Experience in Propagation of Succulent Plant Leaves
The editor introduces you to the planting content of flower propagation, the experience in propagating succulent plant leaves, keep reading!
Propagation of succulent plant leaves, as commonly referred to by plant enthusiasts as leaf insertion, is one of the most commonly used methods for propagating succulents. This article is based on the insights gained from personal leaf insertion practices, which are very useful for enthusiasts who enjoy this method of propagation.
Opinion 1: Do not water before the leaves take root and sprout.
My view: This cannot be generalized. In the south, where humidity is high, too much water may cause the leaves to rot. However, in dry climates, especially during the winter in the north with heating, if no water is given before the roots and sprouts appear, the leaves will remain inactive for a long time. In my region in northern Henan, it is dry in spring, autumn, and winter, so I always prepare wet soil first, then cover it with vermiculite, and place the dried leaves on top. During the root formation process, if the color of the vermiculite becomes light, it indicates that the soil below has dried out, and then I water it again. My leaf insertion soil is always moist, and there have been no tragedies of rotting (except in the intense summer).
I believe that leaf rotting is not much related to whether it gets wet or not, it's mainly due to the leaves themselves. After picking the leaves, don't rush to put them on the soil; first, place them in a clean and dry place to completely dry the wound (two to three days is fine). Fresh and healthy leaves can get wet without a problem, while the old leaves at the bottom of the plant will quickly turn into a beautiful jelly color even without getting wet (which is useless).
Opinion 2: After leaf insertion sprouts, the mother leaf will gradually dry out.
My view: After the leaves grow roots and sprout, timely watering can keep most mother leaves alive for at least four months. Most of my leaf insertions grow with the mother leaves, and some can even last nearly a year. For example, "Spring Miracle" has already grown six heads, and the mother leaf is still fine, and "Spring Seedling" has been alive for ten months. "Children with mothers are like treasures," the seedlings grow fast and strong with the mother's nutrition supply. If the mother leaf unfortunately dies early, the seedlings become orphans and grow slowly.
In this picture, the two Dabie leaves were inserted at the same time, both rooted without sprouting, both had their roots pulled out to regrow, and both sprouted at the same time. One accidentally fell and broke, and look at the difference.
Opinion 3: It's hard to propagate expensive leaves.
My view: The reason why expensive plants are expensive is due to various reasons, not necessarily because they are difficult to propagate. Some are new varieties that are not yet widely available on the market; some have appealing appearances and are in high demand; some are heavily hyped by merchants, such as the recently popular Hailinna, where a leaf with a sprout could cost hundreds. Many expensive plants are not difficult to insert, and there are many posts about inserting species like Hailinna, 026, and Alba.
Many enthusiasts find it difficult to insert leaves of the Dongyun series, but it seems to be just slower, not as difficult as imagined. I have successfully inserted the following varieties: Romeo one alive one, Baihua three alive two, Christmas three alive two, Jade Dot two alive two, Ice Age two alive one, and Jade Cup all alive. If it's hard, it's really hard to pull off the leaves. I'm clumsy and can barely pull off a complete leaf, now I dare not try easily.
In summary, there are many joys in leaf insertion. Students, be brave and try, I have tried almost all the existing varieties, and the unsuccessful ones are as follows: Bear (you need good luck), Little Person Memorial, Dharma Fuyang (these two only grow roots), and LUNA (this is my eternal pain as a leaf insertion enthusiast. I will definitely share the leaves and seedlings when I succeed one day!)
Finally, a piece of advice: leaf insertion requires patience, let it be by chance, students should look more and touch less, NO ZUO NO DIE.
The above is a detailed introduction to the experience in propagating succulent plant leaves. Did you understand?