Growing Mother of Thousands Indoors

Written by Sandy Porter
Updated: March 14, 2023
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There probably aren’t that many plants that are recommended almost exclusively as indoor houseplants, but mother of thousands just happens to be one of them. The unique succulent plant is gorgeous, intriguing, and low maintenance, but when it’s grown indoors, it’s actually even more so.

Part of the reason for this is that the succulent is a self-propagating plant that may actually become invasive if grown outdoors. Another reason is that mother of thousands indoors receive a closer to “precise” environment in much of the world than they would outdoors. They also make excellent hanging plants and succulent forest plants.

So, if you’re ready to read all about growing mother of thousands indoors, you’re in the right place.

Mother of thousands

Mother of Thousands, also known as the Mexican Hat plant, is easy to grow indoors.

©iStock.com/PUGUN SJ

Placement of Your Mother of Thousands Indoors

These plants are light lovers, for sure, but they need indirect light instead of the hot, direst light of the sun.

When keeping your mother of thousands indoors, there are a few good options for providing their needed light.

  • Easterly facing windows are best. Place them near the window but not in the windowsill.
  • Southerly and westerly facing windows are your second best options, again placing them near but not in the windowsill.
  • Avoid northerly facing windows, particularly in summertime, as they will get too hot.
  • Avoid moving the plants around as this may cause them stress.
  • Keep them away from air vents, air conditioners, doorways to outside, heaters, humidifiers, and air purifiers, as they can cause issues with their moisture and temperature regulation.
  • If no appropriate windows are available, purchase an LED grow light and provide the plant with 6 hours of light per day.
  • On overcast days, use those grow lights to help the mother of thousands get enough light.

Temperature for Mother of Thousands Indoors

Mother of thousands plants thrive in temperate climates between 65- and 75-degrees F. This is part of why they make excellent indoor plants, since most of us keep our homes in this temperature range year-round.

Watering for Your Indoor Mother of Thousands Plant

galvanized watering can

Watering your mother of thousands is a careful task.

©

The mother of thousands succulent plant is drought-resistant, meaning it does best with the soil getting dry between waterings. You don’t want the soil to completely dry out, but rather the top couple inches in the pot should.

Generally speaking, the mother of thousands indoors plant requires watering every 2 to 3 weeks in warmer months and every 3 to 4 weeks in cooler months (late autumn to early spring).

When it’s time to water the plant, only pour water into the pot, avoiding getting water on the leaves, stems, and branches. Fill the pot until the water comes running out of the drainage holes.

Lighting Needs for an Indoor Mother of Thousands Plant

full-spectrum LED lights (grow lights)

Most indoor plants require LED grow lights.

©DaKub / Pixabay – License

Indoor mother of thousands plants need light just as much as outdoor plants do. Placing them near a window or providing them with non-heated growing lights is important. They cannot handle a lot of direct light. If the only window option you have is a northerly facing window, move the plant back a bit to avoid direct exposure and diffuse the sunlight, particularly in summer, with sheer curtains or similar to avoid scorching the plant.

Mother of Thousands Plant Care in a Nutshell

Basically, your mother of thousands plants requires:

  • Bright, indirect light that isn’t too hot – for 6 hours a day
  • Sandy, well-draining soil
  • Proper drainage holes in a clay or terra cotta pot to help prevent over watering
  • Temperatures between 65- and 75-degrees F
  • Placement away from air vents, dryers, air conditioners, heaters, etc.
  • Watering only every several weeks

For more in-depth looks at the care of mother of thousands, check our care guide, hanging plant ideas, watering guide, and the meaning of mother of thousands.

Mother of Thousands Plant Care FAQs

young mother of thousands plant in pot

Young mother of thousands plants already show off their own plantlets.

©lqlqlqlq75 / Pixabay – License

Can you encourage flowering in mother of thousands plants?

You’ll rarely find a mother of thousands plant blooming. Unfortunately, indoor mother of thousands are even less likely to bloom because, though they thrive indoors, the climate is rarely precise enough for the plant to produce the colorful blooms that come in pink and red and pop out in autumn.

There’s not really a great way to encourage the plants to bloom.

Can you grow mother of thousands in a terrarium?

Absolutely! Mother of thousands plants do well in terrariums. The terrarium can actually help diffuse the light, which can help the plant thrive.

However, it should be noted that they may overtake other succulents if you plant them together in a terrarium.

Are mother of thousands plants toxic?

Unfortunately, mother of thousands plants are toxic for pets and humans alike. You should only handle the plant while wearing gloves. If you do happen to touch the plant, wash your hands immediately and avoid touching your face.

It’s important to keep the plant out of intentional or accidental reach of children and pets, as well. Ideally, they can be used as hanging plants to help prevent contact.

If mother of thousands is toxic, why is it used in medicine?

Because mother of thousands plants are toxic, you should never attempt to use the plant in home remedies. The plant has been used in traditional medicines for many centuries and has made its way into urban and rural legend. The plant has been used but with mixed results and often tragic results. Always consult a medical professional about the use of herbal remedies.

Should I pinch off the dead leaves?

Pruning is a part of the care of your mother of thousands plants. Pinching off dead leaves or damaged leaves may help the plant grow healthier.

Why are the leaves curling, wilting, or changing color?

The most likely reason your mother of thousands plant is changing its looks is due to over-watering. This can cause root rot, which kills the plant. Check the soil if you notice these things happening. Is it moist or is it wet? If it’s wet, you likely need to drain the pot and let the roots air out a little bit before repotting with dry, clean soil.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © iStock.com/Athichai Chaweesook


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About the Author

Sandy Porter is a writer at A-Z Animals primarily covering house garden plants, mammals, reptiles, and birds. Sandy has been writing professionally since 2017, has a Bachelor’s degree and is currently seeking her Masters. She has had lifelong experience with home gardens, cats, dogs, horses, lizards, frogs, and turtles and has written about these plants and animals professionally since 2017. She spent many years volunteering with horses and looks forward to extending that volunteer work into equine therapy in the near future. Sandy lives in Chicago, where she enjoys spotting wildlife such as foxes, rabbits, owls, hawks, and skunks on her patio and micro-garden.

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