How to propagate a desert rose through cutting to ensure its survival
Today, I will introduce how to propagate a desert rose through cutting to ensure its survival, as well as the methods and precautions for desert rose propagation in the field of green plants and flowers. The details are as follows:
The desert rose is a relatively beautiful flowering plant, and many gardening enthusiasts cultivate it. Autumn is its blooming season, but due to regional differences, some enthusiasts' desert roses have already finished flowering, leaving only a full tree of leaves. A bit later, there might not be any leaves left, as they will fall off completely, entering a dormant period. The other day, a gardening enthusiast asked, "Can we propagate desert roses now?" Yes, as long as we pay attention to the method, it is also possible to propagate now, turning one pot into multiple. However, now is not the best time to propagate desert roses. When propagating, it is important to pay attention to three details to increase the survival rate.
The best time to propagate desert roses
There are two best times to propagate desert roses: one is from May to June, which is early summer, and the other is from August to September, which is early autumn. In terms of temperature, it is most suitable to propagate desert roses when the temperature is between 20 to 35 degrees Celsius, as this results in a high survival rate and quick root growth. This is because during this period or temperature range, desert roses grow vigorously, have a fast metabolism, and it is easy for cuttings to root and grow. Especially in early summer, propagation is best, and by the time winter gets cold, the seedlings will have already grown, making wintering a breeze.
Is it possible to propagate desert roses now?
Now that autumn is more than half over, it is not the best time to propagate desert roses. However, if you want to propagate, it is still possible. The survival rate of desert rose propagation is mainly related to temperature and humidity. When propagating outside the best time, we need to ensure proper insulation and moisture retention, and the survival rate will not be a problem. Especially in southern regions, the weather is still relatively warm now, similar to early summer temperatures, making it suitable for propagating desert roses.
Steps and precautions for propagating desert roses now
Step 1: Cutting branches
Choose a sunny morning to cut branches from the desert rose. The cut branches can be used as cuttings for propagation. When cutting branches from the desert rose, two things need to be done: first, determine where to cut. Second, do not use scissors; instead, use a thin blade to make a horizontal cut. Doing these two things is beneficial for the survival rate of desert rose propagation. It is not about cutting the branches with a large pair of scissors directly, as this does not guarantee a high survival rate.
How to propagate a desert rose through cutting to ensure its survival
Precautions
A. When pruning the desert rose, it is best to cut from the woody or semi-woody parts of the stem. On one hand, this allows the plant to remain as short as possible and produce strong new buds, which helps with the next blooming. On the other hand, the cut branches used as cuttings will be 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 clean cut, which is beneficial for healing and propagation. Another reason is that there is less damage to the tissue around the cut, resulting in a higher survival rate. Otherwise, using scissors to pinch the cutting will damage the surrounding tissue, making it difficult to root after propagation and prone to rot.
Step 2: Cutting treatment
Do not plant the cuttings from the desert rose directly after cutting. First, sterilize and air-dry the wound of the cutting, and then plant it. If planted directly, the wound will almost certainly rot, and the survival rate will be even lower. Desert roses are succulents, and the treatment of the cutting wounds is different from that of ordinary flowers, as a lot of sap will flow out when cut, so it is necessary to stop the sap flow before sterilizing and planting.
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 nutrients for growth. Therefore, after pruning, it is essential to stop the sap flow as soon as possible. Methods to stop the sap flow include applying a plant wound healer, dipping in fungicides, or dipping in wood ash. Some gardening enthusiasts also place the wound on a cigarette tip and burn it slightly, which can also work if done carefully.