Growing wonder of the world plants

Kalanchoe pinnata | Wonder of the world | Leaf of life | Air plant | Bryophyllum pinnatum. Did you know that ‘wonder of the world’ leaf is edible, and that it can be helpful to treat headaches, coughs and congestion? I’ve grown, used and munched on this beautiful plant for years, without any side effects and so have plenty people around the map, so sharing based on that. (Not a doctor, scientist or nutritionist.)

When the leaf is heated with a lighter or match hovering about 1/2 inch underneath, the thick, supple and rubbery leaf starts to get warm and ‘sweat.’ When it cools slightly to a tolerable temperature you can put it on your forehead and it can alleviate mild aches. Heat the leaf and wrap around a swollen or bruised toe or finger for a few hours or overnight and it will extract the ‘information.’ Your finger or toe might look a lil swibbly or wizened for a bit but it will be normal very soon.

one of my plants grown from a single leaf.

I’m not a doctor or nutritionist, but this succulent plant that apparently originated in Madagascar and made its way around the diaspora is well-known throughout generations to be helpful in that way as well as to assist with getting rid of a cough, congestion and to ‘draw’ pain and ‘information’ from inside a bruised area or sipped as a tea infusion.

Having a ‘wonder of the world’ or ‘wonder world’ plant is a like having a natural first-aid kit. Like aloes, it can be used both internally and externally but unlike aloes and cerasee bush, ‘wonder of the world’ doesn’t have much of a strong taste, just a slight crunch to it but that’s a small thing when you study the benefits it has for the body. The seconds it takes to munch on a leaf or steep one in hot water to sip as tea will seem like nothing when it comes to relieving a coughing fit. It’s not magic, it’s a leaf. It will take time to lift the ‘information’ off your chest but naturally – without side effects that come with synthetics.

soft pastel flowers on the top of a plant. I usually see them when the plant growing in pots want more room.

‘Leaf of life‘ (another of its names) is a naturally regenerative plant that survives and thrives in most environments, regardless of soil quality and access to sun though they thrive after rainwater. When given a porous soil, reasonable sun and lots of care, they excel and brighten the space they’re in shooting forth curved-edged rubbery leaves larger than your hand.

You can grow an entire plant JUST from one leaf.

a plant growing from a leaf in the garden. The plant thrives in sunlight but can be kept indoors with some sunlight.

If you ever manage to find or be given a leaf, set it on a cool counter top or on a window sill or on some earth, give it a few days making sure it’s lightly moist and in two-twos you’re gonna see tiny bone-white roots springing around the circumference of the leaf. Once these get to about an inch or so, set them in good soil and watch a whole plant grow! Pick a leaf from that and bless a neighbour.