The Mother of Thousands plants is one of my favorites because it is to easy to propagate using the baby plantlets it creates! Here's how to propagate mother of thousands!
I hope you are excited because today I am super excited to share an awesome plant with you - Mother of Thousands.
Mother of Thousands
Mother of Thousands (Kalanchoe daigremontiana) is also known at the Alligator Plant because of the shape of the leaves - curved and facing each other with "teeth"! It's also known as the Devil's Backbone - take a look and you'll see why!
Those teeth are actually Mother of Thousands babies! Yes, these plants create little plantlet babies all along the leaves, making them really cool and unique looking and super easy to propagate.
Mother of Thousands is a succulent that is really easy to care for - it is loving indirect light, well draining soil, and being waters 1-2x a week on our screened porch.
Here's my complete guide on how to care for Mother of Thousands!
I will say that I think that these plants need a little more water than other succulents - not tons, be sure the pot has drainage, but they do need water.
I got my Mother of Thousands mother plant at a plant swap at our local brewery. I was intrigued by the unique look of this house plant and am so glad I grabbed it!
They are hearty in zones 9-11, but keep them in a pot!
WARNING: It is best to keep these plants indoors and in pots. When grown outdoors, the plantlets drop and spread and can become invasive. Yikes!
How to propagate Mother of Thousands
STEP 1: Identify a plantlet
Plantlets grow along the edge of the green leaves. I like to wait until they form visible white roots before picking them. You can also allow for the plantlets to fall naturally.
STEP 2: Pop off a plantlet
Gently pop the plantlet off of the mother plant.
STEP 3: Place in potting soil
Place the plantlet root-down in potting mix.
STEP 4: Place in indirect sunlight
Place in a sunny window or anywhere you would put succulents.
That's it! That's how easy it is to propagate a Mother of Thousands plant. Watch out because you will quickly have LOTS of baby plants!
Video demonstration
Be sure to check out our video showing step by step Mother of Thousands propagation!
Frequently Asked Questions
Let your plant dry completely between watering. Water 2-3x a week in the summer and once a week in the winter.
Limp or curling leaves usually mean either too much water or not enough light.
Yes - it is poisonous if eaten in large quantities. Keep away from small pets and small humans - smaller bodies means it takes a lot less to be effected by the poison.
It is said that they can get up to 3 feet tall, but in my experience they stay under 12" in a pot.
It's better to keep them in indirect light to avoid the leaves getting sunburnt.
Thanks for reading!
Hey there, I'm Morgan, a houseplant enthusiast from sunny Charleston, South Carolina. Growing up surrounded by my mom's lush orchids and African violets, I discovered the magic of bringing nature indoors. Thanks to the pandemic, I delved deeper into houseplants, discovering their power to uplift moods and transform spaces. I'm here to spill all my secrets, helping you pick the perfect houseplant - and make it happy. Let's keep your plants alive, together! 😊
