The Flaming Cat (Kalanchoe blossfeldiana) got its German name because of the fire-red flowering wild form. Numerous other flower colors have now been created through breeding, which can bring long-lasting blooms into your own four walls, not just as houseplants in pots.
Can the Flaming Käthchen be used as a cut flower?
The Flaming Cat (Kalanchoe blossfeldiana) is suitable as a cut flower because its flowers can last up to three weeks in a vase or water. A water change is only necessary about once a week.
The enduring splendor of succulent flower beauties
While some other flower beauties only develop their splendor for a few days a year, the Flaming Käthchen is a true permanent bloomer. Another reason for the popularity of the Kalanchoe blossfeldiana as a house and seasonal balcony plant is its relatively easy care. Even in midsummer, the succulent plant usually only needs to be watered once a week; fertilizer is sometimes not necessary if it is repotted annually into fresh succulent substrate (€12.00 on Amazon). Even as cut flowers in a water glass, the flowers of the Flaming Käthchen last significantly longer than many other cut flowers. You can enjoy a colorful bouquet of different varieties for up to three weeks, although changing the water in the vase is only necessary about once a week.
Combine bouquet and care cut
In a sufficiently bright location, the Flaming Käthchen can reach considerable heights over time. It can therefore make sense to cut the plants back vigorously once a year to achieve a more compact growth habit. The combination with the production of attractive bouquets of flowers makes perfect sense with Flaming Käthchen:
- the plant gets more light again at the base
- the formation of new shoots is stimulated
- fresh shoots can grow before the winter rest period
- The flower buds for the following season can be formed in winter
Of course, when cutting the plants, the care and shape aspects should ideally be taken into account and the cuts on the shoots should be made accordingly. In a further cut, the different flower stems can then be shortened to the same length for the vase.
The Flaming Käthchen successfully stimulates flower formation
Difficulties with renewed flower formation can actually be solved quite easily with Flaming Käthchen. After all, this short-day plant simply needs a rest period of around 6 weeks in winter with periods of darkness lasting around 14 hours. Since even artificial light can cause a lack of flowers the following year, the Flaming Käthchen must be overwintered in a relatively dark room with absolute darkness during the night hours.
Tip
Although Flaming Cat is actually harmless to humans, consumption by cats can lead to symptoms of poisoning. Even as a cut flower, the Kalanchoe blossfeldiana should not be placed in a room accessible to domestic cats.
