Imagine a succulent cloning itself by the thousands, and every one of its clones doing the same. For the mother of thousands plant (Kalanchoe daigremontiana), replicating at warp speed is not enough to guarantee survival. For additional protection, in addition, it contains toxic glycosides capable of killing any livestock, pets or young children unfortunate enough to nibble it. Grow mother of thousands at your own risk: Babies falling from the edges of its leaflike stems root so efficiently that it’s deemed invasive in some areas.
By Any Other Name
Mom of thousands goes by a lot of other colorful names that are common. Devil’s spine catches the vertebrae appearance of their little plantlets sprouting along its lance-shaped leaf-stems. The plantlets’ contour also inspired its Mexican hat name. Alligator’s tongue pertains to this saw-toothed leaf-stems, and mother-of-millions envisions a worst-case scenario if the plantlets spread.
The Secret to Success
While most plants use their leaves to photosynthesize and their blossoms to produce seeds for the next generation, mother of thousands has its own way of doing things. Its flowers are sterile, so the job of reproduction falls into its photosynthesizing organs. These aren’t leaves, but especially adapted stems known botanically as cladodes or phylloclades, for leaflike branches. Tiny, spoon-shaped spurs lining their margins produce bulbils, or plantlets, nourished by the parent’s vascular system. The bulbils remain attached until their root systems are developed enough for them to grow individually.
The Better Side
Despite its toxicity and enthusiasm for spreading, mother of tens is not all bad. The blue-green, purple-blotched cladodes and their grayish-blue plantlets grow from a slender blue-green trunk. It eventually reaches 3 feet tall, with a 1-foot spread. Dangling clusters of salmon-pink, bell-shaped flowers crown mature plants in winter. Its narrow, vertical profile provides year-round interest.
Growing Requirements
If you’re committed to being vigilant about controlling its spread, mother of thousands makes an appealing addition to gardens at U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9b through 11. Elsewhere, grow it as a houseplant. To grow it outside, select a place with two to four hours of daily sunlight and well-draining, averagely moist to dry soil. It is not fussy about soil pH. Let the soil dry slightly between watering sessions.
Possible Pests
Sap-draining mealybugs and aphids sometimes infest mother of thousands plants. Flat, segmented mealybugs resemble parts of cotton. Tiny, pear-shaped aphids feed in colonies on the backs of their cladodes. Both insects excrete a sticky, clear waste — known as honeydew — that coats the plant. To eliminate them, bend your plant down with a strong blast of water. Otherwise, spray it with ready-to-use insecticidal soap until all its surfaces drip. Use the soap when the temperature is below 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Dress in protective clothing and follow the label’s directions when working with any insecticide.
Potential Disorders
Velvety white splotches on mother of thousands’ cladodes are powdery mildew. During mild, dry weather, the fungus targets plants growing in shade. Prune and dispose of the affected plant parts. Before and after using them, wipe the pruning program’s blades with a cloth soaked in rubbing alcohol to prevent the spread of disease. When conditions favor the disease, sprinkle the plant with water each day to prevent the spores from germinating.