Common propagation methods for succulents include planting, cutting, grafting, and fiber insertion.
The editor answers questions for netizens about the planting of succulents, with common propagation methods including planting, cutting, grafting, and fiber insertion. Detailed content will be shared next.
Common propagation methods for succulents include planting, cutting, grafting, and fiber insertion. The trend of succulents sweeping the globe is still on the rise. Many people are first-time succulent keepers and lack experience, having only a superficial understanding of propagating succulents. This article brings you the methods of raising succulents and common issues for reference by plant lovers.
For succulents, the most common propagation methods include planting, cutting, grafting, and fiber insertion.
I. Planting: In succulents, except for a few types that can self-pollinate, most belong to entomophilous or ornithophilous flowers and must use artificial pollination to bear fruit.
Succulent seeds have a short lifespan; for example, the seeds of Echeveria only last for a few weeks. Generally, succulent seeds, when stored at room temperature, quickly reduce germination rates after one year. Therefore, many succulents are harvested immediately after the seeds mature or stored for sowing in the following spring.
II. Cutting: This is the most common propagation method for succulents, including leaf cutting, stem cutting, and root cutting.
1. Leaf cutting involves placing large leaves on a slightly moist sand bed or loose soil surface, which quickly grows roots, and adventitious buds form at the base of the leaves, producing small stems, such as Echeveria, Sempervivum, and Aloe.
2. Stem cutting, in the propagation process of succulents, combines pruning and shaping. Stems are cut and used as cuttings, such as Adenium obesum, Stapelia, Euphorbia milii, and Ceropegia. For succulents like Adenium obesum, Euphorbia ingens, and Cynanchum otophyllum that exude white latex when cut, the cuts must be cleaned and slightly dried before planting for better results.
3. Root cutting involves taking mature, fleshy roots from precious species like Haworthia, burying them in a sand bed with the top slightly exposed, maintaining some moisture and bright sunlight, allowing buds to emerge from the top of the roots, producing complete small stems.
III. Grafting: In succulents, grafting is commonly used to propagate variegated and patterned species. For example, using Euphorbia lomarioides as the rootstock to graft Euphorbia milii; using Portulaca as the rootstock to graft Aloe variegata; using Euphorbia ingens as the rootstock to graft Euphorbia ingens variegata; and using Euphorbia grandicornis as the rootstock to graft Stapelia. The ornamental effect is very good. However, because the plants contain sticky white latex, the grafting operation should be quick and skilled to be successful.
IV. Fiber Insertion: Fiber insertion is the simplest and safest method for propagating succulents. Any succulents with rosette leaves or clustering growth can be propagated through bulbils, stolons, rhizomes, tubers, and small stems, usually done during spring repotting. Of course, for variegated species in succulents, such as Philodendron 'Xanadu', Agave 'Royale Red', 'Nocturne City', and Haworthia 'Aloifolia Variegata', they must be propagated through suckers to maintain the authenticity of the species.
The above content shares common propagation methods for succulents, including planting, cutting, grafting, and fiber insertion. I hope it is helpful to you!