The succulent Mother of Thousands (Kalanchoe daigremontiana) earns its name from its remarkable reproductive ability. It produces numerous tiny, fully-formed plantlets, often called pups or bulbils, along the scalloped edges of its leaves. These miniature versions naturally detach and root themselves, making propagation extremely simple. This article explores whether these offspring, or a cutting from the parent plant, can be rooted in water, a popular technique for many houseplants.
Answering the Question: Water Propagation for Mother of Thousands
Propagating Mother of Thousands plantlets in water is possible, although it is generally not the most efficient or recommended method for this type of succulent. The process involves gently removing one of the tiny plantlets from the parent leaf, or taking a stem cutting. If a stem cutting is used, the cut end must be allowed to dry out and form a protective callus layer for several days to prevent rot when it is placed into the water.
A plantlet or cutting is then suspended in a small glass vessel with only the base submerged in clean, room-temperature water. It is important to change the water every few days to keep it oxygenated and to prevent the buildup of bacteria or mold. Within a few weeks, fine, white roots will typically emerge from the submerged base of the plant part.
However, the roots developed in water are structurally different from the robust roots grown in soil. These fragile roots are adapted to a completely aquatic environment and lack the protective root hairs necessary to efficiently absorb nutrients and withstand the drier conditions of a soil medium. Consequently, water-rooted plantlets often suffer from significant shock and may struggle to survive when transitioning to soil.
The Preferred Method: Propagating Directly in Soil
The standard and most reliable method for propagating this species is rooting the plantlets directly in a well-draining soil mix. The Mother of Thousands plant is biologically designed for this type of asexual reproduction, where the plantlets simply fall from the leaf margin and root where they land. This characteristic makes the process almost effortless for the grower.
To propagate this way, one only needs to collect the small plantlets that have either fallen off or been gently twisted from the mother plant. A container should be filled with a substrate formulated for succulents or cacti, which typically contains materials like perlite or coarse sand to ensure rapid drainage. Lay the plantlets directly on the surface of this prepared soil mixture; they should not be buried.
The tiny plantlets will begin to develop soil-adapted roots that search for moisture within the top layer of the substrate. Keep the container in a location that receives bright, indirect light, and lightly mist the soil surface every few days to encourage root growth without causing saturation. This direct-to-soil approach ensures the resulting roots are immediately suited to a drier environment, leading to a much higher long-term survival rate than water propagation.
Ensuring Success: Acclimation and Ongoing Care
Once the plantlet has successfully developed roots, whether in water or soil, the focus shifts to establishing it as a healthy, independent plant.
Transitioning Water-Rooted Plantlets
For a plantlet rooted in water, the transition to soil requires a careful acclimation process, sometimes called “hardening off.” This step is necessary because the water roots are extremely sensitive and prone to drying out or rotting immediately after being potted.
After planting the water-rooted specimen in a succulent soil mix, you should maintain higher humidity around the plant for the first week or two. This can be achieved by placing a plastic dome or bag loosely over the pot to gradually reduce the humidity and allow the water roots to adapt to a soil environment. The initial watering should be light, preventing the soil from becoming soggy, which can cause the delicate roots to collapse and rot.
Ongoing Care
All young Mother of Thousands plants thrive best in bright, indirect light, such as that provided by an east or west-facing window. Use the “soak and dry” method for watering, which involves allowing the soil to dry out completely between waterings to mimic the plant’s natural, drought-tolerant environment. This practice is particularly important for young plants, as their smaller root systems are susceptible to rot if left sitting in excess moisture.