Kalanchoe blossfeldiana - Flaming Katy. How to grow and care for Kalanchoes 

The Plant: Bright green fleshy leaves with serrated margins form a neat rosette; above which are borne clusters of vividly coloured, long lasting, small flowers in striking scarlet, orange, yellow or lilac.

Its needs: This cheerful plant needs strong light including some direct sun. The enriched potting mix should afford good drainage. Normal humidity but protect from frost, ideally keep the winter temperature above 10C.

Care: Water well every week through the growing season, and include feed, but reduce watering in winter. Take care not to place the Kalanchoe by a window which gets the winter chill or the direct sun during the hottest part of the day in summer as both these extremes will cause leaf scorch. Watch for mealy bug in the leaf axils. Scale can also be a problem.

Good for: Flaming Katy makes an ideal winter-flowering gift. A very easy to maintain, cheerful plant. Although they can be kept from year to year most people discard them after flowering. If you are growing your own Kalanchoes they will only produce flower buds when the day length is less than 12 hours.

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