The Flaming Katy (or *Kalanchoe*) is one of those cheerful houseplants that just fills a room with color. Sadly, way too many people treat these low-maintenance beauties like a bouquet of cut flowers and toss them in the trash once the blooms fade. But here’s a pro tip: you don’t have to do that! With a little know-how, you can get your Kalanchoe to bloom again next season.
Flaming Katy: What to do after the flowers fade?
It’s a total myth that Kalanchoes are “disposable” plants. They are actually perennials, meaning they can live for years and show off their gorgeous blossoms a second, third, or even fourth time if you treat them right. The secret to getting those new buds to pop lies in managing the light levels.
You see, the Flaming Katy is what we call a “short-day plant.” This means they only start developing new flower buds when they experience several weeks of very short days—we’re talking only a few hours of light (natural or artificial) per day. This is why a Kalanchoe sitting in a bright, cozy living room all winter usually struggles to bloom again; it’s just getting too much light!
Post-bloom care for a comeback
To make sure your plant is ready for its big spring comeback, you need to give it a bit of a “dark retreat.” Once the last flowers have withered, here is your game plan:
- First, give the plant a good trim. Pruning helps rejuvenate the plant and encourages strong, healthy new growth.
- This pruning session is also the perfect time to think about repotting.
- Move your Kalanchoe into a pot with some fresh, well-draining soil.
- Starting around November, make sure the plant gets no more than eight to nine hours of light a day (and yes, that includes your overhead living room lights!).
- For example, you could keep the plant in total darkness from 8:00 PM until 9:00 AM the next morning.
- To keep things nice and dark, you can simply pop a cardboard box or a bucket over the plant.
- Alternatively, you can move it into a closet or a room without windows for those dark hours.
- It also helps to lower the room temperature a bit—ideally somewhere between 50°F and 60°F (10–15°C).
You’ll want to maintain this “rest period” for at least six to eight weeks to allow those new buds to develop properly. Once that phase is over, you can move your Flaming Katy back to its usual spot and care for it as normal. Trust me, the extra effort is worth it when those vibrant flowers start peeking out again!
