Flaming Katy care is not very demanding at all, which, along with its numerous flower colors and long-lasting blooming period, makes it a very popular indoor plant.
The Flaming Katy plant is an herbaceous houseplant known as Kalanchoe blosssfeldiana and it belongs to the genus Kalanchoe from the family Crassulaceae.
It’s native to Madagascar and you’ll also find it under the name florist kalanchoe.
It’s a loved succulent plant with an amazing blooming that can go on for several months during spring and winter.
In the wild, the plant can grow up to 20 inches in height; however, the indoor variants are dwarf hybrids and they can usually reach only up to 8 inches in height.
This low height makes them ideal plants for tabletops or window sills in your home or office. If you want to, you can place it outside during the summer, but it needs a shady spot and only an hour or two of direct sunlight daily to remain healthy.
It thrives when it spends several months outdoors. However, avoid exposing it to low temperatures that go below 50 degrees F.
Many Flaming Katy plants are sold in a decorative wrapping around their pots; however, it’s best to remove it because it may cover the drainage system and cause water retention.
It’s a good idea to double pot it. That is, keep it in a properly draining pot and add another decorative outer pot without any openings.
It’s quite the drought-resistant plant as it’s a succulent so you need to be really cautious not to overwater it.
It’s important to know that the plant, like plumeria and english ivy, is highly toxic for humans, pets, and livestock if ingested!
Interesting fact:
Did you know that Kalanchoe is pronounced ‘kal-un-KHO-ee’, not ‘kal-un-CHO-ee’?
Flaming Katy Care Tips
Light
Flaming Katy is a strong plant which is capable of withstanding varied lighting conditions, even though it mostly thrives when it’s placed in a bright area, but not overly exposed to direct sunlight.
Some growers will limit the light as the winter season approaches and will give it a lot of dark hours during nighttime (up to 14 hours) to allow it to rest.
This is helpful for its further growth in the spring and summer season.
Temperature
To encourage healthy growth in your Flaming Katy, make sure your room or office temperature range is between 65 degrees F and 75 degrees F.
It’s important for the temperature not to drop below 50 degrees F.
Water & Humidity
If you’re the forgetful or occasional indoor gardener, you’ll love this plant- it withstands sparse watering thanks to its succulent fleshy leaves which can store water for several weeks.
If you want your Flaming Katy plant to thrive, water it heavily until it drips from the openings on the bottom, but only after the soil has become quite dry.
In colder months, a smaller amount of water is necessary every several weeks.
Make sure you water it less when the temperature or the light is reduced. Being a succulent, it does well in most humidity levels.
Soil
A Flaming Katy plant needs a well-aerated and fast-draining soil to prevent the negative effects of overwatering.
Mix equal amounts of potting soil and cactus soil or a mixture of perlite, potting soil, and coarse sand.
If the soil is less draining, be careful when you’re watering it- it should be optimally dry between waterings.
Feeding
This plant doesn’t need too much fertilizer- opt for a standard liquid one diluted in water once per month or so from spring to summer.
Repotting
Flaming Katy doesn’t need frequent repotting.
In fact, once every 3 to 4 years will suffice. A lot of people choose to prune it regularly in order to keep it bushy and this further postpones the need for repotting.
When the time for repotting comes, make sure it’s after the flowering season and after pruning.
This will give the plant sufficient time to adjust to the new pot and grow new vegetation before the upcoming flowering period.
Choose a pot that’s only a bit bigger than the previous one and use proper soil.
Flaming Katy Propagation
Propagating a Flaming Katy isn’t difficult. You can easily do it by making stem or leaf cuttings in the spring or summer period.
You leave the Flaming Katy cutting to dry out for a couple of days and then you plant it in proper soil.
The root will form within several weeks and this is when you’ll notice new growth.
Best Flaming Katy Species
Yellow Flaming Katy
This type of Flaming Katy has stunning and bright yellow flowers that make an amazing combination with the green leaves.
The flowers are tubular and small and there can be up to 50 of them in one flower head.
Orange Flaming Katy
This is another beautiful type of Flaming Katy with a striking orange flower color and glossy green leaves.
Pink or Red Flaming Katy
This variety also features glossy and green leaves, but its flowers can be red or pink.
Other Flaming Katy Care Tips
When choosing a Flaming Katy plant for yourself, make sure you go with the one that has fresh and bright leaves and a lot of closed buds- these are signs that the plant is healthy.
If you want your plant to set flower buds, you need long and sunny days followed by shorter hours of daylight.
Flaming Katy has been found to possess air-cleansing properties as well as antimicrobial and antiviral.
Trouble Shooting- Common Issues
Problem: Droopy leaves
Cause: Underwatering or overwatering
Solution: Check the plant’s soil- if it’s moist, the droopy leaves are probably a result of overwatering. Make sure you wait until the soil is quite dry and then water it.
If the soil is too dry, it’s probably lacking water. Water it properly, especially in the growing seasons.
Problem: Leaf Curling
Cause: Chemicals from insecticides
Solution: Avoid the chemical types of pest control products and whenever possible, choose organic insecticides.
Problem: Floppy or Leggy Plant
Cause: Insufficient light
Solution: Though it doesn’t like excessive direct sun exposure, your flaming Katy wants brightness and light.
Make sure you set it in a spot that gets sufficient light in spring and summer.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this article about Flaming Katy Care.
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