What is a Mother of Thousands?
Mother of Thousands (Kalanchoe daigremontiana) is a striking succulent from Madagascar that has earned its name the hard way — along the scalloped edge of every broad, mottled leaf sits a fringe of tiny, fully-formed plantlets that drop to the ground and root themselves without any help. Given its enthusiasm for self-propagation, it can become invasive in frost-free climates outdoors, but indoors it is simply a fascinating, fast-growing succulent that is nearly impossible to ignore. It is also sometimes called Devil’s Backbone or Alligator Plant.
How much light does a Mother of Thousands need?
Bright, indirect light is the sweet spot. A spot a few feet from a south or east-facing window, or behind a sheer curtain on a west-facing sill, keeps growth upright and the leaf markings vivid. A few hours of gentle morning direct sun are fine and can deepen the purplish mottling on the leaves. In low light the plant stretches fast, becoming leggy and floppy as it reaches for any available source of brightness. It does not recover its compact shape once etiolated, so it is better to provide adequate light from the start.
How often should you water a Mother of Thousands?
Water every 2–3 weeks during the growing season, and less often in winter. The golden rule is to let the soil dry out completely between drinks — push a finger a couple of inches into the mix and water only when it feels bone dry. This is a true succulent with leaves that store moisture, so it would always rather be slightly underwatered than sitting in wet soil. When you do water, soak it thoroughly and let all the excess drain away.
How does Mother of Thousands reproduce?
This is the plant’s party trick. Every leaf grows a row of tiny plantlets along its margins, each one a miniature copy of the parent complete with its own proto-roots. When a plantlet is ready it drops off and will root in any moist, gritty substrate it touches — the top of a neighboring pot, a crack in a patio tile, the surface of the soil below. Indoors, simply press a fallen plantlet onto barely moist cactus mix and ignore it; roots appear within a week or two. Because the plant sets so many plantlets, it is worth removing any you do not want before they root somewhere inconvenient.
Is Mother of Thousands toxic to pets?
Yes — and this is important if you have cats or dogs. The ASPCA lists Kalanchoe as toxic to cats and dogs due to bufadienolide cardiac glycosides. Ingestion can cause vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, and — in significant amounts — cardiac arrhythmia. Keep the plant on a high shelf, and be especially vigilant about the tiny dropped plantlets, which are easy for a curious pet to find and chew.
Why is my Mother of Thousands leaning or getting leggy?
Almost certainly a light problem. When the plant does not get enough bright light it grows quickly in the direction of the nearest window, producing long internodes with wide gaps between leaves. This etiolated growth cannot be reversed — the stretched stem stays stretched — but you can cut the plant back, let it re-root, and give the new growth better light from the start. Prune the leggy stem, let the cutting callus for a day, and pot it into dry cactus mix.