Kalanchoe daigremontiana

Mother of Thousands, Alligator Plant

This well-known monocarpic succulent is perfect for beginners. It is easy to propagate, making it either a weed or an exciting succulent to grow and share with others. The leaves grow tiny bulbils along its edges. When the plantlets fall to the ground, they grow new plants.

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Quick Look:

Full sun to partial shade
Can be grown indoors if given enough light
Typical water needs for a succulent
Plant grows up to 3′ (90 cm) tall
Zone 10a (Minimum 30° F | -1.1° C)
Not cold hardy
Propagation by offsets
Toxic to humans and animals
Actively grows in Spring and Fall

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Care and Propagation Information

General Care for Kalanchoe daigremontiana “Mother of Thousands”

Kalanchoe daigremontiana “Mother of Thousands” has large, blue-green leaves. As it grows, it tends to trail, making it a nuisance to some growers. Because it propagates so easily, care should be given to where this succulent is planted.

Watering

“Mother of Thousands” has typical watering needs for a succulent. It’s best to use the “soak and dry” method, and allow the soil to dry out completely between waterings.

Where to Plant

Kalanchoe daigremontiana is not cold hardy, so if you live in a zone that gets colder than 20° F (-6.7° C), it’s best to plant this succulent in a container that can be brought indoors. It does well in full to partial sun.

Plant in an area of your garden that gets 6 hours of sunlight a day. If planting indoors, place in a room that gets a lot of bright sunlight, such as near a southern-facing window (if you’re in the Northern Hemisphere).

How to Propagate Kalanchoe daigremontiana “Mother of Thousands”

“Mother of Thousands” propagates so easily, I have named it the Incredible Self-Propagating Succulent! Plantlets fall from the mother plant and take root in the ground around it.

Plantlet

To remove a plantlet from the mother plant, simply pull gently from the leaf.

There are several things you can do with the babies now. You can allow the plantlet to sit for a day or two to callous over, and then place on well-draining soil.

You can also treat the plantlets like germinated seeds. Place them on well-draining soil, and cover with clear plastic to create a small greenhouse. Grow under the plastic film until they form roots, and are able to be transplanted into a separate planter.