Flaming Katy or Kalanchoe blossfeldiana is beautiful succulent. It is known for its colorful flowers. But what are flaming Katy’s light requirements!
In this article, I will talk about the lighting requirements for flaming Katy in detail. And the best locations both indoors and outdoors that give the kalanchoe the best lighting.
But before diving deep into the details I will put the answer for our main question as simple as this: what are the light requirements for flaming Katy? Flaming Katy requires bright but indirect sunlight during summer and direct sunlight during winter. Although it can tolerate low light but not for a long period of time.
Keep reading to know why flaming Katy needs light and what you should do in order to ensure that your flaming Katy gets the light it needs.
Why Flaming Katy needs sunlight
Flaming Katy and all other plants need light in order to produce their food. Flaming Katy produces its food through a process called photosynthesis.
Photosynthesis is the process by which flaming Katy turns water and carbon dioxide into sugar (food).
Such a process requires energy to be conducted. Yeah, you guess it right! The energy came from the sunlight.
This is why flaming Katy needs sunlight. But what kind of sunlight it needs.
The right light for the Flaming Katy plant
Flaming Katy thrives best in bright indirect sunlight. This is what flaming Katy loves. But such light may not be available for your place throughout the entire year.
Don’t worry I will let you know what to do during the different seasons.
First, if you growing your plant indoors, during winter place your flaming Katy plant in a window that gets the brighter sunlight.
A south-facing window is ideal. On the other hand, you can let your outdoor flaming Katy fully exposed to direct sunlight in winter.
Because winter light is not that intense. But make sure that the temperature does not fall below 50 F during winter.
Because flaming Katy does not tolerate temperatures below 50 F. If temperature reached such a level it is better to move it indoors in winter.
But before moving it indoors make sure to clean its foliage with alcohol to kill any pests in order to not infect your other houseplants.
Secondly, during summer if you growing your flaming Katy indoors locate it in a location that gets some of the morning direct sunlight and protected from afternoon direct sunlight.
North and east-facing windows provide such light requirements during summer.
The rule is that give your plant indirect sunlight during summer. And enough direct sunlight (1 or 2 hours of morning sunlight) during winter.
Flaming Katy is most used as gift people love it for its colorful blooms. Such a thing may let you want to put it in a place that dark only for decorative purposes.
It is ok to put it in a low-light location as long as you put it there for a short period of time ( less than a month).
After one month you may need to bring it back to a brighter spot.
Signs that show flaming Katy needs more sunlight
If your flaming Katy growing tall and thin instead of compacted this means it doesn’t get enough bright indirect sunlight.
Also in the case of low light, the plant will wilt and drop its leaves. In such a case move the plant pot to a place that has brighter light. It will recover over time.
Signs that show flaming Katy is suffering from too much sunlight
If your plant starts to yellow and the plant foliage starts to become transparent in color instead of green that means your plant is exposed to too much sunlight.
Perhaps the afternoon summer direct sunlight. In such a case put your plant in a bright place that guarded against direct sunlight.
When flaming Katy gets enough indirect sunlight the leaves’ edges will become reddish instead of green. This is a healthy sign.
What if I don’t have bright indirect sunlight indoors?!
If you don’t have access to bright indirect sunlight indoors and you still want to grow flaming Katy you can solve the problem by installing grow light. Grow light will be as effective as the brightest indirect sunlight.
In conclusion
In this article, I hope I answeres the question:” what are the light requirements for flaming Katy”.
Simply flaming Katy needs one to two hours of early morning direct sunlight and bright indirect sunlight throughout the rest of the day.
North and east-facing windows satisfy those lighting needs during summer.
While in winter put your flaming Katy plant in the west or south-facing windows as such windows have the brightest light in your home or office.