Succulents half-dead, stick them in a bottle in summer and big white roots pop out right away

The latest wave of high temperatures is here. Are your succulents ready? Black rot, turning to mush... once these hit, your succulents won't survive. If only a few leaves are left, can you still propagate them from leaves? The weather is so hot, ordinary leaf propagation definitely won't work. Hurry up and learn - Huahua will teach you a great method for rooting in summer!

Soil propagation for rooting

Grow Flowers Encyclopedia

Summer temperatures are high, so the propagation medium must be breathable, moisture-retaining and quick to dissipate heat. The following granular soils are all very suitable for summer propagation, and they're also common around us

1. Sand propagation

Sand means river sand. Take a bag home and sift it, the coarseness shown in the picture below is fine. Rinse it 2-3 times with boiling water, or soak it for 30 minutes in a carbendazim solution to sterilise it. Soil that hasn't been sterilised carries bacteria and insect eggs, so it's best to clean it thoroughly.

When propagating, you can first spray the sand moist, then place the succulent leaves on it. Larger leaves can lean upright against the pot wall on the sand, or be inserted shallowly into the soil - be careful not to go too deep. Leaves with a smaller curve can be laid flat directly on the sand.

It's best to put them in a cool, ventilated place at home. Once they sprout, give them a little morning and evening sun. Don't move the leaves out of curiosity during the process.

Succulent leaves and rosettes that have survived a close call can easily rot again when re-propagated. Huahua suggests: at the edge of the pot, poke a hole in the sand with your finger, and each time you water, pour it into the hole so it goes straight to the bottom of the pot. This reduces the risk of black rot and turning to mush, and ensures normal rooting!

2. Vermiculite

Vermiculite is actually a kind of mineral. We always get a few packets of it when we buy succulents. It's not only rich in nutrients, but also changes temperature very little, making it very suitable for propagation and rooting.

Vermiculite comes in different granule sizes. When placing succulent leaves on it, put the rooting end close to the soil surface. You can lean them against the pot rim, and press them down with a few small stones if necessary.

During propagation, keep them in a cool place and keep the potting soil moist. Vermiculite expands a little after absorbing water, so when you see the soil level drop and the colour turn white, water it right away!

3. Maifan stone, perlite

Maifan stone and perlite are also suitable for summer propagation, because neither of them absorbs much heat, so gardeners in high-temperature areas can give them a try~

For gardeners propagating with Maifan stone and perlite, it's best to use a container with a closed bottom, because their granules are relatively large and propagation mainly relies on the water vapour between the stones to root. A container with holes leaks as soon as you water, so be sure to pay attention!

Water propagation for rooting

Grow Flowers Encyclopedia

In summer, succulents propagated in soil rot easily, so water propagation is a bit safer. Usually plain water will do. To improve the success rate, you can also add some rooting powder, or use water soaked with willow branches.

Unlike other flowers, succulents can't actually be inserted into the water - especially in summer, they rot very easily. They only need to use water vapour to root. Here are some very convenient tricks, everyone hurry up and learn~

1. Small-mouth glass bottle

A glass bottle has a small mouth and is fairly stable. The yogurt bottles we finish drinking are fine. Wash them clean, pour in 1/3 clean water, and just stick the succulent in the bottle mouth - it doesn't need to touch the water. Put it in a cool place and it will root in about a week.

If your succulent takes a long time to root, it's best to change the water every 3-5 days. Be sure to keep it cool, and don't expose it to sun!

2. Plastic bottle leaf propagation machine

Cut a few small slits in the body of a plastic bottle, and wedge the succulents into the slits. Heavier succulents can be fixed with tape. The bottle mouth should stay open, otherwise the vapour inside will get too hot. Just put it in a cool place~

This method roots the fastest - you can see roots in about 3-5 days. Don't be too impatient; wait until the sprouts come out too before planting!

3. Other rooting tricks

For gardeners who find the above too troublesome, there are some other lazy-person rooting methods. For example, use a steamer: put some clean water in the pot, place the leaves on the steamer rack - however small they are, they'll fit. Be careful to line the rooting end up with the small holes in the rack, so it's more precise!

For a single layer of gauze, fix it over a bowl of water with a rubber band, and just place the succulent leaves on the gauze

Finished ice cream sticks can also be made into a stand - you only need to fix both ends with tape~

Cut a straw into three pieces and tie them together with a rubber band to make a triangular stand, and the succulent can fit right inside it.

Propagation looks simple

but the details matter a lot

What other great propagation tricks do you gardeners have

Share them generously~

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