Cat's Whiskers Propagation Methods
This article provides detailed experience on the propagation of Cat's Whiskers, including its propagation methods. Here is a detailed introduction.
Cat's Whiskers, also known as Stonecrop, Lumbar Grass, and Kidney Grass, is native to India and the South Pacific Islands; it is now found in Guangdong, Hainan, southern Yunnan, southern Guangxi, (T-W), and Fujian, China. It prefers a warm and humid climate, is somewhat shade-tolerant, with an optimal growth temperature of 20-30 degrees Celsius, and is not strict about soil requirements.
Cat's Whiskers is produced in Guangdong, Hainan, southern Yunnan, southern Guangxi, (T-W), and Fujian in China. The Dai people in Xishuangbanna call it "Yalu Miao" and often plant it in gardens in front of and behind houses for ornamental and medicinal purposes.
Cat's Whiskers is generally propagated by cutting.
Propagation medium: This refers to the nutrient soil or river sand, peat soil, etc., used for cutting. It is difficult for home propagation to obtain an ideal propagation medium, so it is recommended to use pre-made and sterilized propagation medium; medium-coarse river sand can also be used, but it should be rinsed several times with clean water before use. Sea sand and river sand from saline-alkali areas should not be used as they are unsuitable for the growth of flowering plants.
Selection of cuttings: The branches used for cutting are called cuttings. Usually, the robust and disease-free tips removed during pinching are used as cuttings and directly planted as tip cuttings.
Post-cutting management
Temperature: The optimal temperature for root formation of cuttings is 18°C to 25°C. Below 18°C, root formation is difficult and slow; above 25°C, the cut ends of the cuttings are easily infected by pathogens and rot, and the higher the temperature, the higher the proportion of rot. When encountering low temperatures after cutting, the main measure for insulation is to wrap the pots or containers used for cutting with plastic film; when the temperature is too high after cutting, the main measure for cooling is to shade the cuttings, removing 50-80% of the sunlight, and also spraying the cuttings 3-5 times a day. On sunny days with higher temperatures, the number of sprays is more frequent, while on cloudy and rainy days with lower temperatures, the number of sprays is less or not needed.
Humidity: It is necessary to maintain the relative humidity of the air at 75-85% after cutting. This can be achieved by spraying the cuttings, 1-3 times a day. The higher the temperature on sunny days, the more frequent the sprays, while on cloudy and rainy days with lower temperatures, the number of sprays is less or not needed. However, excessive spraying can easily lead to the cuttings being infected by pathogens and rotting, as many types of pathogens are present in water.
Light: Propagation by cutting cannot be separated from sunlight. However, the stronger the light, the higher the temperature inside the cuttings, the more vigorous the transpiration, and the more water consumed, which is not conducive to the survival of the cuttings. Therefore, after cutting, 50-80% of the sunlight must be blocked, and after the roots have grown, the shading net is gradually removed: on sunny days, remove the shading net at 4:00 PM and replace it before 9:00 AM the next morning.
Planting or transplanting: First, place a 2-3 cm thick layer of coarse medium at the bottom of the pot as a filter layer, then place the plant. The medium used for planting can be one of the following: peat: perlite: ceramic particles = 2:2:1; peat: vermiculite = 1:1; or peat: slag: ceramic particles = 2:2:1; sawdust: vermiculite: medium-coarse river sand = 2:2:1, garden soil: slag = 3:1; or garden soil: medium-coarse river sand: sawdust (straw mulch) = 4:1:2; or paddy soil, pond mud, decomposed leaf soil, etc. After planting, water thoroughly and place in a shaded environment for care.
The above provides the complete content of the propagation methods of Cat's Whiskers. Green plant enthusiasts may refer to this for reference.