Soil Needs of Kalanchoe Daigremontiana

Soil

• Like other succulents, mother of thousands requires a well-draining soil mixture. A cactus or succulent potting mix works well. A mixture of one part peat moss combined with two parts loam and sand is also suitable. Good drainage is absolutely essential to the health of the plant, as using a poorly draining soil quickly leads to rot and other fatal complications. Fertilize sparingly during the growing season with a balanced liquid fertilizer diluted by half with water.

Moisture

• Mother of thousands is a drought tolerant plant that is better off under watered than over watered. Water regularly during the growing season, allowing the soil to almost completely dry out in between waterings. If the top 2 inches of the soil are dry, water again. Never allow the soil to become water logged or flooded. Reduce watering in the winter, but do not allow the soil to become completely "bone dry."

Propagation

• Mother of thousands propagates easily on its own thanks to its dozens of durable plantlets, which may even become aggressive in optimal conditions. In the spring or summer, break off and lay a fully mature leaf across the soil, or break off a plantlet and place in a just barely moist succulent or cactus potting mix. Consult an invasive plant species list before growing mother of thousands in the home garden, as the plant is considered invasive in some regions.

Considerations

• Mother of thousands blooms in the summer with small purple blooms that are about an inch long. In a warm greenhouse, the plant may also bloom in late winter. Mother of thousands should be replaced every few years with a new plant borne from one of its plantlets, as it tends to become top heavy and unattractive. Mother of thousands is highly toxic, and should not be grown near pets and small children. For infants, ingesting any part of the plant may be fatal.