The Flammende Käthchen (Kalanchoe blossfeldiana) is usually sold in specialist shops already in flower and then often takes care of itself after the first season until it is disposed of. With a little care, this popular houseplant can even enrich the balcony seasonally with its magnificent flowers.

Flaming Käthchen feels right at home on the balcony

Enjoying Flammende Käthchen beyond the first season

The Flammende Käthchen is usually already in full bloom when it is sold in stores. After the quite long flowering period, however, it can happen that another flowering does not appear so easily on its own. Many specimens of Kalanchoe blossfeldiana are discarded unnecessarily early in the belief that this is a short-lived plant with no chance of flowering again. The chances of another flowering are not bad at all if either offshoots are taken or new flower buds are formed by pruning and shorter exposure of the short-day plant.

Not every balcony is suitable as a location

The Flaming Käthchen appreciates the brightness at its location, but the direct radiation of the midday sun can cause sunburn in the form of reddish colored leaves after a short time. An east- or west-facing balcony also ensures that the temperature fluctuations are as small as possible. So that the succulent plant is not overwhelmed with too much moisture, it should also be covered and protected from the rain on the balcony if possible. You should also observe the following care instructions:

  • use loose cactus or succulent soil
  • water only once a week, even in summer
  • prevent waterlogging with a drainage made of potsherds or expanded clay (19.73€).

Overwinter the Flaming Katy properly

To ensure that this non-hardy plant does not die after a long balcony season, it should be moved indoors in good time when temperatures drop in late summer. So that the artificial light in the living room does not prevent the formation of buds and thus the flowering success of the coming season in advance, a darkest possible room with a maximum of 9 hours of light per day and a temperature of at least 16 degrees Celsius should be selected as the location in the house.

tips

It can sometimes be problematic if the Flaming Katy shares space on the balcony with your house cats. Unfortunately, house tigers tend to nibble on the thick fleshy leaves of this plant in the room or on the balcony and suffer from symptoms of poisoning due to the steroids they contain.

Category:

Vegetable garden