Free Tolmiea Menziesii Plants

Although difficult to pronounce, this plant’s Latin name serves a useful purpose in distinguishing it from Saxifraga stolonifera, with which it shares the common name of Mother of Thousands. Unlike the Saxifraga, which produces its young plants on the thread-like runners, the Tolmiea produces young plants at the junction ofthe leaf and leafstalk. For this reason, the other common name of Piggy-back Plant is probably more appropriate. The plant does not truly ‘trail’; the effect is created by the weight ofthe leaves on the long stems, causing them to be held prostrate. This enables the plant to position the leaf and its potential new plant on nearby soil or compost so that the new plant can root and develop whilst still gaining nourishment from the mother plant.

Plant type : Foliage plant with loose, trailing habit
Season of interest : All year round
Size : 10-30cm (4—12in)
Flower : Insignificant, greenish white flowers, but rare indoors
Leaf : Rounded heart-shaped, 4-7.5cm (1 1/2-3in), green, with hairs on young growth, with young plantlets produced at top of leaf stalk and leaf
Temperature : 13-20°C (55 — 68°F)
Aspect/Light : Well-lit position, but will tolerate medium light
Humidity : Moderate to high
Watering : Evenly moisten compost in spring and summer, taking care not to over-water; keep drier in autumn and winter
Feeding : Once every two to four weeks with houseplant fertilizer in spring and summer
Propagation : Place leaf with plantlet still attached on pot of compost and anchor with paper¬clip; cut off leaf with plantlet and insert stem in seed and cutting compost at 18-20°C (65-68°F) in mid spring to late summer
Potting : Houseplant potting compost
Problems : Red spider mite
Availability : Commonly available throughout year, especially spring and summer
Uses indoors : Hanging basket plant for window in most rooms