Chinese Money Plant
Pilea peperomioides
Pet-safe
Flaming Katy
Kalanchoe blossfeldiana · Crassulaceae
Easy
Toxic to pets
Kalanchoe blossfeldiana is a succulent flowering plant native to Madagascar, widely grown as a houseplant for its long-lasting clusters of small, brightly coloured flowers held above fleshy, dark green leaves. It is a short-day plant, meaning it requires extended periods of darkness to initiate flowering, a trait that commercial growers exploit to bring plants into bloom year-round. It is one of the most popular flowering houseplants in Europe, valued for its ease of care and ability to rebloom with appropriate management.
☀ Light
Bright indirect light; direct morning sun tolerated
💧 Water
Allow soil to partially dry between waterings
🌡 Temp
15 to 29 degrees C; avoid frost
💦 Humidity
Low to moderate; tolerates dry air well
🌿 Soil
Free-draining cactus or succulent compost
🍽 Feeding
Balanced liquid fertiliser every two to four weeks during active growth
Photo: Luis Miguel Bugallo Sánchez / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
How to care for Flaming Katy
Light
Kalanchoe blossfeldiana performs best in bright, indirect light for most of the year. A position near an east or west-facing windowsill is ideal. Some direct morning sun is tolerated and can promote more compact growth and better flowering, but harsh midday or afternoon sun may scorch the leaves. During the short-day treatment needed to trigger reblooming, the plant must receive 14 hours of complete, uninterrupted darkness each night for six weeks; even a small amount of artificial light during this period can disrupt flower initiation.
Watering
As a succulent, Kalanchoe blossfeldiana stores water in its leaves and is susceptible to root rot if overwatered. Allow the top half of the compost to dry out before watering again, then water thoroughly and allow excess to drain freely. Reduce watering further after flowering has finished. Always avoid leaving the pot standing in water, and take particular care in winter when growth slows. Watering from below by sitting the pot in a tray of water briefly is a reliable method to avoid wetting the crown.
Soil and potting
A free-draining, low-fertility compost is essential. A proprietary cactus and succulent compost is suitable, or a general-purpose compost mixed with approximately one third perlite or coarse grit to improve drainage. Good aeration around the roots reduces the risk of fungal rots. Avoid heavy, moisture-retentive composts.
Feeding
Feed every two to four weeks from spring through to the end of summer using a balanced liquid fertiliser diluted to the manufacturer's recommended strength. A fertiliser with a slightly higher potassium content, such as a tomato feed, can be used when flower buds are forming to support flowering. Do not feed during winter or immediately after repotting.
Humidity and temperature
Kalanchoe blossfeldiana is well adapted to the relatively dry air found in most homes and does not require misting or additional humidity. It thrives between 15 and 29 degrees C and prefers a position away from cold draughts, radiators, and air-conditioning units. Temperatures below 10 degrees C can cause chilling damage, and the plant will not tolerate frost. Warm, stable indoor temperatures year-round suit it well.
Repotting
Repot every one to two years in spring, moving the plant into a pot only one size larger than its current container. Kalanchoe blossfeldiana flowers most freely when slightly pot-bound, so avoid overpotting. Use fresh free-draining compost at each repotting and allow the plant to settle for a few days before resuming regular watering. Terracotta pots are preferable as they allow excess moisture to evaporate through the sides.
Pruning
Once the flowers have faded, remove the spent flower stalks by cutting them back to the base to keep the plant tidy. Leggy stems can be cut back by up to a third to encourage a more compact, bushy habit. Pinching out the growing tips of young plants encourages branching. Remove any yellowed or damaged leaves promptly to reduce the risk of fungal disease.
Is Flaming Katy toxic?
Pets: Toxic. Kalanchoe blossfeldiana is toxic to cats, dogs, and other animals according to ASPCA classifications. It contains bufadienolide cardiac glycosides, which can cause vomiting, diarrhoea, and in severe cases cardiac arrhythmia. Keep the plant out of reach of all pets.
People: Ingestion may cause mild gastrointestinal upset. The plant is not considered severely toxic to adults, but keep away from young children. Seek medical advice if ingestion occurs.
People: Ingestion may cause mild gastrointestinal upset. The plant is not considered severely toxic to adults, but keep away from young children. Seek medical advice if ingestion occurs.
Common problems
Soft, mushy stems or roots; yellowing lower leaves
Likely cause: Root rot caused by overwatering or poorly draining compost Fix: Remove the plant from its pot, cut away any blackened or soft roots, dust with powdered cinnamon or sulphur, and repot into fresh dry compost. Allow the plant to dry before watering again and ensure the pot drains freely.
Pale, washed-out leaves; elongated, weak stems
Likely cause: Insufficient light Fix: Move the plant to a brighter position with more indirect light or some gentle direct morning sun. Leggy stems can be pruned back to encourage more compact regrowth once light levels are improved.
Brown, dry leaf tips or scorch marks on leaves
Likely cause: Exposure to harsh direct sunlight, especially through glass, or very dry air Fix: Move the plant away from intense midday or afternoon sun. Ensure it is not positioned directly on a south-facing windowsill in summer without some shading. Leaf tips that have browned will not recover and can be trimmed for neatness.
Sticky residue on leaves; small clusters of soft-bodied insects on new growth
Likely cause: Aphid or mealybug infestation Fix: Remove insects manually with a damp cloth or cotton bud dipped in rubbing alcohol. For heavier infestations, treat with an insecticidal soap spray or neem oil solution, repeating every seven to ten days. Isolate the plant from others during treatment.
Failure to rebloom after the first flowering
Likely cause: Insufficient short-day treatment; the plant requires extended darkness to initiate new flower buds Fix: Place the plant in a location with complete darkness for 14 hours each night (for example, inside a cupboard) and bright light during the day for six consecutive weeks. Avoid any exposure to artificial light during the dark period. Flower buds should appear within four to six weeks of completing the treatment.
Powdery white coating on leaf surfaces
Likely cause: Powdery mildew, often triggered by poor air circulation combined with warm, dry conditions Fix: Improve air circulation around the plant and reduce crowding. Remove affected leaves and treat with a dilute solution of potassium bicarbonate or a proprietary fungicide suitable for houseplants. Avoid overhead misting, which can worsen the problem.
How to propagate
Stem cuttings
Take a healthy stem cutting approximately 5 to 8 cm long in spring or summer, remove the lower leaves, and allow the cut end to callous for one to two days. Insert into barely moist cactus compost and place in bright indirect light; roots typically develop within two to four weeks.
Leaf cuttings
Detach a healthy, mature leaf cleanly from the stem and lay it flat on the surface of moist compost or insert the petiole shallowly into the compost. Tiny plantlets may develop at the base of the leaf over several weeks, though success rates are lower than with stem cuttings.
Where Flaming Katy comes from
Native to Madagascar.
Story and origins
The genus name Kalanchoe is believed to derive from the Chinese words 'Kalan Chauhuy', meaning 'that which falls and grows', a reference to the way plantlets can drop from the mother plant and take root independently, a characteristic seen in several species within the genus. The species epithet blossfeldiana honours Robert Blossfeld, a German plant trader and nurseryman who collected the plant in Madagascar in 1932 and was instrumental in introducing it to the European horticultural trade.
Kalanchoe blossfeldiana was first described botanically by the German botanist Heinrich Gustav Adolf Engler and his colleague Karl Moritz Schumann in the late nineteenth century based on specimens collected in Madagascar. However, it was Robert Blossfeld's 1932 collection and subsequent introduction to nurseries in Europe that established the plant commercially. Danish and Dutch breeders rapidly developed new cultivars throughout the mid-twentieth century, greatly expanding the colour range and introducing double-flowered forms. By the latter decades of the twentieth century it had become one of the bestselling potted plants in Western Europe, particularly around Christmas and New Year owing to its association with winter flowering, which gave rise to the common name Christmas Kalanchoe.
Varieties to know
Calandiva
A cultivar series with fully double, rose-like flowers; very popular in the UK retail trade.
Kerinci
Bears large, single flowers in vibrant orange-red; noted for a long flowering period.
Simone
Produces soft pink to white double flowers and has a compact, tidy growth habit.
Gold Strike
A long-established cultivar with bright golden-yellow single flowers.
Miranda
Features large, single salmon-pink flowers and variegated leaf margins in some selections.
Fun facts
- Kalanchoe blossfeldiana was sent into space aboard Soviet Salyut space stations in the 1970s as part of experiments on plant growth in microgravity.
- It is one of the few houseplants that can be reliably induced to rebloom at home simply by controlling its light exposure, without any specialist equipment.
- The genus Kalanchoe contains over 120 species, but K. blossfeldiana is by far the most commonly cultivated worldwide as an ornamental plant.
- Commercial growers use blackout curtains to artificially create the short days needed to trigger flowering, allowing them to sell plants in bloom at any time of year.
- The original wild plant from Madagascar has single red flowers; the enormous range of colours and double-flowered forms available today are all the result of decades of selective breeding.
Flaming Katy FAQ
Why has my Kalanchoe stopped flowering and how do I get it to flower again?
Kalanchoe blossfeldiana is a short-day plant and will only produce flowers after a period of long, uninterrupted nights. To trigger reblooming, place the plant somewhere it receives 14 hours of complete darkness each night and bright light during the day for six consecutive weeks. Avoid any exposure to artificial light during the dark period, even briefly. After this treatment, return it to its normal bright position and buds should appear within a few weeks.
How often should I water my Flaming Katy?
Allow the top half of the compost to dry out between waterings, then water thoroughly and let all excess drain away. In summer this may mean watering every seven to ten days; in winter once every two to three weeks is often sufficient. Always check the compost with your finger rather than watering on a fixed schedule, as conditions vary considerably between homes.
Is Flaming Katy safe for cats and dogs?
No. Kalanchoe blossfeldiana is toxic to both cats and dogs, as listed by the ASPCA. It contains cardiac glycosides that can cause vomiting, diarrhoea, and potentially serious heart problems if consumed in significant quantities. Keep the plant well out of reach of pets and seek veterinary advice immediately if you suspect your animal has eaten any part of it.
Why are the leaves on my Kalanchoe going yellow?
Yellowing leaves are most commonly caused by overwatering or waterlogged compost leading to root rot. Check the roots and compost, reduce watering, and ensure the pot drains freely. Less commonly, yellowing can result from insufficient light or a nutrient deficiency during the growing season, in which case moving the plant to a brighter spot and resuming regular feeding should help.
Can I keep my Kalanchoe outdoors in summer?
Yes, in summer Kalanchoe blossfeldiana can be moved outdoors to a sheltered spot with bright but indirect light, such as a south-facing patio with some shade during the hottest part of the day. Bring it back indoors before temperatures drop below 10 degrees C, typically by early September in most parts of the UK. Protect it from heavy rain to avoid waterlogging.
How do I stop my Kalanchoe from becoming leggy?
Legginess is usually caused by insufficient light. Move the plant to a brighter position. After flowering, cut leggy stems back by up to a third to encourage bushier growth. Pinching out the growing tips of young or recently propagated plants also helps to promote a more compact, branching habit.
What is the difference between Kalanchoe and Calandiva?
Calandiva is a trademarked cultivar series of Kalanchoe blossfeldiana, not a separate species. The key distinguishing feature is the fully double, rose-like flowers of Calandiva compared to the single four-petalled flowers of standard Kalanchoe cultivars. Care requirements for both are identical.
