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Kalanchoe care
Kalanchoe blossfeldiana · Crassulaceae
Also called Flaming Katy, Christmas kalanchoe, Florist kalanchoe.
A compact succulent from Madagascar with thick, scalloped leaves and dense heads of small red, pink, orange, yellow or white flowers. The flower heads last for weeks, and because it stores water in its leaves it copes well with a missed watering.
Light
Full SunWatering
Every 2 weeksDifficulty
EasyPets
Toxic to cats and dogsHeight indoors
15-45 cm
Growth
Slow
Temperature
15-24 °C
Not below 7 °C
HumidityUnconfirmed
30% - 50%
Fine in dry rooms
Soil pH
6.0-7.0
Slightly acidic soil
Native to
- Madagascar
Through the year
Water thoroughly only when the mix has dried out, then let the pot drain; overwatering rots the stems.
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Spring
Every 2 weeksAfter flowering, cut back old stems and move it to a slightly bigger pot.
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Summer
WeeklyKeep it in bright light; it can go outside in a lightly shaded spot once nights stay warm.
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Autumn
Every 2 weeksFrom early autumn give it long, fully dark nights for about six weeks to set new buds.
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Winter
Every 2 weeksKeep it in the sunniest window; cool nights make the flowers last longer.
Feeding
Every 4 weeks in spring and summer. Balanced houseplant fertilizer at half strength. Feed and water less while it sets buds and in winter.
Care tips
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Use a fast-draining mix
Cactus mix or compost with plenty of perlite stops water from sitting around the roots.
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Deadhead faded flowers
Cut spent flower stems back to the leaves to keep the plant neat.
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Long nights bring flowers
It sets buds after about six weeks of 14-hour nights with no lamp light.
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Pinch for a bushy shape
Pinch the stem tips in late spring and summer.
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Easy from cuttings
Let a 5 to 8 cm stem cutting dry for a few days, then root it in barely moist mix.
Common problems
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Stem rot
What you seeStems turn black and soft at the soil line and the plant topples.
What to doCut healthy tops as cuttings, let them dry for a few days and root them in fresh cactus mix; water the new pot less often.
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Leggy growth
What you seeLong, pale stems with gaps between the leaves.
What to doMove it to the sunniest window you have and pinch back the stems after flowering.
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Mealybugs
What you seeWhite cottony clusters where leaves join the stem.
What to doDab them with a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol and keep the plant apart from others until clean.
Pets
Is kalanchoe safe for cats and dogs?
Toxic to cats and dogs. Contains bufadienolides, heart-affecting compounds; eating it causes vomiting and diarrhea and, rarely, an abnormal heart rhythm.
Good to know
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The species name honours Robert Blossfeld, a German nurseryman who introduced it to growers in the 1930s.
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Small plantlets sometimes form on the leaf edges and can be potted up as new plants.
