Kalanchoë plants

Lewis Jansen

Hello everybody,

Today I went to a butterfly house not far away from me, and they had the most simple plants there are, Kalanchoë, but that plant has VERY much nectar in his flowers:
[Blockierte Grafik: http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_21_UkiqioPk/TLYle3g0UEI/AAAAAAAAAXY/Oj7ske7PZmU/s1600/Kalanchoe-Red-enlarge.jpg]
This plants is good for every butterfly specie which drinks nectar. This plant is even better than Lantana Camara and Pentas Lanceolata!
And last but not least, it's much cheaper too! Maybe you have to pay €1,- at the garden center.
It's just a tip for people who want very good nectar plants!

Best wishes,

Lewis Jansen

Klaas

Goeie tip Lewis! But just 1 thing: if I'm right, most butterfly species are not attracted to red flowers. Blue and pink flowers are better.

Regards, Klaas

Lewis Jansen

Dankje

Yeah, for ornithoptera and troides species this is very good! The're attracted to red flowerd But you also got yellow, white, blue, pink and many other colours from kalanchoë!
My heliconius and parides species prefer red flowers, that's why I put that picture in it but you got many colours from this plant!

Regards,

Lewis

Merlin

Hello,

Kalanchoe are good and cheap nectar plants. I found it a bit tricky to keep them for long. They set flowers for a second (and third) time only when kept relatively dry and cool (during winter 10 - 15°C). I just ignored them and did not water them at all. The hight humidity and "artifical rain" in my tropical greenhouse is enough. As a short-day plant Kalanchoe start flowering in winter, when nectar supplies are low.

All the best,
Merlin

Lewis Jansen

Hello,

In winter you have to keep them dry in cool, just what you said When they get water all the time and when day stay relative warm through the year, then the nectar supplies get lower and lower...
So just like other plants, you have to hold them dry and cold in winter.

Regards,

Lewis

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