Piggyback Plant (Tolmiea menziesii) Indoor Care; Watering, Soil, Propagation, Problems

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Tolmiea menziesii commonly called Piggyback Plant, Youth on age, Pick-a-back-plant or Thousand Mothers is an easy to grow houseplant that relishes a cold, well-ventilated, sunless environment.

Piggyback Plant is a fast-growing, compact mound of downy, bright green leaves and about 9 inches high. Based on its size and growth habit, it is one of the popular low-light plants for an office desk since its growth can be controlled by regular trimming.

Youth on age Plant bears plantlets at the base of mature leaves, which causes the leaves to bend under the weight and touch the ground hence the common name, 'Piggyback'. These plantlets will develop roots on touching the ground and become seperate plants.

Pick-a-back-plant has hairy, five to seven-lobed leaves and a capsule fruit containing spiny seeds. However, it is unlikely to bear seeds when grown indoors.

The long leaf stalks give Thousand Mothers Plant a trailing appearance, which places it among the favored plants for a hanging basket, where it can display its beautiful foliage.

Botanical name: Tolmiea menziesii
Family: Saxifragaceae
Common names: Piggyback Plant, Youth on age, Pick-a-back-plant, Thousand Mothers

Origin

Tolmiea menziesii is a perennial plant native to West Coast America, occurring in northern California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia and southern Alaska.

Is Piggyback Plant poisonous?

No. Piggyback Plant is non-toxic to humans and pets as indicated by ASPCA. Tolmiea menziesii is safe for cats, dogs and other pets.

How to Care for Tolmiea menziesii Indoors

To care for Tolmiea menziesii indoors, give it bright indirect light, warmth of 15-26⁰C, humidity of 50-55% and consistently moist, fertile, well-drained soil coupled with monthly feeding during the growing season.

Piggyback Plant requires pruning to keep it neat, to control growth and to rejuvenate growth. Repotting is necessary when it becomes pot-bound. Keep on reading for more on these growing conditions and how to achieve them.

Watering

Water Tolmiea menziesii liberally in spring and summer while allowing the top 1-2 inches of soil to dry out between waterings. Keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy to avoid rotting, mushy stems, yellowing leaves and leaf drop.

Decrease watering in fall and winter to keep the soil slightly moist since growth is slowed at this time. Do not allow the soil to dry out completely to prevent wilting, drooping, yellowing, browning and leaf loss.

Ascertain that the pot has a drainage hole and free-draining soil to prevent sogginess which can result in root-rot and eventual plant death. Avoid wetting the foliage to discourage fungal diseases.

Use room temperature water as consistently watering with very cold water can cause stunted growth and leaf drop. Only water with chlorine-free water to prevent staining and browning of leaf tips and edges.

Light Requirements

How much light does a Piggyback Plant need?

Piggyback Plant needs bright indirect light; position it next to a bright, sunless window. Keep it away from direct sunshine to avoid scorching of the leaves.

Tolmiea menziesii will tolerate lower light, but the growth will be much slower. If your plant becomes leggy, the light is too little. Move it to a brighter location or use grow lights if you do not have adequate light in your home.

Once monthly, give the pot a quarter turn to ensure that the plant receives light on all sides, for uniform growth to prevent leggy growth.

Temperature & Humidity

Piggyback Plant flourishes in a warmth of 15-26⁰C with a minimum of 10⁰C. Keep it away from sources of drafts like heat sources, AC units, windy doors and others as they can cause reduced growth, wilting, drooping, yellowing and leaf drop.

Tolmiea menziesii has no need for extra humidity; a humidity of 50-55% is ideal for this Plant. However, if the humidity is too low, it may lead to brown leaf tips and edges. Therefore, to stepup humidity, set the pot on a wet pebble tray, use a cool mist humidifier or group the plants together. Maintain proper air circulation to minimize fungal diseases.

Fertilizer

Feed Piggyback Plant with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer every 4 weeks in spring and summer for lush growth. Avoid too much fertilizer as it can result in yellowing and leggy growth.

Do not feed in fall and winter as growth is minimal and feeding at this time may lead to fertilizer burn; brown leaf tips and edges.

Potting Soil

The best potting soil for Piggyback Plant should be rich and well-draining to prevent waterlogging while providing the required nutrients. A blend of 50% potting soil, 30% peat moss and 20% perlite is ideal for this plant.

Repotting

Repot Piggyback Plant during the growing season, only when the plant has become pot-bound. Use a pot one size larger than the current one.

Ensure that the pot has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy as it can lead in root-rot. Tolmiea menziesii is perfect in a hanging basket where the the stems can cascade downwards beautifully. Check out these hanging planters with macrame hangers on Amazon.

Pruning & Grooming

Pruning Piggyback Plant involves:

• Regular removal of dead foliage to maintain the plant neat and tidy.


• Regular pinching off of the growing tips to encourage a bushy, compact growth.

Clean the leaves regularly with a soft brush to keep them clean and neat as well as discourage pest and disease infestations.

Piggyback Plant Propagation

How do you propagate Piggyback Plant?

Tolmiea menziesii is propagated by plant divison or from the plantlets which form at the base of mature leaves, during the growing season (late spring through summer).

1. Propagating Piggyback Plant by plant divsion

1. Water the plant thoroughly 1 day before to make it easier to divide and also hasten establishment.


2. Slip the plant out of its pot, remove excess soil, disentangle the roots and cut away any dead roots.


3. With a clean, sharp pair of pruning scissors or knife, carefully divide the plant into several sections.


4. Select a 6 or 8 inches pot that has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy to avoid rotting.


5. Fill the pot with well-drained soil and moisten it slightly.


6. Make a hole in the center of the pot. Ensure that the hole is slightly wider than the root base of the section.


7. Place the section in the previously made hole and lightly firm the soil around the base. Maintain the section at the same soil level it was in the previous pot.


8. Position the pots in a warm, well-lit place away from direct sunlight.


9. Maintain the soil moist until the new plants are well established.


10. Once the plants are well established, place the plants in bright indirect light and begin routine care.

2. Propagating Piggyback Plant from plantlets

1. Peg down the plantlets in the soil while still attached to the mother plant.


2. In a few weeks, roots will grow at every point where the plantlets touch the soil surface.


3. Once rooted, fill a wide, shallow pot with a free-draining soil that is rich in organic matter. Ensure that the pot has a drainage hole to prevent rotting.


4. Moisten the soil slightly and make a hole in the center of the pot.


5. Cut the rooted plantlet and plant in the hole made above and lightly firm the soil around it.


6. Place the pot in a warm, well-lit place away from direct sunlight.


7. Maintain the soil moist through out until the new plants are well established after which you can begin routine care.

Tolmiea menziesii Problems & Remedies

Piggyback Plant problems are plant dying, yellow leaves, leggy stems, pests and diseases among others. Keep reading for more on these problems and their solutions.

Plant dying

Why is my Piggyback Plant dying?

Your Piggyback Plant is dying due to root-rot which is prevalent in soggy soil. It is characterized by yellowing and wilting of the leaves which is rapidly followed by browning and plant collapse.

How to revive a Piggyback Plant

1. Carefully slip the plant out of its pot and inspect the roots.


2. Trim brown-black, mushy roots and treat the healthy roots with a copper-based fungicidal solution. Ensure to follow the manufacturer's instructions.


3. Disinfect the pot with the fungicidal solution or use a fresh pot to repot the plant.


4. Use a pot that has a drainage hole and well-draining soil.


5. Do not water the plant and keep it dry for some time before resuming watering


6. Cut down on watering in fall and winter as growth is minimal at this time; maintain the soil slightly moist.

Yellow leaves

Some of the causes of yellow leaves on Piggyback Plant are inconsistent watering, soggy soil, too little light, nutrients deficiency or temperature stress.

How to fix it

Inconsistent watering: Do not water on a schedule; water when the top 1-2 inches of soil dry but do not let the soil dry out completely.

Soggy soil: Use a free-draining soil and a pot that has a drainage hole.

Too lttle light: Move the plant to a brighter spot where it will receive bright indirect light or use a grow light if you do not have enough light in your home.

Nutrients deficiency: Apply a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer every 4 weeks in spring and summer.

Temperature stress: Keep the plant away from drafts emanating from hot surfaces, hot air vents, AC units, windy doors among others.

Leggy growth

Leggy growth on Tolmiea menziesii is caused by too little light, underwatering, nutrients deficiency or aging.

How to fix it

Too little light: Position the plant to a brighter spot where it will receive bright indirect light or instal a grow light if the natural light is insufficient.

Underwatering: Water when the top 1-2 inches of soil dry out but never allow the soil ball to dry out completely for too long.

Nutrients deficiency Feed the plant with a balanced, liquid fertilizer every 4 weeks in spring and summer.

Aging: With age, this plant becomes leggy. Cut it back to rejuvenate growth.

Pests

Common pests of Piggyback Plant are aphids and mealybugs which are more prevalent in dry conditions.

How to fix it

1. Isolate the affected plant to prevent spread to other plants and treat it with neem oil or insecticidal soap as per the manufacturer's instructions.


2. Regularly inspect the plant for these pests and take timely control measures.


3. Keep the plant well pruned to depress the pests populations.


4. Set the pot on a wet pebble tray, group the plants together or use a humidifier to elevate humidity to discourage the pests.

Diseases

Piggyback Plant is prone to powdery mildew which is promoted by damp conditions. Ensure that the pot has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy and avoid misting the leaves.

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