Why won't my Kalanchoe bloom again?

It needs about 14 hours of total darkness every day for several weeks to set new flower buds.

How often should I water it?

Let the top few centimeters of soil dry out completely before watering again.

Plant guide

Kalanchoe.

Kalanchoe blossfeldiana

Pronounced kal-un-KOH-ee bloss-fel-dee-AH-nuh

Also known as Christmas kalanchoe, Flaming Katy, Florist Kalanchoe, Madagascar Widow's-Thrill, Madagascar widow's thrill

Flaming Katy — Photo by Antonio W. Salas (CC BY) via iNaturalist

This cheerful succulent is a favorite for its long lasting clusters of vibrant flowers. It stores water in its thick, waxy leaves, making it quite forgiving if you forget a watering. It thrives in bright spots and brings a pop of color to any indoor space.

Another photo of Kalanchoe — Photo by Arne Holgersson (CC0) via gbif

At a glance

Care level: Easy
Plant type: Succulent
Light: Bright indirect light
Indoor light: Bright indirect
Water: Every 10 to 21 days
Mature size: 30 to 45 cm
Growth rate: Medium
Hardiness: USDA 10 to 12
Bloom time: Late winter to spring

Care

Allow the soil to dry out completely between waterings to prevent root rot. Keep an eye out for mushy stems or yellowing leaves, which often signal that the plant is sitting in too much moisture. Provide plenty of bright light to encourage the plant to bloom again.

Watering: Water only when the potting mix is dry to the touch.
Feeding: Feed with a balanced liquid fertilizer during the growing season.
Pruning: Trim back spent flower stalks to encourage new growth.
Repotting: Repot when the plant becomes root bound in its container.
Soil: Well draining succulent mix
Soil pH: 6.0 to 7.0
Temperature: 10 to 25°C
Humidity: 20 to 50%
Drought tolerance: High
Lifespan: Perennial, typically 3 to 5 years.
Deer and rabbits: Moderate

Signs it needs repotting

Roots growing out of the drainage holes.
Water running straight through the soil without soaking in.
The plant looks top heavy and tips over easily.

Safety

People: All parts of the plant contain cardiac glycosides that are toxic to humans and pets if eaten.
Pets: This plant is toxic to cats and dogs if ingested.
Children: Keep this plant out of reach of small children because ingestion of the leaves can cause vomiting and heart rhythm issues.
Contact allergens: The sap can cause mild skin irritation in sensitive individuals.
Airborne allergens: There are no notable airborne allergens associated with this plant.
Edibility: This plant is not for consumption and can cause significant digestive distress if ingested.

How to identify it

Thick, fleshy, dark green leaves
Scalloped leaf margins
Clusters of small, four petaled flowers
Compact, upright growth habit

Height: 0.2 to 0.45m
Spread: 0.2 to 0.4m
Leaves: dark green, evergreen
Flowers: red, pink, yellow, orange, white, 1 to 1.5cm

Problems to watch for

MealybugsCommon
Powdery MildewCommon
Root RotCommon
Fungus GnatsUncommon

By symptom

Check your kalanchoe from a photo

Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your plant and tells you what's wrong and what to try first.

Growing it

Propagation: cuttings, seed
When to plant: spring, summer
Overwintering: Bring the plant indoors if you keep it outside during summer. Keep it in a bright spot and reduce watering significantly during the cooler months.
In containers: It grows very well in containers, provided the pot has drainage holes and is at least 4 to 6 inches wide.

Stem Cuttings

1. Snip a 3 to 4 inch stem cutting from a healthy plant.
2. Allow the cut end to callous over for two days.
3. Insert the cutting into a pot with well draining succulent soil.
4. Keep the soil slightly moist until roots form.

Group succulents together that all prefer a gritty, fast draining potting mix to prevent accidental overwatering.

Grows well with

Jade Plant — They share similar requirements for bright light and infrequent watering.
Echeveria — These succulents provide a nice textural contrast while thriving in the same dry conditions.

Similar species

Mother of Thousands — It is a related species known for producing tiny plantlets along its leaf margins.
Panda Plant — This relative features fuzzy, silver leaves instead of the smooth, waxy ones of the Flaming Katy.

Science

Family: Crassulaceae
Genus: Kalanchoe
Order: Saxifragales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: Madagascar
Conservation: This species is not currently threatened in its native habitat.

It grows in rocky, well drained soils in its native Madagascar, allowing it to survive periods of drought.

Value to wildlife: nectar source
Pollinators: bees, butterflies
Uses: houseplant, gift plant, container garden

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Light: 7/9
Temperature: 7/9
Moisture: 3/9
Salinity: 2/9
Soil reaction: 6/9
Nutrients: 3/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Why won't my Kalanchoe bloom again?: It needs about 14 hours of total darkness every day for several weeks to set new flower buds.
How often should I water it?: Let the top few centimeters of soil dry out completely before watering again.

Where the name comes from

The genus name Kalanchoe is derived from the Chinese name for one of the species, while the specific epithet honors German botanist Robert Blossfeld.

Good to know

It is commonly known as Flaming Katy.
The genus name Kalanchoe comes from a Chinese dialect word.
It is a succulent that stores water in its thick, waxy leaves.
It was first introduced to the trade by Robert Blossfeld in 1932.

Also in

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This guide was generated with AI and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.