Flaming Katy
Kalanchoe blossfeldiana
Also called Kalanchoe and Widow's thrill
Houseplant · Succulents & cactiNeeds genuinely long dark nights to flower again. Most are thrown away instead.
Care at a glance
- Ease
- Medium
- Water
- Once a fortnightSoak, then bone-dry — wait until the soil is dry right through — lift the pot, it tells you.
- Light
- Bright, some direct sun
- Feed
- Every 45 days
- Humidity
- Low
- Hardiness
- Indoors, or out in high summer RHS H1B, to 10°C
- Size
- 0.35 m tall · 0.35 m across
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Origin
- Madagascar
Is it safe for pets and people?
PetsToxic to pets
Affects dogs, cats. Signs: vomiting, diarrhoea and, rarely, an irregular heartbeat.
PeopleNot checked yet
Nobody has checked this one against a source for us yet, so treat it as unknown rather than safe.
Checked against ASPCA and RHS on 2026-07-31.
A guide, not veterinary or medical advice. If a pet or a person has eaten a plant and you are worried, call your vet or doctor now — don’t wait for signs to appear. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
First signs of trouble
- A dusty white bloom on the newest leaf, easiest to catch when you tip the pot toward the light.Powdery mildew · disease
- The stem darkens and narrows just where it leaves the compost, and the head leans without wilting.Crown rot · disease