How do I stop it from spreading?

Catch the plantlets before they hit the soil or grow it in a container.

Does it need fertilizer?

Use a balanced liquid fertilizer diluted by half once during the growing season.

Plant guide

Mother of Thousands.

Kalanchoe daigremontiana

Pronounced kal-un-KOH-ee day-gre-mon-tee-AH-nuh

Also known as Alligator Plant, Devil's Backbone, Mother of Thousands, Mother-of-Millions, devil's-backbone

Alligator Plant — Photo by Cindy Bell (CC BY) via iNaturalist

This fascinating succulent is famous for producing tiny plantlets along the edges of its leaves. It is a hardy grower that thrives in warm, dry conditions. You will find it is quite easy to propagate since those little plantlets drop off and root on their own.

Another photo of Mother of Thousands — Photo by Damien Wallace (CC0) via gbif

At a glance

Care level: Easy
Plant type: Succulent
Light: Bright light with some direct sun
Indoor light: Bright indirect
Water: Every 10 to 21 days
Mature size: 3 feet tall
Growth rate: Fast
Hardiness: USDA 9 to 11
Bloom time: Late winter to early spring

Care

Let the soil dry out completely between waterings to prevent root rot. Watch for yellowing leaves, which often signal that the plant is getting too much water. Ensure it has plenty of light to keep it from becoming leggy.

Watering: Water only when the soil is dry to the touch throughout the pot.
Feeding: Feed with a balanced liquid fertilizer diluted to half strength during the growing season.
Pruning: Trim back the main stem if the plant becomes too tall or leggy to encourage bushier growth.
Repotting: Repot when the plant becomes root bound or top heavy in its current container.
Soil: Well draining cactus mix
Soil pH: 6.0 to 7.0
Temperature: 10 to 30°C
Humidity: 20 to 50%
Drought tolerance: High
Lifespan: Perennial, typically 3 to 5 years
Deer and rabbits: Moderate

Signs it needs repotting

Roots growing out of the drainage holes
Water running straight through the soil
Stunted growth

Safety

People: All parts of this plant contain cardiac glycosides that are dangerous if swallowed.
Pets: This plant is toxic to cats and dogs if ingested.
Children: Keep this plant out of reach of children because the plantlets look like candy and are highly toxic.
Contact allergens: The sap may cause skin irritation in sensitive individuals.
Airborne allergens: There are no notable airborne allergens associated with this plant.
Edibility: This plant is toxic if ingested and should never be consumed by humans or pets.

How to identify it

V-shaped fleshy leaves
Tiny plantlets along leaf margins
Gray green foliage with purple spots
Tall upright central stem

Height: 0.6 to 1.2m
Spread: 0.3 to 0.6m
Leaves: green, purple, evergreen
Flowers: pink, gray, 1 to 2cm

Problems to watch for

MealybugsCommon
Root RotCommon
EdemaUncommon
Fungus GnatsUncommon

By symptom

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Growing it

Propagation: plantlets, cuttings, seed
When to plant: spring, summer
Overwintering: Move the plant indoors before the first frost. Keep it in a bright spot and reduce watering significantly during the winter months.
In containers: It grows very well in pots, but ensure the container has drainage holes to prevent rot.

Plantlet propagation

1. Gently collect the small plantlets from the leaf edges.
2. Place them on top of moist, well draining succulent soil.
3. Keep the soil lightly damp until roots establish.

Group succulents together in well draining soil to simplify your watering schedule.

Grows well with

Jade Plant — They share similar water and light requirements.
Aloe Vera — Both are drought tolerant succulents that look great together.

Similar species

Mother of Millions — It has a similar habit of producing plantlets but with tubular leaves.

Science

Family: Crassulaceae
Genus: Kalanchoe
Order: Saxifragales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: Madagascar
Conservation: It is considered an invasive weed in many tropical regions where it has escaped cultivation.

It grows in dry, rocky areas where it relies on its succulent leaves to survive seasonal water scarcity.

Value to wildlife: nectar source
Pollinators: bees, butterflies
Uses: ornamental houseplant, succulent collection

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 2/9
Soil reaction: 6/9
Light: 7/9
Temperature: 7/9
Moisture: 2/9
Nutrients: 3/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

How do I stop it from spreading?: Catch the plantlets before they hit the soil or grow it in a container.
Does it need fertilizer?: Use a balanced liquid fertilizer diluted by half once during the growing season.

Where the name comes from

The species name honors the French botanist Henri Daigremont.

Good to know

It is commonly called Mother of Thousands because of its prolific plantlet production.
The plant can survive long periods of drought by storing water in its thick leaves.
It is a succulent that thrives in bright, indirect light.
The plantlets are clones of the parent plant.

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This guide was generated with AI and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.