Also
called mother leaf. Leaf propagation involves removing a leaf
from a parent
plant, The
cutting must be a
healthy
leaf from a
vigorously growing plant. Typically, a leaf cutting is
trimmed below a leaf joint
close to the stem
and includes the entire leaf
blade plus the
petiole.
The leaf is placed stem-first (or heel-first) into
rooting
medium so that 1/3 of the leaf is below the surface of the
rooting medium and rooted. Rooting condition may vary
considerably in different
species but in general the best
conditions needed for a leaf cuttings to root comprises
high
humidity,
indirect
light and
soil
temperatures of 20°C to 25° C.
These conditions may be created by keeping cuttings enclosed
under glass or in plastic bags in
dappled
shade. Cover container and cutting with a plastic bag tent
to maintain high humidity. Cuttings must be shielded from
direct
sunlight, especially if they are under glass or plastic.
Check the rooting medium every few days to make sure it remains
moist.
Rooting can take from a few days up to several months. After a
few weeks, test for rooting by gently tugging at the cutting. If
there is resistance, rooting has started and the plastic cover
may be removed.
Rooting hormones may be used with this method as they helps
to stimulate
rooting, but is optional.
Root cutting of succulents:
Root cutting is a common way of propagation of many
leaf succulent and
rosette
succulent as Haworthia, Crassula, Echeveria, Sedum, Kalankoe,
etc. In this case a successful leaf cutting will result in
growing a new plant (sometimes several plants) from a single
leaf. Some plant like Haworthia need to take a bit of the stem
tissue along
with the removed leaf. The best way to get started is to
un-pot the
plant and wash the
soil from its roots. Remove any old or dying leaves and
choose a vigorous healthy leaf or more. Remove this leaf with a
sharp knife making sure to cut off a bit of stem tissue with the
leaf. Dip the cut end into
rooting hormone powder and allow to dry in a
shady area
for a couple of days. For other
succulents (e.g. Crassula) is sufficient to detach a leave
by picking it with your fingers or by a small torsion. In some
species
(e.g. Echeveria) it possible to use leaf withdraw from a
flower stalk.
Next place the leaf in a warm
shady area
in a rooting soil that is kept slightly
moist.
With a bit of luck in a variable time (usually 40 to 50 days),
the leaf will root and one or more
plantlets
will emerge, complete with their own
root system. With leaf cuttings, the original leaf is not a
part of the new plant and is usually discarded.
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