Tag: propagation

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7 Tools For Propagating Succulents Correctly

If you have been planting different varieties of succulents whether as a personal hobby or for business, you may be wondering when it’s time to propagate them and grow new plants from your existing ones. The process of propagating succulents is actually a fairly simple one.

As long as you have the proper knowledge (which you can learn on the internet) and these seven tools, you will be propagating succulents well.

Sharp Shears

Anyone who wants to propagate succulent plants should have two kinds of sharp shears in his or her toolbox. You will need pruning shears and trimming snips in order to get into tight places such as the lowest stem of the plant.

Using the proper shears is important when cutting succulents because you may damage the sensitive plant tissues with a blunt pair of scissors. You should invest in a high-quality shear because this could damage your plants with even your trained hands.

Knife

A knife is needed if you are propagating tough agaves, cacti, or other plants with a dense core. You have to try different kinds of knives before deciding on which suits your needs. Just remember to have a sheath for this tool because accidents do happen in the garden.

When choosing a knife, pick one that isn’t heavy and that has a firm but easy grip. There are really expensive options out there, but we’re sure you can find the one that fits your budget and your needs.

Rubbing Alcohol

Clean tools are essential to propagating succulents. Use an alcohol to clean the tools before and after using them. A clean blade will ensure that no infection or disease will be passed between the plants.

Simply apply rubbing alcohol to a piece of cloth or paper towel and wipe the blades clean with it. Use the alcohol to clean your hands before and after removing your gloves too.

Gloves

Spiny agaves and cacti might cut or prick your skin. Some succulents also have poisonous saps that should not come in contact with your skin. Protect your hands and yourself by wearing leather gloves or gloves with a rubber layer.

Tool Sharpener

There’s nothing more annoying than working with blunted shears. Keeping your tools sharp is as important as keeping them clean and dirt-free. A dull blade can damage the leaves and the tissues of the plants. If you have to cut a succulent plant, you have to do it in one swift motion.

Soil

You need a light, well-aerated, and well-draining soil to make sure that the succulent plants will thrive. The roots must easily penetrate the soil, and this can only be accomplished when the soil has large particles that can move around once the roots begin spreading.

Cell Trays or Flats

Cell trays are incredibly important when propagating succulents because you can start the plants small there and transfer them to bigger succulent pots or containers once they have thrived. Flats are useful for leaf and seed propagation and they make everything look organized.

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Successfully Growing Succulents From Seeds Using These Easy Methods

Growing succulents from seeds are no different from other plants. The only problem is succulent seedlings are very tiny that they can easily be missed. There are also a number of things you have to remember when growing succulents from seeds to ensure that your plants will grow healthy like CAL Farms 2″ Beautiful Assorted Variety Succulents.

The first step towards the successful planting of succulents is to buy quality seeds from reputable sellers. It will make a huge difference if you buy good or bad seeds. A lot of succulent seeds look just like dirt or dust so they can easily be mistaken for something else.

There are a number of stores that cater to those who love to grow succulents. There are also online shops and stores that sell different varieties of seeds, including some very rare ones. You must also ensure that the quality of seeds is topnotch by checking the reviews and recommendations of the other customers. Succulent seeds are not really expensive but it will take some time to realize what they actually are and what they will look like afterward.

Suppliers

There are a couple of supplies you need to plant and grow succulents. You will need some sort of container that has holes below for proper draining. You must also choose the proper material—ceramic, glass, reclaimed wood, or terra cotta—for the container or pot. Each material has its advantages and disadvantages in terms of stability, the presence of draining holes, and aesthetics. It is up to you to determine the kind of material that would work best in your household and the climate in your area.

We recommend getting a planter and a seed tray. It would also be best if these came with built-in grow lights. Otherwise, you would have to buy the lights separately.

The soil is another major consideration. You should use a kind of soil that would be great with the plants even if they are already fully grown.

Planting the Seeds

The succulent seeds are very tiny that they almost look like a speck of dust. Make sure you have a clean working space and clean hands when planting the seeds. This would ensure that you won’t misplace the seeds or mistake them for dirt.

Carefully place the soil in your container and clean the surroundings of the tray or the container. Again, wash your hands before handling the seeds. Peel off the package where the seeds are placed and put them directly on the soil. You should not place then on another container (a petri dish, for example) before planting them. There’s a big chance they could be blown out by a gust of the wind. Since the seeds are very tiny, it is hard to tell whether they are placed rightly so better put the seeds directly from the package.

Taking Care of the Seeds

Once the seeds are planted, you have to make sure that they have plenty of access to light and water. If you purchased a planting tray, the best way to ensure there’s enough water is to flood the container from below. Simply put the first container inside another container that can hold water. Pour enough water to coat the bottom of the first container (assuming it has draining holes) and refill the water every time it gets absorbed by the plants.

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How To Propagate Succulents From Leaves And Cuttings in 4 Easy Steps

You don’t always have to shell out money for succulent plants. If you want to grow your own succulent garden, you need only a couple of different variants of your favorite succulents and you can grow the garden from there. All you need are some shears, the right soil, a pot, and some water. Voila, you can propagate succulents just from leaves and cuttings from your current plants.

Ever wonder how you can propagate succulents so you can simply spend your money on one CAL Farms Beautiful 36 of 2″ Assorted Succulents and grow the garden from there?

The succulent’s genus and species will determine how easy or hard it is to propagate them. Though most of the variants of succulents are easy to propagate, nothing is the same when it comes to the climate and the nutrients of the soil where it is being planted anew. Here are some examples: Sedums and Echeverias can be propagated through cuttings and leaves while Aeoniums only work with cuttings.

1. How To Take A Leaf For Propagation

If you want to take a leaf for propagation, you only need to gently twist the leaf off the stem. Make sure it’s a clean twist and pull because you don’t want to leave anything on the stem. If you want, you can pull off a bit of the stem, too, just make sure you have the whole full leaf with you. If you get only part of the leaf and cut it off right before the stem, there’s a big chance your succulent will not thrive.

If you don’t want to cut leaves off your succulent plant, you can actually buy the leaves to propagate. Some are really sensitive about cutting off from their beloved plants. Buying just the leaves is an inexpensive way of growing your succulent garden rather than buying a succulent plant that has already grown.

2. How To Take A Cutting For Propagation

Before you do a cutting of your succulent plant, you have to make sure that your shears are sharp. Otherwise, you may be jeopardizing the quality of the cuttings. Cut off a piece of succulent just above a leaf on the stem. You can choose to cut off the top of the succulent or a new offshoot. Either way will work just fine.

3. Drying Out The Leaves

It is important to make sure that the leaves are dried out completely before beginning to water them. Depending on the amount of heat and the climate in your area, you should let the leaf dry out for one to three days. It will then scab over. If it doesn’t, it will take too much water when you start watering it and it can drown without even having a chance to grow. If you see that the leaf has started to shrivel, that’s about time you start watering it.

4. Watering Your Leaf Or Cutting

Fully-grown succulent plants don’t need to be watered every day, but leaves and cuttings do. You just have to make sure you don’t use too much water because there is a tendency for leaves and cuttings to drown. If you see that they have turned orangey-brown, then that’s a sign that they are getting too much water and they are about to die.