Mother of Thousands: Guide to Growing + Care

If you’re a plant lover who wants to add to your houseplant collection, Mother of Thousands will be a lovely addition. You can never go wrong with its attractive foliage and low-maintenance features. Native to Madagascar, the succulent plant thrives best outdoors in hot regions, and it seldom blooms indoors.

Want to know more about this plant? Here’s a guide on how to grow Mother of Thousands, from watering to soil and light.

First, let’s get a sneak peek at the physiology of the plant.

What is a Mother of Thousands Plant?

Mother of Thousands plant (Kalanchoe daigremontiana) is also called Alligator Plant, Devil’s Backbone, or Mexican Hat Plant. A member of the Cassulaceae plant family, and related to Kalanchoe blossfeldiana (also known as Flaming Katy).

A distinct feature of this plant is the numerous tiny plantlets that grow along with the tips of the large leaves.

Little wonder it’s called Mother of Thousands since the slow-growing plant produces many leaves. Growing from the stem, the plant reaches a height of 3 ft. However, it stays smaller when grown as a houseplant.

During winter, Mother of Thousands plants blooms with small, pinkish-gray flowers that die after a while.

The plant survives prolonged drought; thus, it’s termed succulent. Besides being drought-resistant, the house plant can thrive in different climatic conditions.

How to Grow Mother of Thousands Plant

Unlike some plants that grow from seeds, you can propagate Mother of Thousands from their plantlets. During winter, the plant undergoes dormancy, causing the plantlets to fall off. If they don’t fall off naturally, you can easily detach the plantlets from the main leaf.

Place plantlets on well-drained soil to initiate propagation. Allow access to sunlight for the healthy growth of plants.

As soon as the root system is formed, transplant plantlets to a potting medium to propagate a new plant.

Alternatively, You Can Propagate Mother of Thousands Through the Following Steps:

Detach one or two plantlets from leaves.

Place the plantlets in a container or plastic bag, or seal them in plastic wrap if you’re not planting them soon. This will keep them moist till they’re ready for use.

You can also spray the plantlets and soil with water to moisten them.

Get a terracotta pot and add the soil to it.

Place the plantlets into the soil. Let the plantlets be about an inch apart from each other.

Place the pot in a position where it can receive lots of sunlight.

Ensure the soil is still moist by spraying a fine mist. Avoid overwatering so it doesn’t become waterlogged.

Watch the plantlets closely as they soon begin to grow.

When they’re about 2.5 cm tall, you can decide to repot plants.

Propagating Using Stem Cuttings

Irrespective of the plantlets, you can also propagate the succulent plant through stem cuttings. Late spring and early summer are the best time to take cuttings from Mother of Thousands, and these periods are the growing season for the plant.

Thus, the propagation will likely be successful.

Cut a long stem (should be about 2 inches or 5cm) with two leaves attached. Ensure the stem isn’t below an inch, as this can cause the plant to have difficulty standing erect.

Don’t use a flowering stem since this can alter your propagation process. Instead of growing, the stem will undergo reproduction. It’s advised to cut the stem from the top considerably after the first leaf node.

After cutting, place the stem in a dry area to stimulate callus formation on the cut ends. Allow it to stay till it dries well. Once dry, you can proceed to put the cuttings in a potting mix. Fill the pot with well-drained soil and gently compress.

Use a tool of your choice (chopsticks or rod) to bore holes in the soil to hold in the stem.

Typically, the holes should support and hold the cutting firmly to the soil. Water the plant till excess water drains out from the holes. After the water drains, move the potted plant to a bright place. For optimal results, the temperature of the area should be around 77°F.

As much as possible, don’t expose plants to direct sunlight, as this can affect propagation, causing harm to the plant.

Compared to plantlets, the cuttings will need some time, preferably two weeks, to develop; the root becomes fully developed after two months.

Caring for Mother of Thousands Plant

As earlier stated, Mother of Thousands is low maintenance; and it is a perfect choice for a novice. However, you still need to care for the succulent plant; here’s how:

Light

Indirect light is best suited for the Mother of Thousands. Exposing the plant to direct sunlight can lead to leaf scorch. Let your potted plant face eastward or southward to receive bright light which isn’t scorching.

Furthermore, to prevent leaf burning, you should expose your plant to the morning sun since it’s bright and not scorching.

A plant that doesn’t get enough sunlight will not likely bloom, have large spaces between leaves, and become spindly.

Water

As a drought-tolerant plant, Mother of Thousands needs to be hydrated often, especially when it’s in the growing stage.

For plants kept indoors, you should water them occasionally when the soil has lost moisture.

Considering the humidity level in your home, you may need to water the Mother of Thousands fortnightly. Reduce watering during winter and spring. In addition, ensure the plant isn’t dry before watering it.

Avoid over watering the plant as it can become waterlogged, leading to root rot and death of the plant. Also, only water the soil, not the leaves; watering them can make them limp and rot.

Fertilizer

Mother of Thousands does not require regular fertilizer for growth. Depending on the soil condition or plant, you can apply fertilizer once a month or once in three months, and you should do this in its growing stage. Use diluted liquid fertilizer or an option suitable for succulents.

Temperature

Mother of Thousands thrives best in average to warm temperatures ranging from 65°F to 75°F (16°C – 24°C). Ensure you don’t expose the plant to extreme temperatures. This can damage the foliage.

You can keep Mother of Thousands outdoors in the summer. However, you’ll need to move it indoors in early autumn or winter as it can’t withstand freezing temperatures.

Soil

Well-drained sandy soil or cactus soil seems like the best soil for growing Mother of Thousands. While many house plant enthusiasts prefer a cactus mix, others opt for a soil mix (a combination of perlite and sand). You can also add pumice and vermiculite to sandy soil.

Avoid potting medium containing peat moss, loam, or humus. It can prolong drying out, making the soil absorb excess water.

You can add pebbles to your pot for decorative purposes, and these pebbles support drainage and circulation of air in the soil.

Humidity

Mother of Thousands stores moisture in its leaves as a succulent, making it adaptable to dry conditions. Since the plant absorbs moisture, you may not have to mist the leaves or increase the humidity of your room.

Pruning

Like every plant, Mother of Thousands needs pruning to stimulate new growth. It’s best to prune plants regularly to prevent overdense foliage.

For plants with tops above large leaves, ensure you trim them so leaves can grow at the same pace. While pruning, plantlets may fall, which can quickly take root if not disposed of immediately.

Pest control

Though Mother of Thousands is low maintenance, it’s susceptible to pest attacks. Mealybugs, aphids, and scale insects are sucking pests that can cause damage to your houseplant.

Typically, these pests get attached to the leaves and suck the thick, juicy sap. To get rid of these, spritz Mother of Thousands with neem oil. You can also introduce insects like ladybugs and lacewings to plants to help eliminate the pests.

Repotting Mother of Thousands

Typically, you’ll need to re-pot if plantlets that fell have begun to sprout in the pot housing the mother plant. Transfer the plantlets into another container to allow succulents to grow well. How can you tell when to repot your houseplant?

Here are signs to look out for when it’s time for repotting:

Roots start to emerge from the drainage holes
Soil dries out sooner than expected, especially in cold temperatures
Reduced growth due to plant getting insufficient nutrients

How to Re-Pot

Choose a new pot that will contain the plantlets (a pot with a height and diameter of 2 inches larger than the old pot will be suitable).

Ensure the new pot has enough drainage holes for aeration

Remove the Mother of Thousands from the current pot carefully.

Remove excess soil from the roots by shaking gently. Alternatively, you can place the root under a running tap to get rid of dirt.

Add pebbles to the new pot so it can form a layer beneath the container.

Fill the pot with a potting medium like cactus or sandy soil.

Place the plant in the middle of the pot and check that it’s well-positioned.

Add more soil to the pot to fill the remaining space.

Water thoroughly till the soil is fully saturated.

Now place the potted plant in a suitable place where indirect light reaches it. This, with other conditions, contributes to the growth of the Mother of Thousands.

It’s best to repot in spring. The spring marks the growing season where the plant obtains sunlight and warmth to thrive.

Choosing the Right Pot

Like every succulent, Mother of Thousands needs to be well aerated. Thus, a terracotta pot with drainage holes will be suitable for growing the plant, and excess water drains out through these holes.

While a terracotta pot may seem like the best option, you can also use plastic and ceramic containers.

When choosing a pot, ensure it’s slightly larger than the plant’s root bed. Furthermore, place a saucer or tray under the pot to collect excess water. Empty the saucer regularly to prevent water from accumulating.

Allowing Mother of Thousands to stand in a wet environment can cause root rot and fungal infections. In addition, the growth rate of the houseplant depends on the size of the container.

This means that the larger the container, the larger the leaves.

Plant enthusiasts who keep various houseplants are advised not to plant Mother of Thousands with other plants due to the sprouty nature of the plantlets.

Mother of Thousands can absorb many nutrients needed for the growth of the other plant. While choosing the right pot is essential, proper watering, light, and well-drained soil factor in the growth of Mother of Thousands.

Flowering Stage

Popular for their beautiful foliage, not many know that Mother of Thousands produce flowers. When grown indoors, the succulent rarely blooms.

However, it flowers when grown outside under the right conditions. These flowers are petite and bell-like, forming clusters on the stem, and they mostly bloom in late fall and early winter.

Other Care Tips

Every part of the Mother of Thousands is poisonous, including the leaves, stems, and plantlets. Be careful that kids and pets don’t nibble on this plant as it’s harmful to health. Ensure the plant is out of their reach.

Prune dead and damaged leaves, as it will give room for new leaves to grow. For overly tall trees, prune the stems; you can repot these pruned stems to grow a new plant.

Avoid exposing Mother of Thousands to air heating ducts. This can alter the normal functioning and physiology of the plant. Furthermore, these heating ducts can lead to the premature falling of plantlets.

Different Species

Now you understand how to propagate Mother of Thousands, the repotting process, choosing the right pot, and caring for the succulent.

How about the species? There are various species to select from, including Bryophyllum delagoense, Bryophyllum fedtschenkoi, Bryophyllum pinnatum, etc. Whichever species you choose, Mother of Thousands will add color to your home.

Wrap Up

Mother of Thousands makes gardening a worthwhile experience. It’s easy to maintain and has beautiful vegetation that adds to the aesthetics of your home.

Avoid overwatering and exposing it to direct sunlight. With favorable growing conditions, the Mother of Thousands will thrive anywhere.

Mother of Thousands Plant: Guide to Care & Growing the Best Succulent