Another attractive plant for all the admirers of unique succulents! Kudos to the attractive and resilient Kalanchoe daigremontianum, commonly known as Mother of thousands varieties.
The name indicates its ability to produce thousands of new small plantlets at the edges of its leaves. This native of Madagascar is a flowering plant although it is mainly grown for its foliage.
The dark-green oval-shaped leaves have numerous tiny plantlets growing along the borders. The foliage is unique enough to not let anyone go without being attracted and amazed.
This easy-to-care peep is a no-fuss plant. Also, beginners and busy people can go for it without doing much hassle. Sounds interesting, right? Please keep reading to know more about the care and maintenance of Kalanchoe Mother of thousands varieties.
Mother of Thousands Varieties Classification
Family: Crassulaceae
Genus: Kalanchoe. (They were formerly a part of the genus Bryophyllum)
Species: K. daigremontianum
Other Names
The unique structure of the plant associates several names associated with it. Popular ones include:
- Alligator plant.
- Devil’s backbone.
- Mexican hat plant.
Features of the Mother of Thousands Varieties Plant
Size:
With good care, sun and watering, this unique succulent can get about as tall as 3 feet to 1 meter. However, some varieties may get as tall as 5 feet.
Leaves:
The mature leaves are about 6 inches long and 3 inches wide.
Flower:
The unique beauty blooms in warm seasons and gets heavy from the upper side. However, this is mainly limited to outdoor peeps only and the indoor ones seldom bloom.
Toxicity:
Bryophyllums are known to be toxic for us and animals. Ingestion can cause diarrhoea, heart palpitations, and vomiting. So, keep them away from kids and pets to avoid their mingling with the plant. Placing them on a higher window is a nice option.
The bufadienolides in these plants are known to be cardiac toxins. In pets, ingestion in small quantities affects the stomach. Additionally, larger amounts can cause serious issues like affecting heart rates. The outdoor plants should also be grown at some suitable place where animals and kids can’t reach. Besides, don’t delay contacting emergency medical aid in case of emergency.
Mother of Thousands Varieties Vs Mother of Millions Varieties
Both these siblings belong to the same genus but should not be mixed. The basic difference between them is the size of the leaves and the number of plantlets.
Mother of Thousands varieties has wider and broader leaves with plantlets growing all over the leaf edges. On the other hand, the narrow leaves of Mother of Millions varieties grow plantlets at the tips or the ends only.
Mother of Thousands Varieties Care
This resilient plant is easy to care for and keeps on beautifying your surroundings without demanding much of your effort and time.
Quick Guide:
Water: Moderate (After the soil gets dry)
Sunlight: Direct sun.
Humidity: Average.
Fertilizer: Mild doses on warm days.
Keep reading further to know the growing guidelines in detail:
Water Requirement
Use the basic succulent watering strategy. Water the soil fully and let it drain out from the bottom. Water again right after the soil gets dry.
The thick and fleshy leaves of succulents show a little drought tolerance as well. They can stay good without water for a week or two even at the peak of summer. However, don’t increase the water-less days to the extent that the plant gets dry out.
The watering frequency depends upon features like the type of soil, weather, sun, and humidity. Factors like bright sun, low humidity, and well-draining soil increase the water requirement of the plant. You just have to keep a look at the soil and check it to see if it has any moisture left. An estimated schedule for spring and summer is to water about once or twice every week.
In fall and winter, the water requirement of plants gets minimum. Also, the soil/ growing mix takes longer to dry out. So, it is enough to water the plant after every three weeks.
Over-watering is harmful. It can lead to serious issues like pest attacks, fungus, and root rot. Hence, don’t water unless the soil is dry.
Sunlight Requirement
These peeps like to stay in direct sun. A minimum of 6 hours of sunlight is crucial for them. However, avoid putting them directly in the harsh afternoon sun to save the foliage from potential burning. Moreover, in the summers of hotter climates, the plant can not stand the direct sun. Just a bright indirect corner is suitable enough to keep the plant happy.
The indoor peeps will love the full bright sun near east and west-facing windows. This will help you attain the maximum beauty of the foliage in bright green color with reddish borders.
You need to keep an eye on the plant, especially when placed in a new place. This will help you scrutinize the needs of the plant according to its environment.
Soil Requirement
Grow them in well-draining soils which do not retain moisture. You can simply use a good quality succulent mix for an indoor plantation. Moreover, adding perlite or peat to the soil or growing mixes also enhances the drainage.
Growing these plants in-plane soil is not a preferable option especially for indoor plantation. However, for outdoor plantations, it is preferable to increase the intervals between waterings. This will help the soil to dry out properly before you water again.
Temperature Requirement
These succulents generally like to stay in a warm atmosphere. A range of 65 to 75 °F is ideal for them. On the other hand, the cold temperature does not suit these plants much. So, make sure you transfer them to some warm indoor spot right before the cold hits your region. This is especially needed for people living in colder zones.
Humidity Requirement
Succulents are resilient towards different humidity levels. A moisture range of about 70% is ideal and results in healthy foliage.
At the peak of dry days, you can use follow measures. These include grouping the plants or using a pebble-water tray under the pot. Also, you can mildly mist the foliage but make sure it dries out quickly. As foliage staying wet for long can attract fungus, pests, and root rot.
Fertilizer Requirement
These wild growers are pretty good to go without any fertilizer at all. However, a mild concentration of good quality fertilizer shows good results for the health and growth rate of the plant.
It is preferable to use almost half of the stated dose. This will help you to avoid over-fertilizing which can scorch out and even kill the plant.
In fall and winter, the nutritional requirement of the plant decreases to a minimum. So, make sure you never fertilize right after the end of the summer.
Pot and Repotting Requirements
Use a pot of suitable size with drainage holes at the base.
Repotting is not required unless the plant looks prominently larger from the pot. Moreover, it is better to repot after a year or two to refresh the soil.
Roots growing out of the drainage holes are a sign that the plant is root-bound and needs a new place. Just select a slightly larger pot and replant it by gently removing it from the previous pot. Water the soil mildly to let the new peep get settled. After a month or more, you can simply follow the basic care guideline.
Pruning and cutting Requirements
As you know these plants produce thousands of new plantlets from the outgrowths of their edges. If left uncontrolled these peeps go bonkers to grow. So, regular pruning is essential to maintain the size and appearance of the plant.
This also helps to remove the older and unhealthy leaves. They should be cut without hesitation as they don’t produce any new plantlets.
Don’t worry if you cut it a little more. This quick grower will compensate for the cutting in no time.
Pinching Requirements
Just pinch the plants at the size you want to maintain. Just select a size you want for your Mother of thousands varieties plant and pinch the stems. This quick grower will start growing around that size.
Mother of Thousands Varieties Propagation
These plants love to grow. In wild, they self-propagate by the plantlets at the edges of the leaves. These plantlets fall on the soil and form roots to eventually grow into individual plants.
Season:
The middle of the spring until the middle of the summer are ideal days to make some new plants.
Propagation by leaf-plantlets
It is the easiest method to get some new Alligator plants.
- Just remove the tiny plantlets at the edge of the leaves and place them on a well-draining growing mix. Make sure you place them at a distance of about two inches.
- Mist the soil and the plantlets and keep them in mild direct sun. Make sure you maintain the moisture by regular misting. Letting the soil dry out at this stage will result in unsuccessful propagation.
- These tiny peeps will develop roots in a matter of a few weeks. Once they grow to a size of about two inches, you can replant them to your desired place.
- Just pick out the baby plants gently and plant them into the growing mixture. Water them mildly for a month or two. Once they get stable, you can simply follow the care mentioned in the previous section.
Propagation by stem-cuttings
This is another method that helps you get a grown-up Kalanchoe Mother of thousands varieties plant within no time.
- Just cut a few cuttings about 5 to 7 inches long.
- Plant them in moist and well-draining soil.
- Place the set up in sun and maintain the moisture. Be ready to enjoy a new and beautiful Mexican hat plant in about a month.
Pest Issues
The succulent is prone to attacks of the pests like Aphids and mealy bugs. Over-watering and soggy foliage is probably the biggest culprit to attract such issues.
Spraying the plants with mild anti-pest sprays is a good preventive measure. In case of attack, separate the affected plant from the healthy ones as soon as possible. Also, you can wipe the foliage with wipes dipped in diluted alcohol to remove the pests and their eggs. Besides, contacting gardening experts is always a better option to avoid the spread of the disease.
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Summary
Mother of thousands varieties is a Madagascar native, resilient succulent. This unique plant has thick leaves with numerous tiny plantlets growing throughout the borders. In wild, these tiny plantlets spread spontaneously to make thousands of new plants.
The plant can get around 50 inches tall in the indoor plantation. It needs direct sun and thorough watering after the soil gets dry. Make sure this toxic peep is kept at a bay from kids and pets. Also, don’t think twice before contacting emergency medical aid in case of ingestion.
