HOW DO YOU START A 'MOTHER OF THOUSANDS' BABY?

How do you start a 'Mother of Thousands' baby?
LOOKING FOR MOTHER OF MILLIONS AND THOUSANDS PUPS? THEN CLICK HERE TO FIND THE SPECIES AVAILABLE AT THE 'SEEDS OF EADEN' SEED SHOP 

The 'Mother of Thousands' ornamental plant, as well as  the 'Mother of Millions', are amongst several species within the Bryophyllum (previously known as Kalanchoe) genus known for their ability to produce baby plants known as 'Pups' along the edge of their leaves. Although not unique, it is because of the Bryophyllum's unusual ornamental quality that many gardeners are tempted to try and propagate these pups in order to produce new plants. So how do you start a 'Mother of Thousands' baby?

Mother of Thousands pups growing on soil surface

You will be pleased to know that it is surprising simple, in fact just allowing a pup to land on some damp compost is enough for one to take root and establish itself as a mature specimen, however this can take several weeks. This process can easily be sped up with a few appropriate horticultural techniques.

To begin which (and to make things easy for yourself), choose as large a pup as possible, preferably with some roots already produced. These large rooting pups usually appear after the parent pant has flowered. Next prepare a 9cm pot, teracota is best but plastic is fine, and fill to 2 cm of the brim with a good quality compost such as John Innes 'Seeds and Cutting', or a proprietary cactus compost. That being said they will still root in a standard multipurpose compost of even the dirt found between cracks in the pavement!

While you can just lay the plantlet on the soil surface, it will root quicker if you can place the roots plate in the soil, the secure it on the sides with a small amount of compost. If you have some root on your pup then using a dibber or a pencil create a hole in the soil so that the root can be dropped in without being damaged. Once again, carefully push the soil back against the back of the pup avoiding both the root or roots, or pup. Being extremely careful so as not to dislodge the pup from the soil water in. You may wish to do this with a mister bottle to be on the safe side. Now remember that 'Mother of Thousands' are succulents and as such are drought tolerant. This means that they can be prone to damage from over-watering, especially from late autumn to early spring. Avoid water-logging the compost and re-water one the top centimetre of so is dry.

Once your 'Mother of Thousands' baby has become established in its pot it can be potted on onto one which is larger. Your 'Mother of Thousands' will begin producing its own babies once it has matured.

For related articles click onto the following links:

DEVIL'S BACKBONE - Kalanchoe daigremontiana