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The Mother of Thousands Plant: A Complete Guide and Care Tips
Gardening has become a popular hobby for many people around the world. It is an excellent way to relax, unwind and enjoy nature. Among the numerous plants available in the market, one plant that stands out is the mother of thousands plant. This incredible succulent belongs to the Crassulaceae family and is known for its unique ability to produce tiny baby plants along its leaves.
What is a Mother of Thousands Plant?
A mother of thousands plant also referred to as ‘Kalanchoe daigremontiana,’ ‘alligator plant,’ or ‘Mexican hat,’ originated from Madagascar but can be commonly found across different parts of Asia, Africa, and America. The name comes from its capability to grow baby plants along all edges on each leaf.
The mother-of-thousands are hardy succulents with green oval-shaped leaves that stand upright in a rosette formation with serrated margins or teeth on their edges. The stems are woody at the bottom but become more succulent as they get closer toward their tips.
How to Grow Your Mother of Thousand Plants?
- Selecting Ideal Soil: For this type of plant, it’s essential always to choose well-draining soil that contains sand/pearlite/vermiculite mixture; too much water will cause root rotting hence not advisable for your newly planted mother-of-thousands seeds/plants.
- Sunlight Requirements: Kalanchoe daigremontiana thrives best under direct sunlight; however, exposure should be controlled during extremely hot weather conditions.
- Irrigation Needs: Like most cactus/succulent plants, this plant doesn’t require frequent watering. Instead, it prefers well-draining soil that is allowed to dry between waterings. Overwatering can cause root rot and other diseases.
- Temperature: The mother of thousands plant does best in warm weather conditions ranging from 60-85°F (15-29°C). However, it can tolerate cooler temperatures but not below freezing point since it is a tropical plant.
- Fertilizer: Fertilization should be done with a balanced fertilizer every two weeks during the growing season. Alternatively, you can use compost fertilizer once per month as per the given instructions on the packaging.
- Propagation:The mother-of-thousands are relatively easy to propagate by separating its young shoots from the main stem or leaves and rooting them in well-draining sandy soil mix.
Tips for Taking Care of Your Mother of Thousands Plants
The Mother of Thousands Plant requires little maintenance but some care tips that will help keep your plants healthy and thriving include;
- Avoid overwatering: The Kalanchoe daigremontiana prefers well-draining soil mix that allows drying between each watering cycle; too much water can cause root rotting hence avoid this at all times.
- Pest Control: Insects like spider mites/aphids/moths/thrips/snails/ slugs mealybugs may attack your Kalanchoe daigremontiana; therefore, always look out for signs such as white webbing/brown spots on leaves/stunted growth/tissue damage/oil stain-like appearance on leaves if these signs occur consider taking appropriate action immediately.
- Pruning: Pruning is necessary to keep your mother of thousands plant in the right shape and size. You can remove dead leaves or baby plants that are overcrowded by using a pair of scissors or pruning shears.
- Repotting:The Kalanchoe daigremontiana should be repotted every two years, mostly during springtime. When repotting, use well-draining soil mix filled with sand/vermiculite/perlite mixture.
In Conclusion
The Mother of Thousands Plant is an excellent addition to any garden and houseplant collection. With the right conditions and care tips provided above, you can grow a healthy and thriving plant that will produce lovely tiny baby plants along its leaves throughout its lifetime.
Remember always to avoid overwatering, provide enough light/sun exposure, control pests/diseases for better growth outcomes. Happy gardening!
