The flaming katy (Kalanchoe blossfeldiana) is a popular houseplant prized for its ability to produce colorful flowers indoors. But what if your flaming katy isn’t blooming? Lack of flowers is a common problem, but fixing it is usually pretty straightforward.
What Causes a Flaming Katy to Not Bloom?
There are a few key things that can prevent flaming katy from flowering:
-
Insufficient Light – Flaming katys need very bright, indirect light for at least 8-10 hours per day to bloom properly Low light results in few or no flowers
-
No Winter Rest Period – Flaming katys bloom best if given 6-8 weeks of cool temps (50-60°F) and reduced watering in winter. Skipping this dormancy prevents flowering.
-
Overwatering – Too much moisture leads to potential root rot and lack of flowers. Proper, infrequent watering is important.
-
Overfertilization – Excess fertilizer stresses plants, resulting in more leaf growth rather than flowers. Use a balanced fertilizer at recommended rates.
-
Incorrect Pruning – Cutting off new growth too early in the season removes potential flower buds. Time pruning carefully.
-
Old Plants – Aging, rootbound flaming katy plants often cease flowering. Repotting or propagating plants every 2-3 years encourages blooms.
-
Cool Temps – Flaming katys bloom best with warm (65-80°F) consistent temps. Cooler conditions inhibit flowering.
Encouraging a Flaming Katy to Bloom
If your flaming katy isn’t blooming, here are some tips to help promote flowers:
-
Increase Light – Slowly acclimate plants to very bright, indirect light for at least 8-10 hours daily. South or west windows are ideal.
-
Provide Winter Rest – Allow plants to dry out more between waterings over 6-8 weeks of cool temps (50-60°F) in winter.
-
Water Properly – Water thoroughly then allow soil to dry before soaking again. Stressed roots won’t support blooms.
-
Use Limited Fertilizer – Fertilize monthly during active growth with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer. Avoid excess.
-
Prune at Right Time – For fullest flowering, prune plants by 1/3 after blooms fade in late winter/early spring.
-
Repot Old Plants – Propagate mature plants to start new, vigorous ones. Discard old plants that have stopped blooming.
-
Provide Warmth – Keep plants at 65-80°F for best blooming. Use a heat mat or move to warmer area if needed.
-
Control Pests – Inspect regularly for pests like mealybugs that can weaken plants and inhibit flowering.
When Will a Flaming Katy Bloom?
With proper growing conditions, new flaming katy plants often take 8-12 weeks to produce flower buds. Established plants may bloom in as little as 4 weeks after winter dormancy if cared for correctly.
Patience and attentive care is required to get these flowering succulents to live up to their name. But the brilliant, long-lasting blooms of the flaming katy make it well worth the effort.
Follow the tips above and you’ll have amazing floral displays from your flaming katys to brighten up your indoor space year after year. The key is providing the right amount of light, proper winter rest, and vigilant watering and fertilization.
Forcing a Flaming Katy to Rebloom
If you buy a flaming katy already in bloom or get one as a gift in flower, you can enjoy the initial show. But getting it to rebloom takes some special care.
Flaming katys need:
-
Winter Rest Period – 6-8 weeks with reduced watering and temps of 50-60°F. This mimics their native environment.
-
Long Nights – 14-16 hours of darkness daily while resting. Block light from the plant or keep it in a dark closet overnight.
-
Patience – It takes at least 12 weeks from the start of short day treatment for buds to form and blooms to open.
-
Proper Pruning – Prune back spent blooms at the start of rest period. Resume fertilizing when buds appear.
-
Repotting – Repot in fresh succulent/cactus mix at the start of the rest period to encourage new growth.
With the right conditions, you can force a flaming katy to rebloom year after year indoors. It takes some work but the results are well worth it!
Why Choose the Flaming Katy?
The flaming katy offers bright, long-lasting flowers and an easy care nature that makes it an excellent flowering houseplant choice. Here are some reasons why it’s so popular:
- Thrives indoors with minimal care
- Produces clusters of bright, colorful blooms
- Flowers last up to 8 weeks
- Wide variety of flower colors and forms
- Tolerates some neglect
- Does well in low humidity environments
- Can be forced to rebloom each year
- Fun, compact size grows well in pots
- Makes a great gift plant
So if you’re looking for an easy yet beautiful flowering plant, the flaming katy is hard to beat. A little TLC gives you a lovely display of blossoms to enjoy indoors.
Caring for Your Flaming Katy
Cultivating a healthy flaming katy requires paying attention to a few key elements:
Lighting – Place in bright, indirect light indoors. Some direct morning sun is ok. Too little light prevents blooms.
Water – Allow soil to dry out between waterings. Water thoroughly until it drains from the bottom.
Temperature – Prefers consistent temps between 65-80°F. Cooler temps inhibit flowering.
Humidity – Does fine in average home humidity. Does not require high humidity.
Fertilizer – Use a balanced liquid fertilizer at 1/4 strength monthly during spring and summer.
Pruning – Prune leggy growth and deadhead spent blooms. Prune back by 1/3 after flowering.
Repotting – Repot in fresh succulent/cactus mix every 2-3 years or when rootbound.
With the simple care outlined above, your flaming katy will thrive indoors and reward you with its vibrant, long-lasting blooms year after year.
You Might Also Like
Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about plant care, check out our in-depth interview with Emily Bauer.
How to Propagate Flaming Katy
- 1 Cut shoots off of Flaming Katy stems to propagate the plant. It’s generally best to propagate after the Flaming Katy’s spring flowering. Cut a shoot with at least two leaves diagonally with a sharp knife. Remove the lower pair of leaves and place the shoot cutting in a pot with growing medium or sand-enriched cactus soil. Place a plastic bag over the cutting to create a humid environment, and air it out once a day to prevent molding. Keep the cuttings in a bright and warm place at about 68-71° F (20-22° C).[18]
- 2 Alternatively, cut off leaves and place them on growing medium. To propagate leaf cuttings, cut off some adult leaves with a sharp knife. Carefully score the leaf veins with the knife and place the leaves on top of a moist growing medium with the incisions facing up. Weigh them down with a small stone, keep the leaves in a bright, warm location, and moisten them regularly. Cover them with cling film to increase humidity.[19]
Advertisement Section 5 of 7:
What You Should Know About Flaming Katy Plant | How To Care For Flaming Katy Plant
FAQ
How do you get a Flaming Katy to bloom?
Unlike a lot of other succulents, Flaming Katy is pretty easy to get blooming. Light has the biggest impact on whether a flaming Katy will bloom. If provided 10-12 hours of sunlight followed by 12-14 hours of darkness, Flaming Katy plants will bloom within 6 to 8 weeks.
Why is my Kalanchoe plant not giving flowers?
Check the soil, drainage etc. If you had watered it regularly when the soil was still wet, it could have damaged roots. Don’t over water it (this is a tricky thing for this hybrid plant which I could not figure out). Cut off those dying flower stems to give some relief to the plant. Keep it at a bright spot.
How often should a Flaming Katy be watered?