What Do I Do About My Bleach-blonde, Curly Kalenchoe?

Question

Last year, I got this little kalenchoe humilis (I believe) and it’s gotten much taller since. The problem is that it’s become very leggy, it’s lost its tiger stripes and its leaves curl violently downward. At the top, which is clearly stretching on its tiptoes to get to its light source (I have to rely solely on grow lights where I am,) the little leaves are standing straight up. I know I need to prune it, and I am gathering info to make the most of that when it happens… but some of that info, as per usual with plants, is very conflicting. For example, I know plants get leggy due to insufficient light, but then why has it bleached? Or is it because it’s unable to photosynthesize properly because it’s been sunburned and so it’s paradoxically reaching for more light? The soil has become very… firm. I think I may be underwatering it, too, but I’m not sure and it seems to need a LOT of water. The leaves curling downward support this thought, I think… so can we assume it’s gotten too much light and burned and now it can’t photosynthesize enough of the light it gets, so it’s reaching for it? And since it’s getting closer to the light, it’s getting hotter and going through water like nobody’s business? I just want my plant babies to be happy.

Answer 1

The bleached look also can be due to overwatering. Since you have a grow light but the stems are reaching, try moving the grow light closer. Go ahead and trim the plant; if the cuttings look healthy enough you can propagate them. This article tells how:

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/kalanchoe/growing-kalanchoe-plants.htm