How to Plant Succulent Leaves? Correct Methods and Steps Explained
Buying succulent plants to grow is somewhat more expensive than growing them from leaves. To save money, many people choose to grow them directly from leaves, so how exactly do you plant succulent leaves?
1. How to plant succulent leaves
1. Gently shake the succulent leaf to detach it, then lay it flat on the soil;
2. If the soil is relatively dry, you can lightly spray some water to moisten it;
3. Wait 1-2 weeks, and the succulent leaf will sprout. Once the new plant has sprouted and rooted, simply transplant it into another growing container.
Note that the leaf surface can only face up, laid flat or leaning against the pot wall. Never insert the leaf into the soil, otherwise the leaf will rot.
Depending on the variety, after about 2-4 weeks a small bud will emerge from the base of the leaf. Once the small bud grows roots, or a leafless small bud grows leaves, leaf propagation is considered successful.
2. How to prevent and control pests and diseases in succulents?
Different pests and diseases require different control methods:
1. Mealybugs: When there are few, you can remove them with a toothpick, tweezers or other sharp object, or wipe them off along with their secretions using a wet cotton swab. When there are many, you can mix Huahuashen according to the ratio in its instructions and spray it on the leaf surface. For dead corners that cannot be reached by spraying, wipe them with a cotton swab dipped in the solution.
2. Lycaenid butterflies: Spray with Jiebizhi at a concentration of 1:1200 for better results, which can completely kill the eggs and larvae of the current batch. The same pesticide can also be used to kill adult butterflies. When larvae, eggs and adults are all at low levels, they can be killed together using a sweep net and tweezers.
3. Rot: For crown rot, use a sterilized knife to cut away the infected part, then insert crushed charcoal and sulfur into the wound. The wound should be completely dry. For neck rot, cut off the rotten part, and the remaining part can be treated as a cutting. It can only be put into soil after the wound is completely dry. For fungal rot, use a clean knife to cut off the damaged part and cover it with sulfur. Spray the plant with a mixed solvent of benomyl (a fungicide) and mancozeb.