Sunday, February 10, 2008

Kalanchoes Have Minds of Their Own



Just a week ago, I reported my yellow kalanchoe was now white. Now one of the two new ones I bought in January is doing its thing. Ninety percent of the blooms on the kalanchoe shown above are yellow with subtle coral-colored eyes. The other ten percent are blotchy or striped with a deeper coral color that is distinctly delineated from the yellow.


I don't know what causes something like this, but I like it. It will be interesting to see what it does when the next bloom period comes around. I wonder if this section of the plant will be odd like this again, or whether it will be just like the rest. Maybe the whole thing will turn white.

Those houseplants...they're like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get.



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15 comments:

Carol Michel said...

Those are pretty. I think I recall reading someplace that striping like that is sometimes caused by a virus? Maybe that is with tulips? I'd have to look it up.

It will be interesting to see what the bloom looks like next year.

Lisa at Greenbow said...

I think your Kalanchoes are quite pretty with its change of hue. Nothing like a little surprise.

Sherry at the Zoo said...

Oh. How gorgeous! Such a pretty combination of colors all in one plant!

Anonymous said...

It's a beautiful mix of colors - fo festive and spring.

Aiyana said...

I have never seen these colors mixed before. It's quite striking. Many Kalanchoe are hybrids and have odd coloring like this. Perhpas the two you purchased are hybrids.
Aiyana

Chris said...

It's nice to see those warm beautiful colors and a drab cold day! You must have talent for houseplants...I just end up killing them :(

kate said...

Hee, hee ... I think your Kalanchoes are up to some mischief when you're not looking. I love the idea of never knowing what will appear. Little surprises in life are good ...

Like you, I am more than ready for winter to end. Wind chills have been brutal here for the past few days ... past -40c or f. When the celsius and fahrenheit temperatures meet at -40, we know things are bad here.

Garden Wise Guy said...

What a sweet combination of colors! I have a canna lily with the same coloration. Love the brilliance of yellow and red. Thanks for sharing it.

Mad Man Bamboo Nursery said...

Kylee,

Very interesting variegation. Must say, I like the newer flowers to the older ones. Thanks for sharing these photos, really nice.

Sean

A wildlife gardener said...

I love the quantity of blooms on each head as well as the sunny colours in the one in your photo :)

Shady Gardener said...

Hi Kylee,
I nearly purchased a kalanchoe Saturday, but I came home with a violet instead. I'm very slowly increasing the number of indoor plants, here. Probably will never get the secret number you have! ;-)

mightymatt1313 said...

The colors are stunning!

Kylee Baumle said...

Carol ~ I was kind of wondering that, too, Carol. There are several separate plants in the pot and this is the only one doing this. Let me know if you find anything else out about it!

Lisa ~ I love surprises like this!

Sherry, Nancy, and Barbara ~ I agree!

Aiyana ~ Yes, for sure they are hybrids. I guess this is what happens when you start messing with genetics! LOL

Chris ~ I used to kill every single houseplant I ever had. I even totally turned over the care of them to my husband. He did wonderfully with them. Then I became a "real" gardener and learned a few things. It made all the difference in the world. I still manage to kill one now and then, but thankfully, it doesn't happen very often.

Kate ~ We too have had awful wind chills! The wind has been very very strong and it literally bites your skin. I think it originated up there where you are! Things are to be more normal this week, but that's still pretty cold. Stay in and stay warm!

Billy ~It's one of my favorite color combinations, too!

Sean ~ Thank you! And welcome to Our Little Acre!

A wildlife gardener ~ I agree. The flower heads are large for kalanchoes. There are some doubles out there that are gorgeous. Might splurge on one of those if I come across one that is calling out to me. They don't cost much at all!

Shady Gardener ~ Have you gone back to buy the kalanchoe yet? What are you waiting for?? Plants are cheap thrills! :-D

mightymatt ~ Aren't they though? Welcome to Our Little Acre!

Cindy Garber Iverson said...

Ooooo... it's like a rocket popsicle! Or like a confection of some sort. What a happy surprise!

Cindy at Rosehaven Cottage

Kerri said...

The little faces of the Kalanchoes are so bright and cheery. I love the color combination.
You've reminded me to cut some Forsythia and Pussy Willows too. Thanks!
We're in for another snow storm tomorrow...up to 10". Yep, it's feeling like a long winter!

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