How to propagate a desert rose through cutting
Sharing knowledge about how to propagate a desert rose and the methods of rose cutting, this content is sure to be helpful to you. Let's learn about it together!
The desert rose is a rather beautiful flowering plant, and many gardening enthusiasts enjoy cultivating it. Autumn is its blooming season, but due to regional differences, some gardeners' desert roses have finished blooming, leaving only a full tree of leaves. A bit later, there may not be any leaves left, as they will fall off, entering a dormant period. The other day, a gardening enthusiast asked, "Can I propagate a desert rose now?" Yes, as long as you pay attention to the method, it is possible to propagate now, turning one pot into multiple. However, now is not the best time to propagate a desert rose. When propagating, you should pay attention to three details to improve the survival rate.
Desert Rose
Best time for propagating a desert rose
The best times for propagating a desert rose are two: May to June, which is early summer, and August to September, which is early autumn. In terms of temperature, it is most suitable to propagate a desert rose when the temperature is between 20 to 35 degrees Celsius, as the survival rate is high and root growth is fast. During this period or temperature range, the desert rose grows vigorously with rapid metabolism, making it easy to root and grow when propagated. Especially in early summer, propagation is best. By the time winter gets cold, the young plants have already grown, and there is no problem with overwintering.
Desert Rose Seedling
Is it possible to propagate a desert rose now
Now that autumn is more than half over, it is not the best time to propagate a desert rose. However, if you want to propagate, you can still do so. The survival rate of desert rose propagation mainly depends on temperature and humidity. If we do a good job of keeping warm and moisturizing during non-peak times, the survival rate should not be a problem. Especially in the southern regions, the weather is still relatively warm, similar to early summer, making it very suitable for propagating desert roses.
Desert Rose Seedling
Steps and precautions for propagating a desert rose now
Step 1: Pruning
Choose a sunny morning to prune the desert rose. The branches cut off can be used as cuttings for propagation. When pruning the desert rose, two things should be done: first, determine where to cut, and second, do not use scissors, but use a thin blade to make a horizontal cut. Doing these two things is beneficial for the survival rate of desert rose propagation. It's not just about cutting the branches with a large pair of scissors directly, which does not guarantee a high survival rate.
Precautions
A. When pruning the desert rose, it is best to cut from the lignified or semi-lignified part of the stem. On one hand, this allows the plant to be矮化 (dwarfed) as much as possible, enabling it to grow strong new buds, which helps with the next flowering. On the other hand, the cut branches used as cuttings are more likely to survive, as very young cuttings will not survive when propagated.
B. Why use a thin blade to cut the cuttings of the desert rose? One reason is to ensure a neat wound, which is beneficial for healing and propagation. Another reason is that there is less damage to the tissue around the wound, resulting in a higher survival rate. Otherwise, using scissors to clamp will damage the surrounding tissue, making it difficult to root and prone to rot after propagation.
How to propagate a desert rose through cutting
The more severe the wound damage, the more it will shrink back
Step 2: Cutting Treatment
Do not propagate the cuttings from the desert rose directly. First, sterilize and air-dry the wound of the cuttings before propagating. If propagated directly, the wound will almost certainly rot, and the survival rate will be even lower. The desert rose is a succulent plant, and the wound treatment of its cuttings is somewhat different from that of ordinary flowers. Since there is a lot of sap flowing out when cut, it is necessary to stop the sap from flowing out first, then sterilize and propagate.
Desert Rose Cutting
Precautions
A. The more sap that flows from the desert rose wound, the less conducive it is to propagation. This sap is like human blood, providing nutrient support for its growth. Therefore, after pruning, it is important to stop the sap from flowing as soon as possible. Methods to stop the sap flow include applying plant wound healing agents, dipping in carbendazim, or dipping in wood ash. Some gardeners also place the wounded part on a cigarette tip to burn it slightly, which is also acceptable if done properly.
Desert Rose Propagation
B. After stopping the sap flow, place the desert rose cuttings in a shaded and well-ventilated area to air-dry the wound before propagating. If no fungicides such as carbendazim, wood ash, or wound healing agents are used immediately after cutting, it is best to soak the cuttings in a carbendazim solution to sterilize and disinfect before air-drying in a shaded area for one to two days, after which the wound will naturally heal.