The propagation method of succulents by cutting (with detailed illustrations)

The method of propagation of succulent plants by cuttingToday, the editor of the details of the introduction of succulent plants, the propagation method of succulent plants by cutting, the following detailed content sharing.As we all know, cutting is an important means of asexual reproduction, for the flower friends who want to propagate plants in the home environment is also relatively easy to operate, for the hardware requirements are not high, so it is widely used by the majority of flower friends. The network information seen before is relatively scattered and boring, and here, according to their own understanding and experience, the information is slightly summarized, to sort out the context, and systematically talk about it.I. OverviewThe propagation method of cutting is not only the patent of succulent plants, but also widely used from melon and fruit vegetables to large seedlings. Each cell on the plant body is divided from the embryo cell through countless repetitions. A cell divides into two, two divides into four …… This is what we have learned in biology textbooks. And these cells that have undergone repeated division preserve all the genes and genetic material of the embryo cells intact and have all the genetic information to regenerate all the organs of the plant body. That is to say, as long as there is a cell, the whole plant can be copied. This biological theory provides a theoretical basis for cutting propagation.You may not have realized that the casual propagation of new plants is actually doing “cloning experiments” just as scientists clone sheep in the laboratory, we clone plants at home. To put it exaggeratedly, you are doing great experiments and you don't even know it?!(haha, experts blush …)The theoretical basis of “cloning theory” is actually what I said just now, that a cell can copy the whole organism. In cell biology, cloning is also called asexual reproduction. Therefore, asexual reproduction is actually what we often call cloning ——Clone. In other words, I can also “cut” a you with your hair, but it's not allowed!So in fact, it's not a deep and unfathomable scientific theory. Once you understand this point, you will understand why a piece of leaf can propagate a succulent plant, because there are countless genetic codes of the parent on that piece of leaf, and then the cells keep dividing … dividing … dividing … and copy out a plant exactly the same as its ancestor. So you are also a practitioner of science!II. Common cutting methods1. Stem cutting:Select healthy and disease-free lateral branches or top branches of plants, cut them off quickly with a small knife, try to leave more leaves, which is conducive to the process of photosynthesis. Wait for the wound to dry and heal fully before cutting. Or apply bactericidal powder to the wound, or leave it in a cool and shady place for 3-5 days, longer is better than shorter. Rushing to cut after cutting will only increase the chance of infection and rot.2. Root cutting:Some parts of the underground roots of plants, such as the roots of Vanda or the roots of tuberous plants, can also be used for propagation, both the main roots and lateral roots can be used. But it must be a healthy and full root system. For example, after the above-ground stems of Crassulaceae are cut and cut for cutting, the underground roots can still be propagated without being dug out, and new seedlings will grow around the stem cut.3. Leaf cutting:Choose healthy, juicy, surface without injury, no pest and disease leaves. Take off the thick leaves and try to dry them for 2-3 days, longer is better than shorter, and then cut them after the wound is fully healed. Insert the leaves flat on the surface of the cutting substrate or slightly inclined, and bury a small amount of the leaf petiole into the substrate. Then place it in a cool and shady place and keep the air humidity and ambient temperature.Cutting is not only the patent of succulent plants, but also various plants can be cut. But why is it that only succulent plants can be leaf-cut? In short, it is because there are more nutrients stored in the leaves of succulent plants, which is also one of its advantages of being thick and juicy. Rooting needs to consume a lot of nutrients. You can definitely not insert a maple leaf, because the thin leaves have very little nutrients to consume, and this truth is also very simple. Similarly, for example, the leaves of the genus Echeveria in the genus Crassulaceae are relatively thin compared to the genus Lithops, and the success rate of leaf cutting is certainly beyond reach.III. Types of rootingThe rooting of plant cutting, because there is no fixed birth position, so it is called “adventitious roots”. According to the position of adventitious roots on the stem, it can be divided into two types. (Sometimes both types are carried out at the same time)1. Cortex rooting typeUnder normal conditions, many thin-walled cell clusters called root initials can be formed at the cambium of the cutting, which is the material basis for producing a large number of adventitious roots. Due to cell division, it differentiates into a conical root cap and invades the phloem, passing through the lenticel and finally forming adventitious roots through the epidermis. This rooting method belongs to the easy-to-root variety with a high survival rate.2. Healing tissue rooting typeAt the cut surface of the base of the cutting stem, the protoplasm of the injured cells will decompose and produce wound hormones. At the same time, under the combined action of auxins and rooting inducing substances transferred from the upper part, the healing tissue is formed on the cut surface. It not only protects the cut from bacterial invasion, but also continues cell differentiation. The most active cells on the healing tissue keep dividing and forming the root production point, namely root initials, so as to produce adventitious roots. This type of rooting requires a longer time and higher external conditions and cutting technology, so most of the cutting varieties with low survival rate and slow rooting are mostly healing tissue.Concept distinction: here should be distinguished from “aerial roots”, aerial roots belong to one of the adventitious roots, but the two can not be equated. Aerial roots refer to adventitious roots growing on the stems of adult plants, growing above the ground and exposed to the air. Generally, aerial roots have no root cap and root hair structure, can not absorb (S-Y) components. Generally, they play the role of supporting, climbing, breathing, absorbing moisture in the air, etc., so they are also called “breathing roots” or “ventilation roots”. It is often used in perennial herbs or woody plants, such as many varieties in the genus Kalanchoe of the genus Crassulaceae will grow aerial roots, such as immortal bird, longevity flower, moon rabbit ear, white lady dance and so on. The adventitious roots generated in cutting are not aerial roots.IV. Material basis for rooting1. Promoters of rootingThe substance that plays an important role in rooting is “rooting hormone”, which is the growth hormone we usually say. It can transform ordinary cells into root primitive cells, and can also play the role of accelerating cell division, promoting rooting and inhibiting lateral bud growth. During cutting, auxins must be transferred to the base of cutting, so that the base becomes the most active part, and rooting will occur.Where is auxin?Most of the auxins are concentrated in the most vigorous parts of a plant, such as the top bud, cambium, coleoptile, meristematic tissue at the tip of the root, fertilized ovary, young seeds and so on, while there are very few in the aging tissues and organs. This is also why cutting is not suitable for the propagation of old plants and lignified woody stems.Solutions:A. As the mother plant ages, the rooting ability of cutting will decline. Because the rooting promoters in its body are less and less, the cells age, the functions of various organs decline, metabolism weakens, and the vitality and adaptability of tissues are reduced, and the regeneration ability is weak. Therefore, try to choose young plants of one or two years.B. After cutting off the part to be cut for cutting, try to dry it for a long time. One purpose is to let the wound heal, and the other very important purpose is to let the plant shrink appropriately. After the plant shrinks, the moisture in the body will evaporate, but the concentration of auxins will increase. The truth is very simple. If you mix 10g of milk powder with 100ml of water and 200ml of water, which one is higher in concentration?C. For those varieties with low auxin content, indoleacetic acid, indolebutyric acid, naphthalene acetylamide, naphthalene acetic acid and other rooting powders can be artificially supplemented. (There is a “rooting powder” on the market.) The rooting powder can be dissolved in water, and the cutting can be soaked in the water for immersion, so that the drug can be absorbed by the plant and enter the body, which is more effective than applying rooting powder directly. But it is not advisable to rely blindly on the use of it, because the high concentration will inhibit rooting.2. Nutrients required for rootingA. CarbohydratesCarbohydrates are essential nutrients for the process of cutting and rooting. From cutting to rooting, the cutting must rely entirely on its own stored carbohydrates to maintain complex physiological changes and activities. Carbohydrates are an important energy source in the process of cutting and rooting. Therefore, if the cutting plants are in good nutritional status, healthy and intact, and free from surface injury and pest and disease damage, it will be beneficial to rooting. Therefore, cutting should be carried out as much as possible when the plants are growing vigorously.B. Nitrogen compoundsRoot primitive cells need nitrogen to synthesize nucleic acids and proteins during division. If the cutting cuttings are extremely deficient in nitrogen, the formation of roots will be weakened. At this time, a small amount of foliar nitrogen fertilizer should be applied, and low-concentration nitrogen liquid fertilizer can be sprayed on the leaf surface, less is better. This can be conducive to rooting. However, in general, the cutting itself contains enough nitrogen, and foliar topdressing should not be carried out after cutting, so as not to cause the cutting to rot.3. Obstacles to rootingGrowth inhibitors and auxins are a pair of old enemies. In the growth process of plants, their struggle and confrontation are everywhere, just like tug of war. If auxins win the tug of war, plants will grow, such as budding and rooting. If the inhibitors win the tug of war, plants will produce dormancy, defoliation, top and aging and other phenomena. However, growth inhibitors are also essential substances in the growth cycle. It plays an important role in controlling growth and ensuring that plants can continue to survive in adverse environments. They basically exist at the same time, just to see who can suppress who. They are all substances for plant survival!How are growth inhibitors produced?The production and operation of plant growth inhibitors are related to the intensity of sunlight and photoperiod. The alternation of day and night makes the growth of plants form a cycle change. Plants generate growth inhibitors in the sun, so the growth of plants is relatively slow during the day. Also because the products of photosynthesis are accumulating during the day, and the distribution of photosynthesis products is carried out at night, so generally, the growth speed of plants at night is much higher than that in the day.Although all things grow by the sun, it is actually to store the energy of the sun to grow at night. Therefore, it is not uncommon to hear the sound of jointing in the farmland in the countryside at night, and sometimes you will find that bamboo and weeds have grown a lot in the morning. This is also why you will find that the new shoots of branches grow very fast in rainy weather, and also why plants will grow taller in dark places.The elongation of new shoots is also due to the lack of growth inhibitors caused by low light intensity. (Artificial growth inhibitors such as “Chlormequat”) This is also why in the production and application of crops, the branches treated with yellowing are easier to root, because shading makes the plant produce very little growth inhibitors. (Do you know the role of growth inhibitors now?)And the base of the cutting branches, buried in the dark environment of the substrate, will also make the growth inhibitors gradually disappear, so the rooting position of the cuttings in the dark environment is conducive to rooting.Therefore, plants can not accept sunlight for 24 hours a day, otherwise a large number of growth inhibitors will be produced, leading to death. Some impatient flower friends want to give more sunlight to plants, so they still supplement light at night, which is a wrong practice, or follow the laws of nature!V. External environment of rooting1. Good cutting substrateThe structure of the cutting substrate must have good physical properties. It should not only have good drainage and air permeability, but also have the function of keeping a certain amount of water and air. For example: vermiculite, perlite, rice husk charcoal, peat soil, sawdust, furnace slag and