How to Take Care of a Flaming Katy Plant

How to Take Care of a Flaming Katy Plant

The Flaming Katy plant is one of the few succulents known for its blooms. Although a natural spring bloomer, proper care can bloom this plant all year round. Here is what you need to know and more about Flaming Katy plant care!

 

What is the Scientific Name?

The Flaming Katy plant’s scientific name is the Kalanchoe blossfeldiana.

 

Other Common Names

  • The Madagascar Widow’s Thrill
  • Christmas Kalanchoe

 

What Soil Works Best for a Flaming Katy Plant?

what soil works best for a flaming katy plant

The ideal soil for this plant is a sandy, well-draining, and acidic mix. As an indoor houseplant, use a cactus mix potting mix. Ensure that this plant is in a container with proper drainage holes to reduce the risk of root rot. Root rot generally occurs from a combination of overwatering the plant and not having it in a suitable container with holes.

 

How Much Fertilizer to Use for a Flaming Katy Plant?

Luckily this plant isn’t as hungry as other blooming plants. Use a well-balanced fertilizer once a month during the spring and summer months to promote flower growth.

 

How Much Sun Does a Flaming Katy Plant Need?

how much sun does a flaming katy plant need

This plant is native to Madagascar and needs bright sun to grow healthy and strong. Give it bright light or direct sunlight, and this plant will thrive. Without being in an area with bright light, the plant will wilt. However, keep your plant away from the full sun to prevent the plant from getting sunburnt.

 

During the winter, you can keep this plant in an area where it will be in the shade. You can keep the plant in this area for a month since it needs time to replenish and prepare to bloom during the springtime.

 

What Temperature Works Best for a Flaming Katy Plant?

The best temperature for a Flaming Katy is 65-80 degrees Fahrenheit. Be careful about keeping this plant near a cold window as it does not do well in temperatures below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. On the flip side, don’t leave the plant in a too hot area since that can cause the plant to burn.

 

Do Flaming Katy Plants Enjoy Humidity?

The Flaming Katy plant enjoys an average room level or humidity. The ideal humidity can be anywhere from 50-60%. If you’re comfortable, so would your plant.

 

How Often Should You Water a Flaming Katy Plant?

how often should you water a flaming katy plant

For the Flaming Katy, keep the soil barely moist. It’s better to underwater the plant than to overwater it. Too much-standing water can cause root rot, so it is best only to keep the top inch or so of soil most.

 

The ideal water frequency is about once a week during the summer. In the winter, when it’s outside of the growing season, you can water this plant every 2-3 weeks.

 

What Size Does Flaming Katy Plants Grow to Typically?

These indoor plants can grow up to 18 inches in height at maturity. On average, you can expect your plant to be around 12 inches in height and diameter.

 

What are the Most Common Bugs?

Most growers will find that the Flaming Katy plant doesn’t attract many bugs. So there might rarely be problems with mites, mealybugs, and mildew. While rare, the best way to care for these plants is to remove as much of the infected area with insecticide and rubbing alcohol.

 

What are the Most Common Diseases?

Luckily, this plant can hold its own against disease. The only things to watch out for are mold and rot. With that considered, it’s better to think you’re underwatering than overwatering your Flaming Katy.

 

Can You Repot a Flaming Katy Plant?

can you repot a flaming katy plant

Repot your Flaming Katy plant every few years but be careful because its green leaves can be quite brittle and snap with mishandling. Instead, use a new version of the same potting soil in the new pot. The unique pot should be free-draining and only two inches larger in diameter.

 

Can You Propagate a Flaming Katy Plant?

Propagating a Flaming Katy is easy for most home growers.

 

  1. Take a stem cutting and dry until the cut section is calloused over.
  2. Place the plant in the same soil mix used to grow the mother plant.
  3. Set the plant on the windowsill where it can get bright indirect light.
  4. Don’t water the new plant until you should see flower buds rebloom within a month of propagating.

 

Can you Prune the Christmas Kalanchoe Plant?

can you prune the christmas kalanchoe plant

Pruning the Christmas Kalanchoe plant is an excellent idea to maintain a healthy look. To prune the plant, you want to use sharp scissors and remove some of the stems sticking out from the rest of the plant.

 

What to Do if the Plant is Losing Flowers?

If the leaves are beginning to die on the plant, you can remove them to preserve the plant’s energy. If a stem of flowers is now dead, you can completely cut that stem off the plant. Another tip is to shower the plant to remove any dust that might be causing any unnecessary weight on the flowers that are causing them to wilt.

 

Is this Plant Toxic?

It’s important to know that the Flaming Katy plant can be toxic to pets. Although the flowers are beautiful, it’s petals can be the most poisonous of the plant. The ASPCA (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) notes that vomiting and diarrhea may ensue if a pet consumes part of the plant.

 

Conclusion – How to Take Care of a Flaming Katy Plant

In summary, a Flaming Katy plant is an excellent addition to your indoor garden. This plant is low-maintenance and produces elegant tiny flowers. Take care of this plant well, and you’ll have beautiful flowering plants for years to come. Also, this plant makes a great gift to give to others who are new to plant care!

 

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