![]() The most unique part of this plant is the tiny plantlets that grow along the edges of the leaves. The plant itself can grow as tall as 18 to 35-inches if you let it. ![]() The large blue-green leaves are pointed and narrow and grow up to 6-inches long and 3-inches wide. A native of Madagascar, the plant is a succulent that grows up from one stem. Mother of Thousands is known by numerous other names – Mexican Hat Plant, Alligator Plant, and Devil’s Backbone. The tiny plantlets that grow along the edges of the leaves will need to be managed as they try to take root wherever they happen to land. How to care for mother of thousands: Mother of Thousands should be planted in a well draining potting mix, watered infrequently but thoroughly, and kept in bright, indirect sunlight with low humidity at 65 to 75° F. But first, a quick summary of mother of thousands plant care. In this guide I’ll cover everything you need to know about caring for your Mother of Thousands. If you have one of these plants in your home, you’ll want to know how to care for it, so it thrives for years to come. Prune off any problem branches and trim back lightly in late winter to keep the plant in good form.Mother of Thousands (bryophyllum daigremontianum) is a beautiful and interesting house plant, and one of my favorites. Unchecked plants may get up to 5 feet (1.5 m.) in height. Use unglazed pots, which allow excess moisture to freely evaporate and prevent wet root damage. Repot your plant every three to five years or as needed in a rich houseplant mix with plenty of sand mixed in to increase drainage. It doesn’t tolerate cold breezes, which can kill off the tips of the growth. Devil’s backbone houseplant does not need to be fed in the dormant seasons of fall and winter.Ĭhoose a draft free location in the home when growing Pedilanthus indoors. The plant produces the best growth with a once per month fertilizer solution diluted by half. Keep it only moderately moist, yet not soggy. Water the plants when the top few inches (8 cm.) of soil feels dry. Just turning the slats on your blinds can be enough to keep the tips of the leaves from sizzling. Plant in direct sun in fall and winter but give it a little protection from stinging hot rays in spring and summer. Growing Pedilanthus Indoorsĭevil’s backbone houseplant likes bright indirect sunlight. Care of devil’s backbone babies is the same as the adult plants. Then repot the new plants in a good houseplant potting soil. Keep the perlite lightly moist until the stems root. Let the cut end callus for a few days and then insert it into a pot filled with perlite. Just cut a 4 to 6 inch (10-15 cm.) section of the stem from the plant. Growing the plant is easy and propagation even simpler. ![]() Care should be exercised when handling the plant. No devil’s backbone plant info would be complete without noting that the milky sap may be poisonous to some people. The plant is a member of the spurge family. The bract color may be white, green, red, or pink. The leaves are lance-shaped and thick on wiry stems. It makes a superb houseplant with its 2 foot (61 cm.) tall stems, alternate leaves, and colorful “flowers” which are actually bracts or modified leaves. The plant is native to the American tropics but only hardy in USDA zones 9 and 10. The scientific name for this plant, Pedilanthus tithymaloides, means foot-shaped flower. ![]() Whatever you call it, learn how to grow the devil’s backbone plant for unique and easy to care for indoor flora. Descriptive monikers for the foliage include rick rack plant and Jacob’s ladder. In an effort to describe the blooms, devil’s backbone has been called red bird flower, Persian lady slipper, and Japanese poinsettia. ![]() There are numerous fun and descriptive names for the devil’s backbone houseplant. ![]()
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