With the Flaming Katy, you are bringing a very easy-care and yet particularly decorative plant into your home. Here's everything you need to know about succulents.
During the flowering period, caring for the Flaming Katy is quite uncomplicated. In winter, however, the plant needs a little special treatment so that a rich bloom appears again next year. We show what needs to be considered.
Flaming Käthchen: origin and characteristics
The Flaming Katy (Kalanchoë blossfeldiana) originally comes from Madagascar and owes its name to the scarlet flowers. However, through breeding, the flowers of this perennial plant can have many other colors and even be double. The long flowering period of the perennial Kalanchoë blossfeldiana extends from February to June. With proper care, you can enjoy flowering for several years. Flaming Katy is an evergreen subshrub and belongs to the genus Kalanchoë within the Crassulacea family. The rather slow growth usually ends at a size of about 30 cm. The dark green, rounded leaves are faintly succulent, so the Flaming Katy can survive periods of drought.
It is interesting that the Flaming Käthchen is a so-called short-day plant. In order for flowers to form, the Kalanchoë blossfeldiana needs a resting phase in which it sees little daylight. This is the only way for flowers to form again next year.
The most beautiful varieties of Kalanchoë blossfeldiana
Although the name Flammendes Käthchen refers to the originally red-flowering species, there are also varieties in other colors today. The Flaming Katy is available in pink or white, but also in orange, yellow and purple.
- Kalanchoë blossfeldiana 'Calandiva': This variety produces double flowers and looks particularly magnificent and eye-catching. They are available in almost every colourYellow to pink to orange or white.
- Kalanchoë blossfeldiana 'Tom Thumb': This Flaming Katie does not grow tall, but stops growing at about 15 cm . The flower color is red.
- Kalanchoë blossfeldiana 'Goldrand': A flaming Katy in yellow can be found with the cultivar 'Goldrand'. It does not belong to the small plants, but also reaches heights of 30 cm.
- Kalanchoë blossfeldiana 'Orange Triumph': As the name suggests, this Flaming Katie has orange flowers.
Tip: Flaming Katy fresh from the shop are often squat. This is because the plants are inhibited in their length growth during production with special hormones, sprays or other methods. After some time in your home, Flaming Katy will develop back to normal, less compact and instead looser. This has nothing to do with incorrect care, but is the natural growth type of the plants. If you prefer a more compact form, you can encourage this with annual pruning, low nitrogen fertilization and low humidity.
Planting Flaming Katy: Location and Procedure
The right place for the Kalanchoë
The Flaming Käthchen prefers a bright place, direct sunlight at midday should be avoided. The ideal temperature is between 18 and 22 °C. Above 25°C the plants become long and light, below 15°C the growth is very stunted. From May to August you can put the Flammende Käthchen in a bright and rain-protected place in the garden. Staying outside is good for houseplants as long as temperatures remain in the double digits. If it gets too cold, you should definitely bring the Kalanchoë blossfeldiana back into the house. For a compact growth and a long flowering period, it is best to keep the humidity low.
In winter, the Kalanchoë needs special conditions to induce flowering, which we present below.
Tip: Flaming Katie does not tolerate ethylene fumes from exhaust fumes, cigarette smoke and ripening fruit. It reacts to this with prematurely wilting flowers. Therefore, never place the Kalanchoë next to a fruit bowl, in the smoking room or in the garage. A regularly ventilated room is more suitable.
Procedure for planting
After purchase, you should plant the Flaming Katy directly in a suitable pot. In any case, it should have a drainage hole. As is usual for succulents, the substrate for the Flaming Katy must be permeable so that no water can accumulate. It is best to use a special succulent or cactus soil, as this is tailored to the requirements of the water-storing plants. The comparatively low nutrient requirement is also taken into account here. Remove the old, often unsuitable substrate from the roots and place the Kalanchoë in fresh soil. A layer of potsherds or similar material on the bottom of the pot is suitable to help the water drain away.
Planting Flaming Katy in the Garden
The Flaming Katy is actually a houseplant that is sensitive to cool temperatures. It should therefore not be planted permanently in the garden. However, it is possible to keep the Kalanchoë blossfeldiana outside during the warm summer months. Put the plant in a bucket and place it in a bright spot in the garden. A rain-protected location ensures that the substrate does not become waterlogged. As soon as it gets colder than 10 °C, the Flaming Katy should be brought back into the house from the balcony or garden.
Flaming Käthchen as houseplant
The Flammende Käthchen feels comfortable in the apartment all year round. However, a short stay outdoors can support the vitality of the plant. Too sunny or too shady a spot in the room can lead to pale flowers or damage to the leaves from sun exposure. An east or west facing window is usually best suited for Flaming Katy.
Care of Flaming Katy
Like most succulents, the Flaming Katy is very easy to care for. The most important thing is not to give the plant too much water.
Pruning, watering and fertilizing the flaming Katy
The Flaming Katie is able to store water thanks to its succulent leaves. It tolerates drought better than wet. Therefore, when casting, less is more. Water the Kalanchoë blossfeldiana wheneverwhen the substrate feels dry again at a depth of 2 - 3 cm. Use low-lime water or stagnant tap water. Irrigation water that is still in the saucer after about 15 minutes should be poured off. Even less water is needed in winter than in summer, but the root area should not dry out completely.
Succulents generally do not require high levels of nutrients. Since the Flaming Katy is a flowering succulent, however, a fertilizer can support flowering. Potassium in particular is an important nutrient that should be supplied during flowering. For example, our Plantura organic indoor and green plant fertilizer is suitable, as it strengthens the plant and supports its growth. The production of the organic fertilizer is also resource-saving. From March to August - i.e. during the flowering period - you can add some fertilizer to the substrate with the irrigation water every four weeks.
If you want to cut the Flaming Katy, always use a sharp knife. A generous pruning can be done after the flowering period and only makes sense if the plant looks bare in the lower area. You can cut shoots above a leaf axis or thickened area. Then the Kalanchoë can sprout again at this point. Dried leaves or single flowers should be removed regularly. Cut shoots and leaves can also be used to propagate Flaming Katy.
To support growth, you can repot the Flaming Katy. At least every two to three years, the Kalanchoë should be supplied with fresh substrate in spring. You can cut back the Flaming Katy before repotting.
Flaming Käthchen withered: care after flowering
After flowering, all dried flower umbels should first be cut off. The Flammende Käthchen should soon be given a rest period so that flowers will appear again next year. A reduced light supply is then important. This also includes artificial light sources such as lamps or televisions. Therefore, it can make sense to put a cardboard box over the plant for the remaining 14 hours or simply put it in a cupboard. At this time it can also be a bit cooler with temperatures between 15 and 18 °C. In the 6 to 8-week resting phase, watering is reduced and not at allfertilized. More than 10 hours of light per day will result in greening and no flower buds will be formed.
What to do with yellow leaves, leaf loss and diseases?
The Flaming Katy is usually not susceptible to disease. However, it can happen that the Kalanchoë does not thrive as it should.
- No flowers: The location is right and you care for it regularly, but the Flaming Katy doesn't bloom? Make absolutely sure to observe the dark period in the winter months for 6 - 8 weeks. Otherwise, no new flower buds are formed. Too much water or fertilizer can also lead to a lack of flowering.
- Yellow Leaves: When the Flaming Katie gets yellow leaves, waterlogging is usually the problem. If the Kalanchoë is too wet, it should definitely be repotted and watered less in the future. Root rot caused by waterlogging can also cause Flaming Katy to sag, limp and lack strength.
- White Coating: Even if pests are usually not a problem, it can happen that the Flaming Katy gets mildew. You can tell by the white, wipeable coating on the leaves. Affected plant parts must now be cut back. Since drought usually favors an infestation, regular watering is essential.
Increase Flaming Katy
Both shoot and leaf cuttings are ideal for propagating the Kalanchoë blossfeldiana. These occur during pruning and are best obtained after flowering in spring.
For the shoot cuttings, cut off one shoot diagonally with a sharp knife. It should have at least two pairs of leaves. The lower pair of leaves is removed and the cuttings are then placed in potting soil or cactus soil enriched with sand. A plastic bag pulled over it creates a humid climate and indirectly supports the growth of the young plants by reducing evaporation. The bag should be aired about once a day to prevent mold from forming. Place the pot with the cuttings in a light and warm place at around 20 to 22°C.
For leaf cuttings, adult leaves are removed with a sharp knife. Here, too, you need a moist growing substrate and a bright and warm oneLocation. Carefully score the veins of the leaves with a knife and place the leaves on the substrate. The incisions should point upwards. Now the leaves are weighed down, for example with a small stone, and moistened regularly. Cling film should also be used here to increase the humidity. New plants will soon form from the incised leaf veins.
Wintering
The Flaming Käthchen is not hardy and must therefore be overwintered indoors. The cold season is used by short-day plants to flower next year. Here's what to watch out for about 6 to 8 weeks in winter:
- At least 14 hours of darkness per day
- Water less
- Do not fertilize
- Cool temperatures between 15 and 18 °C
Is Flaming Katie poisonous?
The Flaming Katy poses no danger to humans. However, the plant is poisonous to cats.
In addition to the Flaming Katy, there are other blooming succulents. We present the most beautiful species to you in our overview of succulents with flowers.