Mother of Millions (Kalanchoe delagoensis) is a quickly multiplying succulent. These plants reproduce and bud enormously fast, and they can cover a yard in less than a month, thus earning them the name “Mother of Millions.”
To care for Mother of Millions, plant it in well-draining soil, water it infrequently, and ensure it receives plenty of sunlight. You can propagate this plant easily from the pups or plantlets at the edges of the leaves or from a leaf or stem cutting.
This article will cover everything you need to know about Mother of Millions. You’ll learn how to care for it and help it expand to produce all-encompassing growth. Let’s get started.
How To Care for Mother of Millions
Mother of Millions is one of the strongest plants out there – primarily because it is a succulent. Moreover, it is one of the most adaptable species of succulents.
These plants aren’t picky about climate and can be planted in nearly any soil condition. They are built to endure just about any weather, drought, or humidity.
With this in mind, let’s consider how you can care for your Mother of Millions, so they are healthy and thrive in your garden.
Plant Mother of Millions in Well-Draining Soil
Mother of Millions can flourish in just about any soil. However, they will do best in loose, gritty soil and drains well.
Sandy soil is one of the best options for Mother of Millions. You can even mix in pebbles here and there to help assist with the draining capabilities. Mother of Millions prefers dryer soil over wet, so avoid clayey mixes when considering potting soil.
Water Infrequently
When it comes to this plant, it does best with minimal water. While these plants are highly adaptable, they do best when the soil is left to dry out for long periods.
It can be challenging to tell when the soil is dry, but there are several ways to check this.
One of the easiest ways to check how dry the soil is is to simply stick a finger deep into the soil. Go down and few inches, submerging your finger to the point of the third knuckle.
You’ll want to water most plants when the soil is dry in the top half-inch (1.27 cm). For Mother of Millions, however, you’ll want to wait until the soil is completely dry all the way through.
Another way to check the soil is to feel how heavy the pot is. It is much less accurate to test the soil dryness, but it is quick.
You should water your Mother of Millions plant with no more than a cup once the soil has dried. If the leaves are beginning to wither or brown, you may need to add more water.
Underwatering is preferable to overwatering when it comes to succulents, as these plants store moisture. If you notice the leaves are squishy and rotting, you’ve likely overwatered your Mother of Millions.
Keep the Plant in a Well-Lit Spot
Mother of Millions is a light-loving plant. Too much shade is one of the only things that can kill off the plant eventually.
However, it takes a lot to make this plant sick. In most cases, when the plant isn’t getting enough light, it simply begins to manifest its growth differently.
When the plant lacks light, you will often notice that it grows tall but maintains narrow leaves. They never broaden into the leaves we associate with Mother of Millions.
Mother of Millions will flourish if they are left in a well-lit environment. You should allow them to have plenty of sun throughout the day and try to move the pot throughout the year so that they are constantly receiving light.
Ensure the plant doesn’t receive too much direct sunlight in the summer. The harsh light may burn the leaves, so be careful and angle the pot, so it receives semi-direct sunlight.
This plant will likely droop and stop growing in the winter months, especially if you live in an area that gets minimal light during the winter. For this reason, it’s extra important to ensure they get adequate light.
Place your pot of Mother of Millions next to a south or east-facing window, so it receives plenty of morning sunlight, which is better for plants than afternoon sunlight.
Feed Once a Month
Your Mother of Millions doesn’t need a lot of fertilizer, but a gentle application of diluted fertilizer once a month will keep the plant healthy and well enough to propagate. Do not feed the plant in the winter, as it will be dormant then.
You can buy a balanced fertilizer formulated for cacti and succulents or use diluted compost tea.
How To Propagate Mother of Millions
Now that we know how to care for this plant properly let’s talk about how you can propagate it.
Using Plantlets or Pups
The best way to propagate this plant is to take the pups or plantlets from outside the leaves. These are the small tentacle-like parts that surround each leaf.
You’ll want to gather multiple plantlets since they aren’t very firm in their life quite yet. Expect that many of them will die off during the planting process. Still, you can expect quite a few of them to succeed because of how durable this plant is.
The pups need to be kept away from the air. You can do this in multiple ways, but one of the easiest ways is to place them in a ziplock bag. I suggest using an actual zipper bag rather than the ones you press to seal since these will hold in the air better.
You could also keep them in an airtight jar. The primary thing you want to avoid is your Mother of Millions pups drying up. Once they dry up, they will be useless to you.
Once you have your pups, it’s time to begin the planting process.
- Plant the plantlets in shallow soil. The roots will have trouble taking hold at first, so be sure and give them loose and shallow soil.
- Cover the plantlets once they are in the dirt. You can do this with plastic wrap in most cases. The plastic will help to lock in moisture and air.
- Water semi-frequently. You’ll need to water the plantlets slightly more often than you would water an adult plant, but don’t overdo it. You don’t want the soil to be wet.
- Keep them in the sun. Remember, this plant is sun-loving, even from the beginning.
You can expect your Mother of Millions to begin to propagate within a couple of weeks. Beware, though, once they start, you won’t be able to get rid of them!
Propagate from Cuttings
You can propagate Mother of Millions like other succulents from a leaf or stem cutting. Here’s how to go about it.
1. Clean and sanitize a sharp pair of scissors or gardening shears.
2. Identify the leaf or stems you want to cut. Ensure the cuttings are long enough to be planted — ideally, they should be several inches long.
3. Cut the stem cleanly and set it aside to form a callus.
4. Once the callus is formed (in a week to 10 days), plant the cutting in a shallow tray with well-draining soil.
5. Water the plant well, and place it at a sunny window covered with a sheer curtain. Direct sunlight may burn the young plant.
The roots take time to develop in cuttings, so be careful with your plant, and don’t overwater it. Check the root growth after about six weeks; if the roots look well-established, move the plant to a proper pot.
What is Mother of Millions?
As mentioned, Mother of Millions is a quickly reproducing succulent that spreads as fast as the wind blows. This particular succulent is often seen as invasive because it spreads quickly. It is also enormously difficult to get rid of once you plant the seeds in the ground.
The plant has large leaves ranging in color from pale to deep green, depending on the plant’s maturity. They start small and narrow. With time, however, they expand to the large and broad leaves we observe on more mature Mother of Millions plants.
Mother of Millions goes by many names. Its scientific name is Kalanchoe Delagoenis. However, it is known as Bryophyllum delagoensis, Devil’s Backbone, and the Chandelier Plant. All of its common names refer to a certain feature of the plant, and most of its nicknames fit it quite well.
This plant is one of the best options if you are a succulent lover because it is easy to care for. The other part is that it provides a nearly impossible uniqueness to replicate. This uniqueness makes it a popular option for those that want to give their garden or home a little spice.
A Word of Caution About Mother of Millions
The primary reason this plant is seen as an invasive weed is that it is very toxic. While Mother of Millions offers an interesting and unique sight and grows with minimal care, they present some dangers.
You should use caution around this plant. While it’s not dangerous to the touch, it is extremely dangerous if ingested. Keep this plant away from pets and children.
Final Thoughts
Mother of Millions is one of the easiest plants to grow. In many places, it is considered invasive because it is so difficult to get rid of.
It is one of the easiest plants to care for and will grow in any condition. However, they have some preferences – primarily lots of light and well-draining soil. You can propagate this plant by gathering it, planting it in shallow soil, and allowing it to take root. Within a couple of weeks, you’ll have a whole new batch.
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