Why people love it
Chandelier plant looks like nothing else on the windowsill. Each upright stem is lined with narrow, round leaves mottled grey-green and purple. Tiny baby plants form at the tip of each leaf. In late winter, the top of the stem opens into a hanging cluster of orange-red bell flowers, like a little chandelier.
Care in a nutshell
- Bright light. Some direct sun keeps the stems upright and the leaf markings strong.
- Let the soil dry out. Then water deeply. Wet soil rots the stems.
- Expect babies everywhere. Plantlets drop into nearby pots and root on their own. Pull out the ones you don’t want.
Handle with care
It’s a close relative of mother of thousands and just as eager to spread.
- Pets: the ASPCA lists it as toxic. Grow it out of reach and sweep up fallen plantlets.
- Outdoors: in warm, frost-free places it can escape gardens and become a serious weed. Throw spare plantlets in the trash, not the compost or the yard.
- Flowering ends the stem. The stem usually dies after it flowers. Its plantlets carry on.
Watch out for
- Tall, leaning stems usually need more light. Stake them, or restart from plantlets.
- Soft, dark stem bases mean rot from too much water.
Fun fact: It spreads so easily from fallen plantlets that it’s a declared weed in parts of Australia.
