The Kalanchoe daigremontiana, a striking succulent, is often sought after for its architectural form and unique reproductive method. Known as the Alligator Plant or Mother of Thousands, this species originates from the semi-arid regions of southwest Madagascar. Its upright growth habit features long, fleshy leaves that often display a mottled green and purplish pattern on the underside.
Essential Environment Requirements
The Alligator Plant thrives in bright conditions, favoring a location that receives ample indirect sunlight throughout the day. While it can tolerate a few hours of direct morning sun, intense afternoon sun can cause the leaves to scorch or burn. Insufficient light causes the plant to stretch out, a phenomenon known as etiolation, resulting in an elongated and weak stem.
Watering is the most common issue, as this succulent is highly susceptible to root rot in poorly drained conditions. The preferred technique involves thoroughly saturating the soil and then allowing it to dry out completely before watering again. This “soak and dry” method prevents the plant from sitting in stagnant moisture. Well-draining soil is paramount, requiring a specialized cactus or succulent potting mix, often amended with perlite or coarse sand.
Seasonal Adjustments and Feeding
This succulent prefers average room temperatures, generally between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit, and is not tolerant of frost. If grown outdoors during the warmer months, it must be brought inside before temperatures drop below 40 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent damage.
The plant enters a period of reduced activity, or dormancy, during the winter months, necessitating a significant reduction in watering frequency. Water just enough to keep the leaves from shriveling, ensuring the soil remains dry for extended periods.
Fertilization should be reserved for the active growing season, which runs from spring through summer. Applying a balanced liquid houseplant fertilizer, diluted to half or quarter strength, once every four to six weeks supports healthy growth.
Managing Plantlet Propagation
The Kalanchoe daigremontiana earned the name Mother of Thousands due to its highly efficient reproductive strategy. Along the scalloped margins of its leaves, the plant develops numerous tiny miniature plants, known scientifically as plantlets or bulbils. These plantlets develop small roots and leaves while still attached to the parent leaf.
When these offsets mature, they detach easily and fall to the ground, where they readily root in any nearby soil. This prolific nature means the plant can quickly populate an area, which is why it is considered invasive in some tropical climates. To contain this rapid spread indoors, growers often place the parent plant in a tray or remove the plantlets regularly before they drop.
Intentional propagation is straightforward: simply remove a plantlet and place it on the surface of well-draining soil, where it will establish itself without needing to be buried.
Troubleshooting and Safety Concerns
The Alligator Plant can occasionally face issues, most commonly involving pests like mealybugs or scale insects, which tend to congregate on the undersides of the leaves or in the crevices of the stem. These pests can be managed by carefully wiping them off with a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol or by treating the plant with a mild insecticidal soap.
Overwatering remains the primary cause of plant decline, leading to stem or root rot that manifests as mushy, discolored tissue near the soil line.
A serious consideration is the plant’s toxicity, which is present in all parts of the Kalanchoe daigremontiana. The plant contains bufadienolide compounds, a type of cardiac glycoside that can be harmful if ingested.
Because the easily detached plantlets can fall and be mistaken for harmless debris, it is important to keep the plant out of reach of small children and household pets. Ingestion can lead to gastrointestinal distress and, in larger amounts, potentially more severe cardiac effects.