What does it take to create a brand-new Kalanchoe? That question takes center stage in the latest episode of Decorum Plants & Flowers‘ Grower for a Day series, where plant expert Michael Perry, better known as Mr. Plant Geek, steps into a side of horticulture that rarely gets the spotlight.
His destination is SlijkermanKalanchoë, a family business that combines two essential roles under one roof: grower and breeder. While millions of people recognize Kalanchoe as one of the world’s best-selling flowering houseplants, very few ever get a glimpse of the years of work that happen before a new variety reaches garden center shelves.
Where New Varieties Begin
Guided by breeder Marit, Michael explores the process of developing new Kalanchoe varieties. Instead of walking through rows of finished plants ready for sale, he enters the breeding department, the place where ideas, patience, and countless selections shape the future of the crop.
Kalanchoe from SlijkermanKalachoë and Decorum Plants & Flowers
Every color, flower shape, growth habit, and flowering performance is carefully evaluated. It’s a process that demands persistence and a sharp eye for detail, with no shortcuts along the way. For Michael, it’s an opportunity to experience a side of the industry that even many professionals rarely see. He says:
“They’re quite stubborn plants!”
Mr. Plant Geek with Kalanchoe from SlijkermanKalachoë and Decorum Plants & Flowers
Behind the flowers is a crop with its own personality, requiring expertise, precision, and years of breeding to achieve reliable, high-quality results.
That challenge is exactly what drives the team at SlijkermanKalanchoë. Their work is about continuously improving genetics, introducing fresh varieties, and ensuring every new selection earns its place in the market.
Kalanchoe Tiger®Yellow
Growing the Future
As both breeder and grower, SlijkermanKalanchoë oversees the entire journey of a plant, from the very first cross to commercial production. This close connection between breeding and cultivation creates valuable feedback, allowing new varieties to be tested under real growing conditions before they ever reach consumers.
The result is a collection that keeps evolving, offering retailers, florists, and plant lovers fresh choices with strong performance and lasting appeal.
A Fresh Perspective on Plant Breeding
The Grower for a Day series continues to reveal the work behind ornamental horticulture by taking viewers beyond the finished product. Michael Perry’s visit to SlijkermanKalanchoë highlights the people, knowledge, and dedication behind one of the world’s most recognizable flowering plants.
Every successful variety starts long before it appears in a pot at a garden center. Behind every flower there’s curiosity, careful selection, and years of commitment that deserves to be told.
Kalanchoe in the breeder’s greenhouse
All photography featured throughout this article is courtesy of Decorum.
