I’ve been getting into succulent propatation recently. Nothing particularly complicated, just a few stem and leaf cuttings from leggy individuals or those that obligingly shed their leaves. I have to say, at the risk of sounding very twee, watching mini rosettes form from discarded leaves really does fill my heart with joy. It makes me feel so invested in nature, because what you put in, you get back.

Thinking about August’s succulent of the month was an easy one – Kalanchoe daigramontiana is made for propagation, by producing little plantlets along its leaf margins that freely drop and root to form new plants. Those of you who follow me on instagram will have seen at least a couple of posts on this particular succulent. My plant is currently producing so many babies, it’s a wonder it can hold itself up. I have since relocated some of these plantlets to little pots of their own (see below right).

Even without the plantlets, it is a very attractive succulent to own:

Name: Kalanchoe daigremontiana

Common name: Mexican hat plant, Mother of thousands plant

Distinctive features: Blue to green scalloped leaves, with red to pink colouration and darker stripes to the edges of the leaves. Mini plantlets form on the edges of the leaves.

Why I love it: I originally fell in love with the soft colours in this plant – the blue green with the red to pink edges, as well as the intriguing dark stripes that were more pronounced before the Kalanchoe starting having so many babies. The little plantlets were a complete surprise but a welcome one. They made this cute Kalanchoe even more interesting, and I love how readily this plant is to reproduce.

Things to watch out for:  So far I have not have any problems with this Kalanchoe, mainly because I have kept it in a sunny spot and away from cooler temperatures. I have also watered it as and when water is needed. I am not finding the little plantlets as easy to establish as I thought. They root fairly easily but do not seem to be growing as quickly as I had hoped. It might be that I haven’t been as dutiful with my mister as I need to be. The mother plant keeps producing though, so I am fairly confident I have a good chance of getting at least a couple beyond infanthood.