A few weeks ago, I saw a nicely packaged leaf called Miracle Leaf in the Life Division of CitySuper, an upscale supermarket in Hong Kong. It is selling for HKD $25 (around USD $3.5). At the back of the package, it says
Baby leaves come out from the narrow parts of the MOTHER leaf.
Put the leaf on the water or on the soil.
Treat well and small bellflowers come out. Suitable temperature is over 20 centigrade.
Place the plant in a warm well-lit place.
Even though the description on the packaging of Miracle Leaf sounded quite interesting, it failed to arouse my desire to buy this product. For $25, I could easily get myself something better than just a leaf I thought… But last week, when I saw a display of a Miracle Leaf growing in the water while I was shopping in the supermarket, I was so attracted to it that I almost bought one home.
Well, for the same reason, I didn’t buy a Miracle Leaf at the end. But instead, I did quite a bit of research and learned more about this Miracle Leaf once I got home.
The scientific name of Miracle Leaf is Kalanchoe pinnata. It is a succulent plant native to Africa, Madagascar, India and Indian Ocean Islands. Maybe due to its amazing trait of miniature plantlets forming on the margins of its leaves, and its ability to grow fast and thrive beautifully in many conditions, it is a popular houseplant and has become naturalized in temperate regions of Asia, the Pacific and Caribbean. In fact, because Kalanchoe pinnata can grow so well, reproduce and spread so rapidly in Hawaii, that it is listed as one of Hawaii’s most invasive horticultural plants.
The plant’s ability to propagate itself from each and every dropped leaf is quite amazing and should be fun to watch, that I want to grow a pot of Kalanchoe pinnata and witness the process. Now I wonder if I can get a pot for $25 . 
If I am not wrong, I have seen this plant when I was still a kid. Nowadays, it is not so popular anymore. We call it (in cantonese) ‘on soil grow root’ (sorry I do not know chinese, hence not able to write out the chinese character ;-(). The leaf will just root and grow by just placing the leaf on the soil. But I do not remember the flower as shown in the picture. Very interesting plant!
Stephanie – You are right Stephanie! It is called “Lok Day San Gun” (on soil grow roots) in Cantonese
Yes that’s right Sandy! TQ for your confirmation
I have 2 leaves and I am not doing something right. Mine has not started to grow babies yet. Please tell me step by step how to grow them. I also have a heart shaped leaf. Can someone tell me how to root it?
Wanda, I have replied you in Tabletop Garden – A Shot of Succulent Please. Since you have 2 Kalanchoe Pinnata leaves, I would suggest you to be a bit experimental and try to propagate one of them on water, and the other one on soil. Cheers!
Hi. They need only light & moisture to sprout roots – a wet towel in a window will due. Then the baby plants have to be planted in soil to grow of course. They are a tropical plant so they can’t take a cold winter. The plant lives for about 2 years then makes flowers & the main plant dies – they’re bi-annual. The leaves can produce many baby plants over time, but you might not get seeds because the humming birds that naturally pollinate them are in Mexico. The baby plants are delicate at first – one leaf may only produce 3 or 4 baby plants & if they all die by chance then they’re all gone — but once you have a patch of these plants, there are so many falling leaves producing baby plants that it’s hard to get rid of them.
Thanks for sharing William!
Hello, we brought one of those miracle leaves to the Philippines. For a month it has been okay, but now the main leaf is slowly turning brownish, so with the baby leaves. Is there are a way to remedy this? Is it just because of the weather? (28 degrees Celsius) or should we get the baby leaves and plant them on a pot instead?
Hi Mic,
I am not familiar with miracle leaves well enough that I cannot give you a solution for this problem. Sorry about this. Hope you can find the remedy soon.
Happy Gardening!
Hi Mic!
This plant is succulent, and does not need much water, is like a cactus, the soil must be very dry. The plant needs full sun and little water. Here in Brazil also makes an average of 28 degrees celcius. When the leaf begins to sprout babies, I withdraw the entire leaf and plant on earth.
Good luck!
I was happy with this post! I am Brazilian, and here in Brazil this plant is very common. It is called “leaf-of-fortune, ” because they reproduce rapidly. It is often used for magical baths in the religions of Umbanda and Candomble. It is also used to make juice to heal ulcers. If you want to attempt a “spell”, hang a Kalanchoe pinnata foliage behind the front door of your house, you need not let in water, use a needle to poke at the door. When it begins to sprout, grow in a vase. You will have more money and jobs, at least with me it worked. Sorry for the english, I’m using google translator.
My email: emeiodofilipe@hotmail.com
Hugs and good luck!
Thank you for your sharing Filipe. This is very interesting indeed.
Hello! I just bought exectly the same package today! Haha!
I placed it on the water…hope it will be fine:)
Hi Sandy.
It’s good to see that these plants are popular with others as well.
The Kalanchoe truly is an outstanding plant. I also have several varieties of this plant. Another nic-name given to these plants is “Mother of Thousands” in regards to the number of little plants it grows on it’s leaves. They will also grow anywhere they drop with no care what so ever and live from just the moisture the absorb form the air. Amazing.
I still can not beleive that they can go so long without watering. Being so cold through the winter months here in Canada, I need to put mine in storage for 8 months (end of October to June the next year) in my garage with no water and limited light. To my suprise, they quickly bounce back for another cycle of life when the temps warm up and they start receiving water again.
I just aquired an other variety with purple markings on it’s leaves, I can’t wait to see them as mature plant. Should be very nice. I will try to get some pictures for you when the mature.
Greetings to all.
Pat.
Yeah, i bought 2 at citysuper :V at hongkong last week.
It’s having trouble thriving at our climate in the philippines. since its 34c here. It seems to be rotting in someparts but its still growing.
I brought home Kalanchoe leaves from the Caribbean over 30 years ago and still have them growing