How to Fix Curled and Leggy Leaves on Mother of Thousands

Mother of thousands (Kalanchoe daigremontiana) is something everyone has probably seen, because it is a fairly common succulent plant with extremely strong vitality and fast growth. But many people find that the leaves curl when growing mother of thousands, so why does this happen? Let's go find the solutions together below!

Solutions for curled leaves on mother of thousands

1. The pruning method. Heavily prune the curled leaves of the mother of thousands and let it grow new leaves on its own.

2. Light treatment. Move it to a place with plenty of light - a sunny spot on a balcony or growing it outdoors in the yard will both work. After a period of light treatment, the leaves can stand upright again.

3. Supplement water. Some flower lovers think mother of thousands is easy to keep and even ignore it for long periods, leaving the potting soil very dry. When mother of thousands lacks water, its leaves naturally grow poorly. Supplementing some water at the right time can make its leaves fresh green and upright.

What to do if mother of thousands grows leggy

1. Give it some sun. Those keeping it in an office or living room can move it to a sunny place and let it sunbathe, making it thick and healthy.

2. There is no leggy growth that beheading cannot solve. For leggy growth in mother of thousands caused by water, beheading can be used to solve it. Mother of thousands is relatively easy to root from cuttings and has very strong reproductive ability. After discovering it has grown leggy, you can use the beheading method and take cuttings. Not only can you get a new pot of small plants for you to “mess around” with, you can also get a pot of the old plant that can sprout new shoots again - two birds with one stone. Remember to change the potting soil for the old plant to prevent waterlogging from causing root rot!

How to grow mother of thousands

1. Propagation methods

Cuttings, adventitious buds and sowing are commonly used for propagation.

For leaf cuttings, May to June is best. Lay healthy leaves flat on a sand bed, press them tightly against the sand and keep them moist. One week after planting, small plantlets can grow from the notches on the leaf edges. Once they have grown, cut them off and move them into pots. For stem cuttings, cut 8-10 cm long tip shoots, let them dry slightly, then insert them into the sand bed. Roots begin to form after 1 week, and they can be potted after 2 weeks. Adventitious bud propagation is even simpler: peel off the larger adventitious buds growing on the leaf edges and pot them directly.

For sowing, the seeds are tiny; do not cover them with soil after sowing. They sprout about 12-15 days after sowing, with a high germination rate.

2. Pruning requirements

For potting, a mix of 3 parts leaf mold and 1 part sandy soil can be used as the substrate. For newly potted seedlings, pinch the tips promptly to encourage branching; for older plants whose stems are semi-lignified, bare at the base and mostly crooked rather than upright, reducing their ornamental value, shorten them to make them sprout new branches. Renew the potting and change the soil every spring to maintain a graceful plant shape.

3. Water and fertilizer requirements

Normally, water only after the soil has dried out completely. There is no need to worry that it will dry to death. Do not fertilize too frequently, otherwise it will cause excessive growth and may even cause the plant to rot. In the growing season, fertilizing 1-2 times a month is enough. In midsummer, shade it slightly; in other seasons it should have plenty of light, otherwise the color on the leaf edges will disappear. After the autumn chill, reduce watering. In winter, after moving it indoors, it can survive the winter as long as the room temperature stays above 0°C. But keep the potting soil slightly moist.

4. Pest and disease control

Mother of thousands is mainly harmed by gray mold and powdery mildew, which can be sprayed with a 1000-fold dilution of 70% thiophanate-methyl wettable powder. Pests include scale insects and aphids, which can be killed by spraying a 1000-fold dilution of 40% dimethoate emulsifiable concentrate.

Water and fertilizer management tips for mother of thousands

1. Watering tips

The watering principle for mother of thousands is to keep it dry rather than wet. There is no need to worry, because it is drought-tolerant. It is best to water after the potting soil has dried out completely. When you notice the leaves are less tender and green, you can spray-water them.

In late autumn, when the weather turns cool and less water evaporates, watering can be reduced appropriately. In winter, when temperatures are low, keep the potting soil moist, and be careful not to let it suffer frostbite or freeze to death.

2. Fertilizing tips

Do not fertilize mother of thousands too frequently, otherwise it easily causes excessive growth, with long distances between leaves, which is unattractive. Fertilizing too frequently may also cause the plant to rot. In the growing season, fertilizing 1-2 times a month is enough, and the amount of fertilizer should be small!

Through the content above, I believe everyone has gained some understanding of the care techniques for mother of thousands. In fact, many people really like mother of thousands, not only because it is very easy to grow, but also because its shape is delicate and beautiful, with plump leaves and neat little buds along the edges, very unique and attractive!