 3-4 lateral shoots and become more bushy. Without such pruning, the plant does not branch. Homeland – Africa. Succulent plant with bare succulent stems of light green-pinkish color, with numerous green spots, dots, dashes on the stems. Whorled leaves (3 leaves in a whorl). Light green with brown-green spots, sessile, rolled along the length into a tube with a groove along the central vein. In shape, the leaves are narrowly linear, 0.3-0.4 cm wide, 10-12 cm long. At the top of the linear leaf, the edge of which has teeth, a small number (6-10) of young plants are formed. When falling, they easily take root in the substrate. Blooms in winter. Pinkish-red flowers. Kalanchoe Fedchenkoi. A plant with glaucous matte leaves and numerous stems that form numerous aerial roots at the bottom.

Basic growing conditions

Temperature conditions . Moderate, in winter during the dormant period it requires a decrease in temperature to 10-12ºС. Lighting . Like many succulents, it prefers a large amount of light both in winter and in summer. Watering . From spring to autumn, plants are watered moderately, but the top layer of soil should not be allowed to dry out. In winter, water little. Air humidity . Kalanchoe are resistant to dry air, but periodic spraying is accepted with pleasure. Plants with pubescent leaves do not need to be sprayed. Fertilizers . From late spring to mid-summer, once a month, feed with a special fertilizer for cacti and other succulents. Transplantation . Annually, in spring. A ready-made substrate for cacti is suitable. Reproduction . Cuttings, babies and seeds.

Medicinal species

Kalanchoe pinnate is a perennial evergreen plant of the Crassulaceae family. This plant has long been used in medicine. The stem is erect, fleshy, 60 to 120 cm high, woody at the base. Leaves are short-petiolate, fleshy, very juicy, obtusely serrated along the edge. Lower leaves are simple, elliptical or ovate, upper leaves are folded, triple or pinnate. Flowers are greenish-white-pink, tubular, up to 3.5 cm long, collected in an apical panicle. Kalanchoe blooms irregularly, mainly in the second year of life in the winter-spring period (from February to May). Kalanchoe pinnate forms babies if a leaf separated from the plant is placed on wet sand for some time. Rooting, babies form new plants. Kalanchoe Degremona . In addition to Kalanchoe pinnate, Kalanchoe Degremona is used in folk medicine, and sometimes in scientific and experimental medicine. This species is characterized by elongated narrowly ovate or oblong-lanceolate fleshy leaves. In the depressions between the teeth, brood buds are formed, from which numerous small plants with roots develop directly on the mother plant. When they fall, they take root. That is why Kalanchoe Degremona is also called the "tree of life". But the formation of babies on the leaves occurs only with a long daylight period. Under natural conditions, with the onset of short days, this reproduction process is suspended.

There are research results that confirm that Kalanchoe absorbs harmful radiation from household appliances. So you can place the plant near a TV, computer. So it will not only please the eye, but also help protect against harmful radiation from household appliances, which are present in large quantities in every apartment. Kalanchoe juice has a wound-healing, bactericidal and anti-inflammatory effect, and all thanks to the flavonoids, vitamin C, tannins, organic acids, various enzymes, as well as micro- and macroelements contained in it: iron, aluminum, copper, magnesium, silicon, manganese, calcium. Kalanchoe juice is successfully used to treat trophic ulcers, eczema, boils, bedsores, skin rashes, purulent processes, burns, erosions, etc.d.

For a considerable amount of time, traditional medicine was unaware of the medicinal benefits of kalanchoe, even though it was incredibly effective at halting bleeding and treating headaches and toothaches. Official medicine didn’t start using kalanchoe juice externally until the middle of the 20th century.

The kalanchoe, sometimes known as the "Tree of Life," is a stunning houseplant that offers much more than just aesthetic appeal. It is a unique addition to any home because of its deep cultural significance and innate healing abilities.

The kalanchoe has both beneficial uses and eye-catching beauty. It can be used to heal minor cuts, treat colds, or just to enjoy its vivid greenery. The plant’s versatility in both conventional medicine and contemporary wellness practices attests to its potential value.

The Kalanchoe requires little maintenance, which makes it a great plant for families to grow together. Growing, it reminds us of the healing power of nature and the value of bringing a little bit of the outdoors inside.

The kalanchoe, sometimes referred to as the "Tree of Life," is a well-liked houseplant with aesthetic appeal as well as medicinal benefits. This plant is believed to help with common ailments like colds, cuts, and skin irritations, which is why many families keep it in their homes. It’s low maintenance, easy to grow, and has come to represent health and vitality in many homes. This article explains how adding kalanchoes to your family’s daily wellness regimen can be a straightforward yet effective addition.

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