nofx8881
Asheville, NC
Posts: 3
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| Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 11:56 pm Post subject: My Giant Succulent/Cactus Plant...That Will Not Stop Growing |
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Hello everyone. I am new to this website/forum and to be honest, I joined because I am absolutely clueless as to what kind of plant I have. Any help would be appreciated.
Does anyone have any clue what this plant is? How big does it get? Can I cut it back? What can I do about this?
I got this plant from the Farmer's Market in July when it was about 4 inches tall. I don't think that this is a cactus, but that is what I was told when I bought it (along with 2 other cactus in the same planter). It might be a succulent of some sort, but I have no idea. Some characteristics: the leaves are thick and glossy to the touch. The stem is very, very thick at the bottom...it resembles a small, green tree trunk. The leaves sometimes get these little pods on them that look like new leaves but they're actually seeds and when they drop, they seemingly sprout overnight. This looks a little like that cactus like thing posted below on this board, but mine isn't so dense and it definitely does not smell or have any beautiful flowers.
The thing is too big for its own good. It is tilting over and there is a big ugly Clorox box around it with a ruler attached to try and keep it growing straight (which as you can see, does not work too well). This leads me to my next question: is this plant poisonous to cats (or animals in general)? Another part of the reason why we have the box around it is so that the cat will stay away.
My girlfriend constantly threatens to kill it if I don't figure out what to do with it sometime soon, so thanks for the help!
PS
Sorry for using a camera phone and not my digital camera...hopefully it is still possible to tell what kind of plant this is.
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zuzu's petals
Coastal N.Carolina ~zone 8~
Posts: 2439
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| Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2008 1:56 am Post subject: |
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Hello nofx8881, welcome. 
Kalanchoe diagremontiana ("Mother of Thousands")
which you will also find under the older name Bryophyllum diagremontiana.
Yours looks a bit lanky, which is probably due to getting less sun than it would like.
They grow more lush and less tall if they get lots of sun.
They like to be kept moist during the summer
but give it less water in winter.
 Oh, and did I mention they like plenty of good, bright light?
Really - these guys can thrive outside in full sun in the summer.
K. daigremontiana contains daigremontianin,
which can affect cardiac function if ingested,
so yes I'd call it toxic, as are a number of Kalanchoe species.
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nofx8881
Asheville, NC
Posts: 3
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| Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2008 2:18 am Post subject: |
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wow. thanks for the response. i am very impressed.
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bsewnsew
Posts: 2750
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| Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2008 2:41 am Post subject: Nameless plant |
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We have a different name of that plant..
We call it crying Susie.....
Another lady calls it Alligator Plant.
It keeps droping tears and making new ones..
It is a carefree plant here in zone 5.
b
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zuzu's petals
Coastal N.Carolina ~zone 8~
Posts: 2439
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| Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2008 2:42 am Post subject: |
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| nofx8881 wrote: | | wow. thanks for the response. i am very impressed. |
You are very welcome glad I could help.
Last edited by zuzu's petals on Tue Feb 05, 2008 1:39 pm; edited 1 time in total
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nofx8881
Asheville, NC
Posts: 3
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| Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2008 4:06 am Post subject: |
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well thanks again for the responses and the help. i think i'm going to end up giving this to my friend because it's really a bit of a pain to deal with (keeping the cat away, making sure i collect all the seeds from the floor, etc). but thanks, i was really wondering what this was. 
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Silman45
Southeastern Tennessee
Posts: 26
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| Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2008 12:01 pm Post subject: |
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We always called it the pregnant plant! cause it is always having babies! It will make a gardener crazy...I believe I have one in every pot! They do bloom, and When they do they are beautiful! I have had mine around my cats and have had no trouble with cat or plant...I have cut them back before and they have not suffered.
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Persistance is what makes the impossible possible, the possible likely, and the likely definite!
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flowerpower313
Catskill Mtns NY Z5
Posts: 119
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| Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2008 4:32 am Post subject: |
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It took 2 yrs for mine to bloom. But they get nice bell shaped flowers.
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glendann
Texas
Posts: 9228
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| Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2008 8:08 am Post subject: |
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Mine is everywhere .I have plants in everything I have I pull them up and can't get rid of it .I think it is different but I never saw it bloom .I left the big one outside hoping it would freeze.I will find out I'm sure.
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'Life is not measured by the breaths we take,
but by the moments that take our breath away.'
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