Piggyback Plant
Easy Gardening with a Piggyback Plant
The piggyback plant (Tolmiea menziesii) is native in North America and is very popular as an indoor plant because it grows continuously and has a nice green color. The new small sprouts that develop over time sit in a 'piggyback-like' way on the older leaves, and that is exactly how the plant got its name.
In nature, the piggyback plant is found in forests near the coastal area, ranging from Alaska to California. They grow in shady spots under trees and have a crawling rootstock that develops heart-shaped leaves. If you plant the piggyback plant outdoors in a pot or in the garden, it will grow small and brownish flowers between May and June. If the plant is grown indoors it usually does not grow any flowers at all.
Varieties
Until today we only know one type of piggyback plant which is the tolmiea menziesii. This name was given by physician and botanist Dr. W. F. Tolmie.
Location
Just like most typical forest plants, the piggyback plant prefers a shady location to grow. If you plant it indoors, ensure that the pot is not standing by a window that has a lot of sunshine coming in. A window facing to the North is probably the best way to store it. This is one of the few plants that really does not care about temperature at all- whether it is in a warm living room or outdoors in 50°F, it grows either way. Although it does not bloom indoors, it is a very popular indoor plant because it is so easy and it does not even mind dry air caused by heaters. Absolutely fuss free!
Maintenance
This plant will grow anywhere, and it will grow whether you spend a lot of time caring for it or not. The only thing you must always remember, especially in heat and summer, is to water regularly. The good news is that even if you forget to water and the leaves are starting to look sad, you can easily rescue the plant through a thorough water bath!
During winter you must only water the piggyback plant if the soil seems dry. While it is quite a low-maintenance example of plant, some fertilizer is always welcome when it is still in the early phases of growing. If you want to transplant it to a larger pot or outdoors, you can do that in March or April. Normal gardening soil is absolutely sufficient to grow the piggyback plant.
Disease and Pest
While the piggyback plant is one of the most robust and low-maintenance plants there are, it is not impossible to get sick. You may discover insects, pests and other types of tiny animals that start feeding on your plant. In very severe cases you may have to throw the whole plant out and start growing it again. However, it is possible to take an off-shoot by snipping off a large leaf with the sprout on it and plant it into a fresh, new pot so that the leaf is still sticking out of the soil. They grow new roots quite rapidly, but it is crucial that you do not plant an infected part as this will certainly result in another pest-ridden plant.
Outdoor Planting
As mentioned earlier, it is certainly possible to grow the piggyback plant outdoors. It can easily survive mild winters when there is some sort of frost protection. Extremely cold winters, frost, snow and ice are very critical and the roots may die. A great alternative is a moving pot which you can take indoors when the winter kicks in, but place outside when the weather is back to a decent temperature.