To encourage bloom: Six weeks of 14-hour nights from early autumn set the buds; left to itself it flowers on its own timetable.
Shear off the spent heads and it often flowers again within a few months.
Kalanchoe blossfeldiana is a succulent houseplant native to Madagascar, widely sold as a compact gift plant and kept year-round as a windowsill specimen. It forms low, clumping mounds of thick, scallop-edged leaves and is valued indoors for its easy-going nature, tolerance of dry air, and tidy habit that suits small spaces and bright windowsills alike.
The single most important requirement indoors is genuine sun - a south- or west-facing window with several hours of direct light each day keeps growth compact and the plant in good health. Because it stores water in its succulent leaves, the most common mistake is watering too often. Soil should dry out substantially, nearly all the way through, before the next drink. Normal indoor temperatures between 60 and 80°F suit it well, and the low humidity typical of most heated or air-conditioned homes causes no problems at all.
Stem tip cuttings root readily in a gritty, fast-draining mix, making it straightforward to propagate. Plants that become leggy over time can be cut back to encourage a tighter, bushier clump.
Direct light in practice means a south- or west-facing windowsill where the plant receives at least three to four hours of unobstructed sun each day. Too little light causes stretched, weak stems; intense summer sun through close, unfiltered glass can scorch the leaves.
Soak thoroughly, then wait until the soil is completely dry
Feed with a diluted cactus and succulent fertiliser
Water far less in winter; soggy soil rots the roots
Check for mealybugs in the leaf joints
Repot into gritty mix when it outgrows the pot
Remove spent flower clusters to encourage new blooms
To re-bloom, give 14 hours of darkness nightly for about 6 weeks