How to Grow a Mother of Thousands Plant: Tips & Tricks

Hello and welcome to Brainy Gardener! In this video I'm going to show you how to grow a Mother of Thousands plant from scratch. This plant is really easy to take care of and makes a great addition to any garden or home. Stay tuned and I'll walk you through the entire process step-by-step.
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RESOURCES & LINKS:
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How to Grow a Mother of Thousands Plant: Tips & Tricks
https://brainygardener.com/mother-of-thous...
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Video Timestamps
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0:00 - Introduction
1:00 - Light and Location
1:31 - Watering
1:48 - Temperature
2:08 - Humidity
2:20 - Fertilization
2:42 - Propagation
3:24 - Potting and Repotting
3:52 - Toxicity and Common Pests
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Summary
The Mother of Thousands Plant is a perennial succulent plant that is native to Madagascar. It is also called Mexican Hat Plant, Alligator Plant, and Devil’s Backbone. The plant has thick, fleshy leaves arranged in a pattern that strongly resembles Pine trees. The leaves are blue-green with purple spots underneath. The plant produces thousands of small plantlets on the edges of its leaves, hence the name.

1. Light and Location
Mother of Thousands is a succulent that loves full sun. A partially shaded location won’t stunt its growth, but it won’t grow as large or produce as many offsets. In the hotter months, place the plant in indirect sunlight, otherwise, its delicate leaves can easily be sunburned. Some afternoon shade might be necessary for hot climates to prevent the leaves from scorching. They grow just as well outdoors as they do indoors.

2. Watering
These plants are very drought tolerant and can go weeks without water. In fact, they will do better if you let them dry out completely between watering. Water once the soil has completely dried out. Water deeply, but don’t let the plant sit in water.

3. Temperature
Mother of Thousands thrives in hot and dry conditions. This plant usually prefers temperatures around 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. The plant should be returned inside before the temperature drops below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. In cold climates, it’s best to grow these plants indoors, where the temperature is more consistent.

4. Humidity
This plant does not require high humidity levels. They’re just as happy in a humid environment as in a dry one. So they’re perfectly fine with average room conditions, and you don’t need to pay any attention to humidity levels.

5. Fertilization
Regular fertilization is not necessary for this plant. Fertilize this plant sparingly; once a year is more than enough. Use a succulent fertilizer or a cactus fertilizer at half strength. These plants are light feeders, and too much fertilizer will burn their roots. You can also choose to forgo fertilizing entirely, and there won’t be any downsides.

6. Propagation
The easiest way to propagate these plants is by offsets or plantlets. Small plantlets form on the leaves of mature plants. To propagate, gently twist the plantlet off the leaf. It should come off easily without much effort. Plant the offset in well-draining succulent soil and water sparingly until roots have formed. Plantlets fall off naturally from the leaves and propagate by themselves quite often.

7. Potting and Repotting
Mother of Thousands is a fast-growing plant and will quickly outgrow its pot if it’s too small. Once it has outgrown its pot, or if its offsets have taken root in the same pot, you might want to repot. When repotting, choose a pot that’s bigger than the one it’s currently in.

8. Toxicity and Common Pests
Mother of Thousands is moderately toxic to pets if ingested. The leaves contain toxins that are poisonous to cats, dogs, and other animals. Symptoms of toxicity include vomiting, diarrhea, and drooling. These plants are relatively pest and disease-free. However, they can be susceptible to mealybugs and aphids. If you notice any pests on your plant, remove them with a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol.
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