Bear's Child Propagation: Leaf Insertion
Abstract: This article discusses the propagation of the succulent plant Bear's Child, focusing on leaf insertion. Detailed introduction is provided below.
Bear's Child propagation is mainly done through cutting, but some gardening enthusiasts have tried leaf insertion and succeeded. This article is a summary based on the personal experience of a gardening enthusiast, offering helpful guidance for those interested in trying leaf insertion. The leaves of Bear's Child all fall from a large 'bear's paw' pot, some in good condition, which are too valuable to discard, hence the leaf insertion.
The pot used is a flat yogurt container with soil about 2cm deep. The leaves are placed around the pot, and watering is done only at the center, allowing the leaf tips to touch the water while the rest of the leaves are on dry soil, preventing them from rotting. The shallow soil dries quickly, so I need to water every 2 to 3 days. Then, it's a matter of patient waiting. The nutrients in the leaves will gradually deplete, and the leaves will become thinner, as shown in leaves number 4 and 5 in the photo below. Leaf number 4 never rooted, and if it becomes as thin as paper without growing roots, it can be discarded.
Most leaves can root, like leaf number 5 (seen in the photo below). After a short root appears, the root can be covered with soil to allow the leaf to absorb water. Gradually, the leaves will become plumper, like leaves number 2, 3, and 6. Some are lucky like leaf number 6, which sprouts after becoming plump. Others, like leaves number 2 and 3, grow bigger but do not sprout. Sometimes, one cannot help but wonder if leaves have genders.
After sprouting, do not remove the large leaves. My leaf number 1 grew slowly when the large leaf rotted during its early stage, much slower than the ones that sprouted with the large leaves. The little Bear with the large leaf was given away, and I don't know how it is doing now. The leaves of the little Bear are fun, round and fluffy when they are young.
Precautions: After the roots grow, be sure to bury them and then water a little at the root position. There was a leaf that rooted but was not buried, and the root dried up instead of growing into the soil, forcing us to wait for it to grow a new root. If the leaf is very thin at that time, it basically doesn't have enough nutrients to grow a new root. The pot for leaf insertion should be placed in a bright but not too sunny location. Too much sunlight will make the leaves wilt quickly, and there will be no chance to grow roots.
The above is a detailed introduction to the leaf insertion propagation of Bear's Child. Did you get it?