The gremlins of the botanical world Are you scared of yo...
The gremlins of the botanical world
Are you scared of your house plants?
Did you ever see the movie the gremlins back in the 80s? Cute gizmo except don’t feed them after midnight don’t let them get wet or they turn into gremlins and menace society?
There’s a botanical counterpart. Just don’t let them out of the pot. Don’t let them out of your sight. Keep them away from your other plants….
In case you think I have a pension for the drama, let me explain: I have a few varieties of this plant because revere it, but I’m also a little nervous about it the same way one might be nervous about having a pet gizmo. Now, looking at the plant it is a site to behold. It doesn’t look like anything ever seen on this planet
in fact, it evolved on Madagascar, geographically isolated since…it broke off from the first continent on Earth. Madagascar began its separation from the African landmass around 160 million years ago during the breakup of the supercontinent Gondwana. This isolation allowed for the unique evolution of its flora and fauna, leading to a high degree of endemism. Many plant and animal species found in Madagascar are found nowhere else on Earth, showcasing the remarkable diversity and adaptation that occurred in this isolated environment. It might as well be from Outer space — actually that’s exactly what it looks like an alien species. Suffice to say it is exotic and beautiful bizarre and fierce.
You might recognize one of the varieties of this plant from the musical little shop of horrors—Audrey 2. Are you beginning to get an idea of why they pick this plant to be the man eating menace from the plant shop ?
As I learned about this plant I’ve always found the mother of thousand type plants rather menacing, and sometimes I shy away from its countenance. It’s not that I’m a scaredy-cat, It’s just that I can’t help and behold this plant and see a marauder.
It’s best to keep this this mother a safe distance from your other plants because it could very well take over their pot. Your poor Peace Lily won’t standard chance.
Kalanchoe delagoensis, a menacing invader from Madagascar, possesses a formidable arsenal of survival tactics. Its rapid growth and prolific reproduction, earning it the name "Mother of Millions," allow it to quickly overtake landscapes. Its unique growth habit, with stems rooting mid-air and leaf-tip plantlets dispersing toxins, ensures its dominance. This aggressive plant's conquest-driven survival strategy makes it a frightening force of nature, much like a relentless Viking horde.
Now this plant grows so quickly that I have several pots of it and a couple of them I put over in a corner that doesn’t get much attention. In fact I don’t really think I’ve gone over to that side of the house all summer. I realize it’s now December, they’re pretty resilient.
Apparently, it got sunburned. Could it look any more pissed off?
Aye: rule # 3: don’t let it get sunburned !
#MyPlantWantsToEatMe #Audrey2 #The3RulesForMoT #MyPlantWantsToBeInternetFamous #optimizedsubstrate
#GregGang #CentralTexasGang #SanAntonioGregGang #GreggersSupportingGreggers #HappyPlants #PlantsMakePeopleHappy #PlantAddicts #plantdad
Are you scared of your house plants?
Did you ever see the movie the gremlins back in the 80s? Cute gizmo except don’t feed them after midnight don’t let them get wet or they turn into gremlins and menace society?
There’s a botanical counterpart. Just don’t let them out of the pot. Don’t let them out of your sight. Keep them away from your other plants….
In case you think I have a pension for the drama, let me explain: I have a few varieties of this plant because revere it, but I’m also a little nervous about it the same way one might be nervous about having a pet gizmo. Now, looking at the plant it is a site to behold. It doesn’t look like anything ever seen on this planet
in fact, it evolved on Madagascar, geographically isolated since…it broke off from the first continent on Earth. Madagascar began its separation from the African landmass around 160 million years ago during the breakup of the supercontinent Gondwana. This isolation allowed for the unique evolution of its flora and fauna, leading to a high degree of endemism. Many plant and animal species found in Madagascar are found nowhere else on Earth, showcasing the remarkable diversity and adaptation that occurred in this isolated environment. It might as well be from Outer space — actually that’s exactly what it looks like an alien species. Suffice to say it is exotic and beautiful bizarre and fierce.
You might recognize one of the varieties of this plant from the musical little shop of horrors—Audrey 2. Are you beginning to get an idea of why they pick this plant to be the man eating menace from the plant shop ?
As I learned about this plant I’ve always found the mother of thousand type plants rather menacing, and sometimes I shy away from its countenance. It’s not that I’m a scaredy-cat, It’s just that I can’t help and behold this plant and see a marauder.
It’s best to keep this this mother a safe distance from your other plants because it could very well take over their pot. Your poor Peace Lily won’t standard chance.
Kalanchoe delagoensis, a menacing invader from Madagascar, possesses a formidable arsenal of survival tactics. Its rapid growth and prolific reproduction, earning it the name "Mother of Millions," allow it to quickly overtake landscapes. Its unique growth habit, with stems rooting mid-air and leaf-tip plantlets dispersing toxins, ensures its dominance. This aggressive plant's conquest-driven survival strategy makes it a frightening force of nature, much like a relentless Viking horde.
Now this plant grows so quickly that I have several pots of it and a couple of them I put over in a corner that doesn’t get much attention. In fact I don’t really think I’ve gone over to that side of the house all summer. I realize it’s now December, they’re pretty resilient.
Apparently, it got sunburned. Could it look any more pissed off?
Aye: rule # 3: don’t let it get sunburned !
#MyPlantWantsToEatMe #Audrey2 #The3RulesForMoT #MyPlantWantsToBeInternetFamous #optimizedsubstrate
#GregGang #CentralTexasGang #SanAntonioGregGang #GreggersSupportingGreggers #HappyPlants #PlantsMakePeopleHappy #PlantAddicts #plantdad
12
I have one just like your in the pictures you posted and a purple and a green mother of thousands I love all of those !! Question you may be able to help me. My green mother of thousands have some leaves that are turning brown and Crispy on the tips… any clue why? None of my other “mother of” are doing this ever.
@Hoyaobsessed hi there —I have four kinds of these MoT plants, the OG one that is Audrey 2 in Little Shop of Horror, the thinner “chandelier “ kind, the one pictured here is a hybrid of the two and I have the Donkey Ears one. I presume you’re asking about what I call the OG kind. Can you send pictures please. That will provide clues hopefully as it could be many things.
@TexanExpat it the light green mother of thousands in the picture . I have taken off the crispy edged leafs already they are all doing it in the middle of the plant as you can see its bare. I added a pic of my other one just because I love seeing others I figured you would as well. I had a purple Chandelier but it got over fed in the greenhouse so I am starting over with propagations. Wondering now if in spring I should chop the top off and propagate that since the middle is bare.
Love the story and the history included! Your plants are gorgeous! I have a few MOT and MOM that have definitely given me a run for my money. Since mine are indoors, they’re rather leggy. They’ve pushed out so many babies, but a few months ago I ran into an issue with mold developing on their leaves. Have you experienced this at all?
I’m debating on chopping them since they’re top heavy. I feel like it’s mostly under control aside from this mold spreading to my other kalachoes 😑 Some have been unintentionally annihilated with neem oil & fungicide… 🫠 ooopsss! I tried watered down hydrogen peroxide prior to that, but it wasn’t strong enough. I have found that majority of those leaves that have been treated haven’t grown any new babies. Do you happen to know of a better treatment?
I’m debating on chopping them since they’re top heavy. I feel like it’s mostly under control aside from this mold spreading to my other kalachoes 😑 Some have been unintentionally annihilated with neem oil & fungicide… 🫠 ooopsss! I tried watered down hydrogen peroxide prior to that, but it wasn’t strong enough. I have found that majority of those leaves that have been treated haven’t grown any new babies. Do you happen to know of a better treatment?
@Hoyaobsessed it’s hard to say without more pics of what the issue looks like. Do you think maybe it is root bound ? That cloud explain it. I have much more drainage in mine And a terra cotta pot which allows for more frequent watering without becoming waterlogged
@S.ham13 what kind of mold is it ? If it is something like leaf spot I would say the leggy-ness for lack of sufficient light can weaken the plant and make it more susceptible to fungal issues in the soil. I use at least 50% perlite in any mix with succulents and a terra cotta pot. This helps reduce fungus but also requires more frequent watering. If it’s powdery mildew that is altogether a separate issue. You can try an anti-pathogen soil drench as part of routine maintained to boost immunity. Look at Bonide revitalize
@TexanExpat Thanks for your response. Never heard of an anti-pathogen soil drench before! I’ll definitely check out the Bonide Revitilze. I appreciate the recommendation. I think it’s powdery mildew 😕 it’s been a pain dealing with it! Especially since I have so many plants. Here’s a few old pictures for reference. It even spread to the leaf propagations I had from a different variety, which was rather unfortunate! Last photo is a terrible photo of another leggy neglected kalanchoe. You can see the mold present on the 4th leaf down on the right.
@S.ham13 you’re going to have to implement an integrated approach and reconfigure how you have your setup there to address sufficiently. Consider cutting plants down to the base especially those you can’t accommodate for quarantine (theoretically each plant should be quarantined separately to prevent reinfection). Powdery mildew thrives in humid, stagnant air, low light, and temperatures between 60-80°F (15-27°C). Overcrowded plants, poor air circulation, and excessive moisture on leaves create ideal conditions for fungal growth. High-nitrogen fertilizers can promote lush, tender new growth, which is particularly susceptible to infection. To combat this, isolate infected plants, prune away affected leaves, and improve air circulation. Avoid overhead watering and reduce fertilizer use, especially those high in nitrogen. For severe cases, treat with a sulfur-based fungicide. Reapply the fungicide every 7-10 days until the infection is cleared. For persistent or resistant outbreaks, consider rotating fungicides with different modes of action to prevent the fungus from developing resistance.
@TexanExpat Hey! So sorry for the delayed response! I greatly appreciate your feedback and suggestions! I think rotating different treatments along with trying out a soil drench would be worth a try! It all started when the heater turned off and the A/C kicked on. The fungicides I used ended up burning the growth on the leaves and eventually I realized no new growth was forming on those existing leaves. I may have to just clear off all the babies from the leaves from time to time time as well, so it’s less crowded! Again, thank you so much for your input! Happy New Year!