December 27, 2007

Succulent Propagating

Succulents, with their fleshy leaves and extraordinary forms are easy to maintain, and make excellent container plants.  What’s more, they can easily be propagated.  First, visit a garden supply store and purchase some rooting hormone and propagation medium.  The simplest method of propagation is to use individual leaves.  Gently pull off a leaf from its stem, dip the torn end in water, and then into the rooting hormone.  Fill a small pot with propagation medium, make a small hole, and stick the leaf in the hole about 1/4-inch deep.  Soak the medium thoroughly, and allow it to dry completely between waterings to prevent rot.  Place the pot in full sun in a location that’s kept about 70 degrees, and after a few weeks, you should see a new plantlet appear.

If you’d like a larger result in less time, try propagating succulents by using stem cuttings.  Snip a 3- to 4-inch piece of stem from the mother plant using sharp pruners, and remove any dried or dead foliage.  Dip the cut stem end into the rooting hormone and plant the stem about 1 1/2-inches deep in the rooting medium.  Soak the medium, and keep the pot in a warm, sunny spot, and the cutting should root in 2 to 6 weeks.

Here are some pictures I took of the succulents in my greenhouse

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