A Story: "Opportunities" and Dependable Kalanchoe

 A story:

Opportunities

Gerry was quick to seize an opportunity.

A farmer gave him a deal on a dozen peacocks. The birds were worth $75 a piece; for Gerry, $100 for the flock.  A month later, the peacocks had flown the coop.

On to the next venture.  A new widget had been designed and stocks were bound to soar.  Gerry jumped in and quickly free fell to zero.

Undaunted, he snapped up some valuable baseball cards.  Who knew they weren't popular anymore?

An orchard would grow money.  Bad luck.  Bugs, drought killed the trees.

All things considered, Gerry had the minus touch.

Kalanchoe have become my favourite winter flower.  This plant is two years old and I have been able to get it to rebloom easily simply by leaving it on the windowsill and closing the drapes over it so that it doesn't get the indoor light in the evening. The blooms last for several weeks.  The plant form is looser than when you buy it at the store but the flowers are just as vibrant.

This pot has six cuttings that I took from the above plant.  Last week I stuffed them all into one pot.

The bright pink is so welcome in the dead of winter.  Kalanchoes are super easy to grow.  Because they are succulents, they don't want or need much water and one or two fertilizings when they are blooming is all that's necessary.  To take a cutting, simply cut off a piece of stem and put it in soil. It will root in no time.

I put one kalanchoe outside last summer as an experiment.  It got morning sun.  The leaves took on a deep green colour and the stem was less leggy.  However, it did suffer some insect damage and it is blooming a month later than the indoor plants. I brought it inside in October as the temperature got cold outside.