Propagation by cuttings: a must-learn method for succulent enthusiasts

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As is well known, cuttings are an important means of propagating succulents. For hobbyists propagating succulents in a home environment, it is also relatively easy to do, and the hardware requirements are not high, so it is widely used by many gardening enthusiasts. Below is an introduction to common cutting methods for succulents.

1. Stem cuttings:

Select a side branch or top branch of a healthy, disease-free plant, cut it off quickly with a small knife, and keep as many leaves as possible to facilitate photosynthesis. Wait for the wound to dry and fully heal before inserting the cutting. Alternatively, apply a fungicidal powder to the wound, or leave it in a cool place for 3-5 days. It is better to wait too long than too short; inserting the cutting right after cutting will only increase the chance of infection and rot of the branch.

2. Root cuttings:

The underground root parts of some succulents, such as the roots of Haworthia or the roots of caudiciform plants, can also be used for propagation, whether the main root or side roots. But they must be healthy and plump roots. For example, after the above-ground stem part of a Crassulaceae plant is cut off for cuttings, the underground root part can still be used for propagation; it does not need to be dug out, and new shoots will grow around the cut end of the stem.

3. Leaf cuttings:

Choose leaves that are healthy, full of sap, free of surface wounds, and free of pests. After removing them, leave them to dry for 2-3 days if possible. It is better to wait too long than too short, and insert them only after the wound has fully healed. When inserting, place the leaf flat on the surface of the cutting medium, or tilt it slightly and bury the petiole a little into the medium. Then place it in a cool place and maintain air humidity and ambient temperature.

Cuttings are not only the specialty of succulents; all kinds of plants can be propagated by cuttings. But why is it that only succulents can be propagated by leaf cuttings? In short, it is because the leaves of succulents store more nutrients, which is also one of the advantages of their thick, juicy leaves. Rooting requires the consumption of a large amount of nutrients. This principle is also quite obvious: if you try to use a maple leaf for leaf cuttings, it definitely will not work, because the thin leaf contains very few nutrients available for consumption. Similarly, in the Crassulaceae family, the leaves of Aeonium are relatively thin, and compared with Echeveria, the success rate of leaf cuttings is certainly far out of reach.

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