What Plant Is Leaf Cactus? Understanding Leaf Cactus in One Article

People who have the habit of growing potted plants may have heard of a plant called leaf cactus, so what plant is leaf cactus? What are its main propagation methods? Let's take a look!

1. What plant is leaf cactus?

Leaf cactus is a perennial succulent herbaceous plant belonging to the order Caryophyllales, family Cactaceae, genus Cactus (Pereskia), which is to say, leaf cactus is a kind of cactus. Leaf cactus is also called Xianmu vine, Qilin palm, Xianren vine, etc. Its main distribution areas in our country are Yunnan, Guangdong, Guangxi, Zhejiang and Taiwan, China.

Because leaf cactus mostly grows in arid semi-desert areas, it is relatively easy to grow, is not afraid of strong sunlight and scorching, and is also tolerant of poor soil. If you want to grow leaf cactus, there are generally no special soil requirements, but it is best to choose sandy soil with good drainage and air permeability.

2. What are the main propagation methods of leaf cactus?

1. Grafting

In recent years, leaf cactus has gradually replaced cactus and become an ideal rootstock for some plants. It can be grafted onto plants such as rat-tail cactus, Christmas cactus and small cactus globes, because leaf cactus has strong compatibility with these plants, so after grafting it can also survive quickly.

2. Cuttage

In autumn, cut 2-year-old or 1-year-old young branches of leaf cactus into cuttings about 10cm long. The cut end can be dipped in plant ash or cigarette ash for antisepsis, then insert the leaf node about 3cm deep into pure sandy soil.

After insertion, keep the potting soil and the environment moist. After about half a month, roots can grow at the nodes, and in the autumn of the 2nd year it can be used for grafting or shaping.

If you are simply growing leaf cactus, place the potted plant in a place with sufficient light and water it occasionally and it will grow very well.