Origin

The Flaming Katy plant, Kalanchoe blossfeldiana, is a type of flowering succulent native to NE Madagascar. They're one of the few succulents that are mainly grown for their blooms rather than for their leaves, and these vibrantly colored flowers are what give this plant its name.

Interestingly, the name 'Kalanchoe' is pronounced "kal-un-KOH-ee", not using the 'ch' sound. It's derived from the Chinese word 伽藍菜 (gāláncài).

Many people see this plant as a disposable houseplant option, throwing it away once it has lost its flowers. However, their green foliage can still look attractive, plus it can be possible to encourage them to re-flower.

Care

Flaming Katy does best in bright, indirect light. Too much harsh sunlight can cause it to overheat and scorch the leaves. They're a bit less heat / sun -tolerant than some other succulents. If you plan to keep yours outdoors, you'll want to make sure it's in a part sunny spot spot and ensure you bring it indoors before the winter cold sets in if you live in an area with cold winters, as it isn't a frost-tolerant plant.

Like other succulents, Flaming Katy tends to do better on little water as they're fairly drought-resistant. They're much more likely to die from being watered too frequently than too little, so if you're ever unsure of when to water, it's better to hold off.

These are "short-day plants", meaning they mainly bloom when they experience long, uninterrupted nights. To trigger new flowers, the plant needs about 14 - 16 hours of total darkness every day for about 5 - 6 weeks. Even a small amount of light from a lamp or street-side window can interrupt this process, so many people move their plants into a dark closet from evening until morning.

During the remaining 8 - 10 hours of the day, it’s crucial that the plant still receives plenty of bright light so it has the energy to produce buds (and not struggle in general from a lack of light). For the best results, ensure the plant has been well-fed and watered throughout the summer so it has enough stored resources to support a beautiful fall or winter bloom.

Other

The brightly colored flowers can vary in appearance, including shades of purple, pink, red, orange, yellow and white, all of which are eye-catching and make for a lovely display plant.

Note that Flaming Katy is toxic, so keep it well out of reach of children and pets.

These plants are usually rather small, most varieties will typically not exceed a maximum of 12 inches (30 cm), making them a great choice for a desktop or windowsill.