One plant grows rows of tiny plantlets along the edges of its leaves. Known as the mother of thousands, it is popular with plant lovers both as a decorative pot plant and because it propagates itself so easily.
Agricare24 gives its scientific name as Kalanchoe laetivirens, native to Madagascar. Kalanchoes of this kind are also known as devil's backbone, Mexican hat plant and alligator plant. The plant can grow to about three feet.
Its most striking feature is the mass of small plantlets on the leaf margins. In suitable conditions they put out roots, drop from the parent plant and grow into new plants, so no seed or cutting is needed.
Care: the plant needs little attention. It does well in a sunny spot and needs relatively little water, and it makes an attractive pot plant indoors. Because it spreads so easily, it can take over in favourable conditions, so a pot is safer than garden soil.
A warning: the plant is toxic to cats, dogs and other pets. It contains chemicals called bufadienolides that can poison animals. Households with pets should keep it out of their reach.
For anyone looking for a low-maintenance ornamental for a balcony, windowsill or rooftop pot, the kalanchoe is an easy choice, provided its spreading habit and the risk to pets are kept in mind. Agricare24 carried the report from The Daily Dhaka.
Photo: Plantlets on the leaf edge of the related Kalanchoe daigremontiana, WisdomIsBliss / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Source: Agricare24
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