Due to their resemblance, these two plants, Mother of Millions and Mother of Thousands, are frequently mistaken for one another. The two plants’ leaves differ from one another in terms of shape.
Mother of Thousands has larger, broader leaves that develop in pairs as well as plantlets that sprout along the leaf margins. Plantlets develop at the tips or extremities of the thin leaves of Mother of Millions.
These are also known as Bryophyllum Daigremontianum and are native to Madagascar (commonly called Mother of Thousands, Alligator Plant, Mexican Hat Plant). Mother of Thousands plants have huge, green leaves that develop into baby plantlets along the edges, giving them an appealing and distinctive appearance.
These plantlets are infamous for spreading quickly to wherever they fall and can be challenging to eradicate. Some people find these plants to be bothersome, and some places consider them invasive weeds. Once established, these plants are hardy and able to withstand extreme heat.
A succulent is mother of millions plant.
Mother-of-millions are upright, smooth, fleshy succulent plants that can reach heights of at least one meter. In the winter, all species produce tall flower spikes that are covered in bell-shaped flower clusters. Each species’ leaves have a unique form, yet all of them develop tiny plantlets at the leaf margins.
A cactus, is mother of millions?
They are sometimes referred to as “M.O.M.” succulents, or “mother of millions.” It was once categorized under the Kalanchoe genus but is now Bryophyllum, although being sold under both classifications. Here in the desert, Bryophyllum delagoensis and B. daigremontianum are the two most prevalent species. Both of these are unique to the island of Madagascar, which sits off the southeast coast of Africa. Because once established, they are unstoppable “weeds,” many succulent growers have derided them as such.
MOMs have started to appear in chic succulent arrangements lately. Due to the fact that even the smallest plant might trigger an invasion, they were rarely, if ever, offered at retail. However, they would unavoidably end up on the market since they are so very easy to love and difficult to kill. While working in the garden, I spent numerous hours removing them for Clark Moorten, but we all knew they would return quickly.
MOMs reproduce vegetatively, like many succulents and cacti that are native to arid regions. Despite their stunning flowers, they have limited seed germination due to a lack of water. Growing plants release a portion of themselves into the ground, where it roots and creates a new person in order to prevent the extinction of the species. Desert cholla cactus jump like this. In southeast Madagascar, where goats, animals, and drought have forced unusual adaptations, MOMs do it to survive.
Light and Temperature
Although it prefers a sunny location, this brilliant light lover is sensitive to the full strength of midday sun through glass.
Give the plant extra sunlight if it develops leggyly and has pale leaves with less marbling.
The ideal temperature range for Mother of Millions is between 60 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit.
Watering and Feeding
Very well tolerant to drought is Bryophyllum tubiflorum. But from spring through fall, it thrives with frequent watering of once or twice per week, and less in the winter.
An indication of overwatering is when young plants’ leaves start to droop and prematurely shed.
Only once a month and not at all in the cold does Mother of Millions require feeding.
A cactus, is Mother of Thousands?
There are various alternative names for Mother of Thousands.
Devil’s Backbone, Alligator Plant, and Mexican Hat Plant. The plant is a succulent that originates from one stem and is native to Madagascar. The thick, pointed, blue-green leaves can get up to six inches long and three inches wide. If you let it, the plant will eventually reach a height of 18 to 35 inches.
The tiny plantlets that develop along the leaf margins are this plant’s most distinctive feature. These tiny plantlets will disperse readily from the parent plant, seeking out soil that is suitable for growth and trying to establish roots wherever they land.
Because of the young plantlets’ efforts to grow and multiply in various types of soil alongside other plants, many gardeners view the Mother of Thousands as a bit of a problem plant.
You won’t have to worry too much about Mother of Thousands spreading indoors.
How quickly is Mother of Millions expanding?
High humidity is not necessary for the Mother of Millions plant to thrive. They have a reputation for thriving in desert-like environments with humidity levels under 20 percent. When humidity rises, their rate of development and reproduction accelerates.
The Chandelier plant does well in low to moderate humidity, like the majority of other succulents. It is advised to keep your Chandelier plant and other succulents away from the humidifier if you are using one for other indoor plants.
Fertilizer
These drought-tolerant plants don’t eat a lot and don’t need fertilizer applied frequently. However, if the correct nutrients are given to them, they can quickly increase in size. If you want your Mother of Millions to have a big, sturdy plant structure, fertilize it each month.
These plants often grow well in barren soil and don’t require a lot of nutrients in the soil to prosper. However, a plant in a pot will eventually require fertilization. especially when growing in a potting mix that has a lot of grit and sand.
Mother of Millions plants can swiftly develop into astonishingly tall, 2-meter-tall succulents. However, the plant will require enough calcium and other essential elements in the soil to support such a tall herbaceous structure.
Only during the growing season may you feed this plant with monthly light sprays of liquid cactus fertilizer.
Growth
Fast-growing Mother of Millions plant species emerges as a single stem plant with side-growing leaves. The plant can reach a height of two meters and have tubular leaves that are two to five inches long.
Within a year, a Mother of Millions plant can develop from a seedling into an adult plant. The upright-growing, thick, cylindric herbaceous stem with thick, tube-like leaves attached to it. At the base of the plant, a few leaf sets are sterile and devoid of plantlets.
Lizard plant gets its name from the marbling pattern on its leaves, which resembles that of a lizard. The plant mostly generates plantlets that are linked to their ends and multiply asexually, easily germinating when they fall to the ground.
Apiece plant has the capacity to produce thousands of young plants, which in turn produce thousands of M.O.Ms each. Thus, Mother of Millions was given its moniker.
The succulent blooms in the winter when it is fully grown and produces orange-red flowers. On top of every Mother of Millions stem, the flowers are arranged in clusters.
Potting
The Mother of Millions plant can thrive in containers, but it will require a large-medium-sized container to reach its full potential. In pots with insufficient drainage, this plant will suffer.
It is advised to employ a clay pot. Drainage openings are essential. Before adding the potting mix, fill the bottom of the pot with pot break pieces or stones to further increase drainage.
This prevents water from pooling in the ground and keeps the drainage hole clear.
Larger pots are preferable to smaller ones if you live in a hot area. Small pots’ soil moisture tends to evaporate very rapidly, leaving your plant parched throughout the hot summer months.
When neglected in small pots, even a Mother of Millions succulent runs the risk of wilting.
The plant may still obtain the hydration it needs that is safely stored deep inside larger pots, however, because huge pots can keep soil moisture for a lot longer.
Pruning
If you’re growing a Mother of Millions as a houseplant, its tall and quick growth may make it more difficult for you to care for. Simply trim off the plant’s top if it appears to be excessively tall; new, heavier leaves will emerge from the stem’s base.
Pruning is essentially unnecessary for succulents. Typically, these plants don’t spread out too much to require pruning. The M.O.M, however, is a unique circumstance.
If allowed to grow unchecked, chandelier plants can get tall in a lanky, wiry way and may not look appealing. The plant does have a self-pruning mechanism where, when it grows too tall to support itself, the top half just breaks off and falls to the ground.
Simply cut the plant down to size if you don’t have that much time to wait. If it’s the growing season, new, more attractive growth will soon appear.
Mother of Millions Propagation
The Mother of Millions plant is easily replicated from seed, leaf and stem cuttings, and the plantlets that grow at the end of each leaf. Simply sprinkle the plantlets over damp ground, and they will all quickly grow into new plants.
To put it bluntly, the Mother of Millions is the only plant that will never require any effort to propagate.
Due to this plant’s ability to self-produce from the small plantlets on its leaves, you’ll frequently notice little M.O.Ms popping up in every pot in your home.
As long as there is an M.O.M plant in your home, you will perpetually have to remove M.O.M plantlets from locations where they are unwanted.
Utilize all of those plantlets instead and place them where you want them to grow, and presto!
Does mother of thousands flower?
A form of flowering succulent is called mother of millions. However, indoor plants rarely, if ever, blossom. Your plant may produce clusters of tiny pinkish-red flowers when grown outside. After blossoming, always deadhead the flowers to promote healthy development.
Is mother of thousands plant poisonous?
Yes. Kalanchoe daigremontiana has poisonous compounds called bufadienolides in all of its components. The devil’s backbone is one of the poisonous plants that are deadly to dogs and cats, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). (1)
Is the mother of thousands invasive?
Mother of thousands is a plant that spreads quickly and is quite invasive. Collect the plantlets frequently to keep them from taking root wherever they drop if you’re growing this succulent outside in your yard.
Why are mother of thousands leaves curling?
Mother of thousands has large, tear- or diamond-shaped leaves. Although the leaves naturally arch, they shouldn’t curl. Mexican hat plant leaves that curl typically indicate either excessive watering or sunburn.
Why is my mother of thousands dying?
There may be a number of causes for a mother of thousands beginning to wilt and ultimately passing away. The most frequent causes of an alligator plant appearing to be dying include overwatering, excessive exposure to bright sunshine, or underwatering. You might be able to save a dying plant if you take quick action.
Is a mother of thousands a good plant for terrariums?
The mother of thousands plant is invasive and shouldn’t be used in confined terrariums since it can harm other plants. Other neighboring plants’ growth may be hampered by the compounds that these plants release. Additionally, many succulents might not thrive as well in the humid, tropical setting of terrariums.
How does this weed affect you?
Mother of Millions reproduces quickly, as its name implies, giving rise to hundreds of tiny plantlets that soon establish new colonies. It can withstand extended droughts because it is accustomed to dry environments. This enhances the likelihood that the plant will endure and proliferate. Mother of millions is harmful to humans and household pets as well as dangerous to animals when consumed.
When consumed, mother of millions, hybrid mother of millions, and resurrection plant are all toxic. Bufadienolides, which cause heart failure, are mostly to blame for these plants’ harmful effects. All parts of the plant contain toxins, but blooms are five times more lethal than leaves and stems.
The most dangerous species are mother of millions and hybrid mother of millions, although access for cattle should be limited to all three.
Animals who consume little amounts of the toxins repeatedly over the course of a few days may become poisoned. An adult cow would die after consuming around 5 kg of mother of millions. This much would grow in a square meter where the plants are dense.
Typically, poisoning happens between May and October, when the plants are in their flowering stage. Because they are more prone to eat the plant, livestock are more likely to become poisoned after being relocated to a new paddock, when there is a feed scarcity, or after droving.
Livestock that has consumed a lot of plant material may pass away unexpectedly from heart failure.
They might experience diarrhoea (often bloody), drool saliva, dribble pee, and eventually pass away from heart failure if they had consumed smaller amounts over several days. If only a tiny amount of plant material has been consumed and the animals’ hearts have not been seriously harmed, some affected livestock will progressively recover.
After eating the plant, poisoned stock have to be treated within 24 hours. After this time, cardiac function is seriously compromised, and the stock may not be able to live. Consult a veterinarian right away if you believe livestock may have mother of millions poisoning.
Dogs are particularly vulnerable to the toxicity of Mother of Millions, which also affects humans and domestic animals. Pets or people are unlikely to consume enough plant matter to become poisoned. Mother of millions can be found in many gardens, however this increases the risk of human or animal poisoning.
Where is it found?
Native to Africa and Madagascar, mother of millions was brought to Australia as a garden plant. On NSW’s coast as well as its plains and slopes in the northwest, it is a severe weed.
Maps and records
- Mother-of-Millions’ presence was noted when inspecting properties (Map: Biosecurity Information System – Weeds, 2017-2022)
In accordance with the 2015 Biosecurity Act, these documents are created by authorized authorities during premises inspections. Officers
The NSW Department of Primary Industries should be informed of any priority weeds found in the council area. Records show that there is
- Mother-of-millions’ estimated spread in NSW (Map: NSW Noxious Weed Local Control Authorities, 2010)
The local council’s weed officers estimated the spread and density of weeds in this map in 2010.
How does it spread?
The term “mother of millions” refers to a plant’s propensity for vegetative growth in vast numbers. Along the edges of its leaves, each plant produces tiny plantlets that separate to become new plants. Due to this, it is difficult to remove mother of millions and further measures are required. Mother of millions also produces a large number of seeds, some of which can remain dormant in the soil for a long time before germination.
What does it look like?
Bryophyllum is the genus that contains the mother of billions. Mother of millions is a succulent perennial that can reach heights of 30 cm to 1 m. The stems are grayish or pinkish-brown in color. The leaves are pencil-shaped, light green to light brown in color with areas of dark green, and the upper surface has a shallow groove. Each leaf has up to seven projections at the apex, which, if broken off, can sprout new plants. Orange-red flowers are arranged in a cluster at the apex of a single stalk. From May until October, flowers may bloom.
Look-a-like species
There are two other, less prevalent Bryophyllum species in NSW. These are the resurrection plant and the hybrid mother of millions (Bryophyllum daigremontianum x Bryophyllum delagoense) (Bryophyllum pinnatum). These plants are venomous, have a little plantlet production around the edge of their leaves, and are adapted to arid circumstances. The form of the leaves helps to distinguish hybrid mother of millions from mother of millions. Another species of Bryophyllum that can reach heights of up to 2 meters is resurrection plant. The leaves and blooms help to identify it from Mother of Millions.
pencil-shaped, light green to light brown with spots of dark green. The upper surface has a shallow groove.
At the top of a single stem, they grow in a cluster and are orange-red in color. May through October are when flowers bloom.
On stalks that are growing along the top of the stem, reddish flowers that are frequently tinted with pink grow in loose clusters. From June to August, flowers bloom.
What type of environment does it grow in?
On gravel and sandy soils, mother of millions frequently grows. It is a weed that grows in disturbed areas including bushland and roadside ditches, fence lines, and abandoned rural homes. Additionally, it usually happens around creeks and rivers where floodwaters disseminate it.