Flaming Katy

Growth habit and size

The bushy growth habit is apparent even in young plants: stems are upright, single or sparsely branched. Standard forms reach 30-40 cm tall, while miniature forms may stay under 15 cm.

The leaves are fleshy, glossy, and dark green, often with reddish edges. They have toothed margins and are 5-7 cm long, with a width roughly half their length.

Flower clusters and cultivars

The natural flower color is bright red, and the flowers grow in flat-topped clusters. Each flower is about 1.5 cm long, so the display comes from the number of flowers in each cluster rather than their size.

• white, pink, yellow, orange, and lilac flowers
• double-flowered forms
• variegated cultivars
• trailing varieties
• garden forms

Cultivars may flower at times other than winter. They are the forms most commonly grown indoors, so the shape of the plant and its flower clusters can vary considerably.

Origin and natural habitat

The species is native to Madagascar. In the wild, it grows in humid tropical forests in humus-rich soil, although its leaf structure is that of a typical succulent.

This combination can be misleading: the fleshy leaves do store water, but the plant is not adapted to constantly wet roots. Indoors, it needs light, well-drained soil, and restraint with watering.

Light and placement

Choose a bright spot protected from direct sunlight. With too little light, stems become leggy, upper leaves turn pale, and lower leaves may die off.

In summer, the plant does better outdoors than in a stuffy room, provided the spot does not overheat in direct sun. A cooler spot is preferable in winter, but the temperature must not drop below +15 °C.

Watering and soil

Water according to the condition of the soil, not the calendar. During the warmer months, water more generously, but only after the soil has dried out; in winter, water moderately.

After flowering, repot into a mix of equal parts leaf mold, loam, well-rotted manure, peat, and sand. Good drainage matters: succulent stems and leaves do not mean that the roots can tolerate standing water.

Repotting and propagation

Repot after flowering, when the plant is no longer using its resources to produce flower clusters. The pot and soil should allow excess water to drain away quickly.

• stem cuttings
• leaf cuttings
• seeds

Let stem or leaf cuttings dry for 1-2 days before planting. Once planted, water carefully without keeping the soil constantly waterlogged.

Flowering and the colder months

The species flowers in winter, but cultivated forms may flower at different times. Breeding has produced some cultivars that develop flower clusters at various times of year.

During the colder months, keep the plant cooler and water more sparingly. Too little light in winter weakens the stems, so a dark corner is not suitable for keeping it long term.

Pet safety

The plant is toxic to cats and dogs. Keep this in mind if your pet tends to chew houseplants or knock pots off the windowsill.

Do not confuse ornamental kalanchoes with plants used in folk medicine. Kalanchoe blossfeldiana is grown as an ornamental flowering species, not as a home remedy.