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Name: Jelinda AKA jojoe Ivey Thomson,Ga. (Zone 8a) If a door closes look for a window!            jojoe Feb 11, 2013 8:32 PM CST |
My grandson plucked all the leaves off a succulent and with everyone's help almost all the leaves have propagated & are growing!!! I am not sure exactly what to do now.I don't want the roots to get intertwined.How many should i put into a pot and what type of soil,water etc... just need some advice, i would hate to loose these babies after coming this far!!!   A green thumb comes only as a result of the mistakes you make while learning to see things from the plants point of view!! |
Name: Greg Colucci Seattle WA (Zone 8b)         gg5 Feb 11, 2013 11:47 PM CST |
| Wow JoJoe those look great!! Personally since I don't have tons of room I plant mine pretty close in the pots, and since they're so little still its the perfect time! How I plant these guys is using a pencil and make a hole in the soil then gently push the roots in and cover lightly. Also for the first week or so I only spray mist, I don't water. Just misting lightly every morning, and not the leaf just the soil around the leaf. Expect that as the new plant begins to grow the leaf will die off, so don't be concerned if that happens. I use cactus mix or make your own using potting soil, pumice or perlite and a little sand. I usually do this recipe 1 part sand 2 parts soil 2 parts pumice Hope this helps You're doing great! the plants look really cool  |
Name: Bev Salem OR (Zone 8a)     webesemps Feb 12, 2013 12:28 AM CST |
 with good, detailed advice given by Greg. |
Name: Greg Colucci Seattle WA (Zone 8b) gg5 Feb 12, 2013 12:36 AM CST |
I do good sometimes huh!  |
Name: Jelinda AKA jojoe Ivey Thomson,Ga. (Zone 8a) If a door closes look for a window! jojoe Feb 12, 2013 2:52 PM CST |
Thanks Geg,you helped a ton as always!!!  Now for the Q & A part. 1. What is pumice ? I've never seen a bag labeled PUMICE  2.Have had a hard time finding the right kind of sand around here,i looked all last summer & everyone try's to sale me play sand.I do know enough to know that would compact hard as a rock when it dries out.What is the purpose of the sand,what does it accomplish? What else would accomplish the same thing? Vermiculite says reduced compaction could it be used instead? 3.Propagating succulents by leaves is a slow process,now that i actually have new plants from almost all leaves will they grow faster? Is it light that they need now at this point so they won't grow tall & lanky? Any other advice from anyone is greatly appreciated !!!!   A green thumb comes only as a result of the mistakes you make while learning to see things from the plants point of view!! |
Name: tarev San Joaquin County, CA (Zone 9b) Always count your blessings in life         tarev Feb 12, 2013 3:37 PM CST |
| Hi Jojoe, that's good growing of your leaf cuttings! I think it takes awhile for cuttings to grow their roots depending on the season you took them. That's what I see here in my garden. They grow faster when weather is heading warmer or still warm, that's why I prefer to take mine around spring or maybe early fall. I also try to observe when their active growing season, some are actively growing in summer than winter or vice versa. Pumice and sand helps in drainage. I just use ordinary cactus soil and add some more perlite to make it drain faster. Recently I have been using also some bonsai mix , kanuma and akadama, and it works good too. It is up to you if you want to plant them as one set or mixed with other succulents, just group it with similar watering requirements. Some succulents have high light requirements, some like shade, so if it seems they are going lanky it wants more light..on the flipside, if it is bleaching out, give them shade. |
Name: Bev Salem OR (Zone 8a) webesemps Feb 12, 2013 3:47 PM CST |
| JoJoe, the sand is to help with drainage and the larger the grain the better. I, sometimes, look in Aquarium stores for larger grain sand and some nurseries have bigger sand. Not sure about vermiculite but it is supposed to help with aeration but drainage is more the issue with succulents. Other small rock would also do about the same as sand but I think bag of small rock is more expensive. This is why when I dismantle a container of plants with rock dressing, I always save the rock dressing 'cause you never know when you might have use for it. Not sure if you mean pumice or perlite.Both are volcanic rock. Pumice is what is found in our everyday scrubbing stones for dry skin. Perlite is used in planting mix to lighten the mix and help with drainage. Only drawback to perlite is that it floats to the top when container is watered and you get it all concentrated and white at top of container. Don't know whether your plantlets will grow "faster" but given the right conditions they can grow healthy. I wouldn't expose plantlets to full sun exposure until they get bigger, but partial sun in mornng is a good start till they get more established in the right well draining soil. Wasn't sure whether your plants are inside or out but better to keep inside if your climate is cold now. In the future, definitely good light is important to keeping your echeverias (was it?) compact and in good aesthetic form and health. |
Name: Jelinda AKA jojoe Ivey Thomson,Ga. (Zone 8a) If a door closes look for a window! jojoe Feb 12, 2013 7:54 PM CST |
For everyone who wasn't part of or doesn't remember the thread when this started (that i couldn't find) My grandson who's 2 & being diagnosed with a form of autism plucked one of my favorite succulents of every single leaf,without damaging the leaves.That's how i have the leaves they are all off the same plant. I wish i had an ID for this plant and i don't have a better picture,i lost some pictures saved on my computer. I bring all my tender succulents in when it gets cold but they are under lights this winter.I am fairly new to succulents & lost or had a hard time with them inside last winter.So i have tried my hand at grow lights.I didn't have them under the lights until they started growing and as they got bigger i've moved them closer.I don't plan on putting any other type of plant in the pot with them until i get some size on them and i hope i can get them IDed.I have them in the same soil i grow all my succulents in and maybe should leave them in the same soil.I may need to thin them out.I was planning on moving the ones that haven't grown new plants only roots to another pot.I may need to put them in a pot that's shallow because the pot they're in is only half full of soil. Tarev,the things you said you have been trying never seen or heard of.Unfortunately i don't have a nursery around here to shop at,it's a all day trip to go to one around here. Thanks for the advice!! I would never have saved my favorite plant without ATP''s help & i probably will never find another  A green thumb comes only as a result of the mistakes you make while learning to see things from the plants point of view!! |
Name: Bev Salem OR (Zone 8a) webesemps Feb 12, 2013 9:34 PM CST |
| Jojoe, your plant looks like a graptopetalum to me. Hasn't anyone given their opinion on it? That's my best guess; as to which grapto it is, someone else may be able to tell you. Your current plans for the leaves sound good to me. When they get bigger you can start adding more pots. This kind of plant eventually starts to get long stems with the rosette heads and will hang over the edge of the pot. Some people have so many in one big pot that it looks like a hanging plant but with stiffer stems/branches. It's a pretty sight when they get that mature. OOps, Had to edit to delete pics; forgot about copyright issue regarding pics from internet. Sorry! |
Name: Greg Colucci Seattle WA (Zone 8b) gg5 Feb 12, 2013 10:18 PM CST |
| Bev I think you're right regarding plant ID also the photos are pretty!! Jojoe, I'm repeating myself, stop me if you've heard this before!:lol: If you deprive a sun loving succulent of light yet continue giving it water/nutrients it will get leggy, if you stop water/nutrients while it is in the low light situation, it will do much better when it gets back into the normal/usual routine of sun and water. I learned this the hard way last winter, I lost several succulents because I thought I was under watering them, but I wasn't underwatering enough!!! The young plants though if they're growing, can be watered, just lighter than during full on summer growing time! (I'm assuming your plant is some graptopetalum and therefore a summer grower ) I hope this makes sense, it took me hearing this several times to finally get that cutting down on water, really means cutting WAAAAy down on water! I can't wait to see your potted plants in a year or 2 and its all lush and huge! That will be exciting! |
Name: Jelinda AKA jojoe Ivey Thomson,Ga. (Zone 8a) If a door closes look for a window! jojoe Feb 13, 2013 12:24 AM CST |
| Thanks everyone, now it's time to google images of graptopetalums,maybe i'll get lucky & find it or something close.It was a young plant and growing into a very beautiful plant with awesome colors. GREG,i also had to read your post a few times,at least the part about light.Less see your saying i can neglect my succulents of light & of course all BUT cut out on water.They will bounce back with a vengeance this summer when put outside this spring??They will grow leggy over the winter and fill out when put back out in the sun & heat.It seems they would be playing catch up every growing season. My Sedum Rubrotinctum (pork & beans) grew so tall and i seen Tarev has hers in a long window box type pot If the long or leggy stems that are getting aerial roots had a place to lay down to root they would just run & fill in a pot. Mine are in a pot to small.What's any opinions on my thoughts about that plants growth habits in the winter being useful to get a head start at filling in a pot for the summer? this summer  now  When i first putup grow lights my lights weren't strong enough,i replace the bulbs with stronger ones and have seen a difference.Some of my plants are getting color to them.  This plant is getting a pink & blue hue to the leaves now!Back to my babies how much light do they need ? Set them to the side of the grow lights? Do they need light or not much at all? A green thumb comes only as a result of the mistakes you make while learning to see things from the plants point of view!! |
Name: Bev Salem OR (Zone 8a) webesemps Feb 13, 2013 12:52 AM CST |
| Jojoe, not sure how strong your lites are but from your pics, it looks like some have several leaves on stem. You could probably set them under the grow lites but not too close if bulbs give off too much heat and scorch the babies. Guess you could be careful and set to the side of the grow lites and if you see the slightest stretching sideways of stems towards the grow lites, you may want to re-position. I know you didn't ask for suggestion on the pork and beans, but if you want to hear one...If plant was mine, I would cut the stems down a few inches and where you make the cuts would result in new clusters appearing. this way you would get rid of some part of the stretched out stems and wait for clusters to form lower. With the cut parts, I would lay them on top of the soil and wait for them to root. |
Name: Greg Colucci Seattle WA (Zone 8b) gg5 Feb 13, 2013 12:57 AM CST |
Jojoe, to clerify the point is to try and stop them from growing leggy, because usually once that happens the plant is weak and the shoot dies back. It will hopefully sprout new growth lower on the shoot - but that can take a long time and if its happening every year, then your plant won't grow big for a long time!!  If your plants are getting leggy it doesn't just mean that they have low light, it also means they have the "energy" to grow. So try to keep the plant from getting leggy by withholding nutrients and water the way that you're withholding sunlight. Its a temporary thing, and isn't ideal but the plants will probably do better if you do this. Then once they go back outside and onto the regular water/feeding schedule they'll bounce back and be strong and vital again! I hope that makes sense, if not keep asking and we'll finally get to the point! For years I've heard people say "if you're plant is getting leggy it needs more light" and I'd think "I don't have more light to give" "What now?" then a succulent plant expert explained about the energy to grow mixed with the low light environment, it cleared things up for me, I know now that my succulents need to not be fed and barely watered in the winter when they're indoors  Cheers |
Name: Greg Colucci Seattle WA (Zone 8b) gg5 Feb 13, 2013 12:59 AM CST |
| Cross posted Bev good idea! Jojoe, its good that you're asking questions and learning! Its helping clerify and teach me too, and probably others of us on here! So thanks |
Name: Jelinda AKA jojoe Ivey Thomson,Ga. (Zone 8a) If a door closes look for a window! jojoe Feb 13, 2013 2:03 PM CST |
| Greg,This is the 2nd. year growing succulents & having MS i can't do to much more,i no long can drive more than just down the road (don't want to loose control of a arm or leg & kill someone) The first year i started growing plants it was Hoya's & i still love them but i was given some succulents and trying to save the plants i caught the the bug.I do have a Hoya that has been blooming non-stop since September 2012 & still going. Bev, You can be sure i always want advice or opinions !!!! I actually had been thinking about my pork & beans because i had 2 stems dry up and 1 has broken loose that has roots and with a nice compact set of leaves at the end.It made me wonder what i could do to help this plant not have so much catching up to do.I think other people may benefit from this info on pork & beans.Since this thread is labeled about propagating them folks may not see this information.I am going to start another thread about this plant because i have questions about this plant.You know me i always have questions and they sometimes get me off subject. info about plants is to be shared as much as i believe plants are to be shared.This thread has raised a lot of questions in my head.Can i start a thread & label it with the names of a few succulents?? It's almost time to put them back out and that's a good place to start with questions on tender succulents & how they grow inside,to getting them ready for outside even my babies. Opinions am i correct,when a thread starts to stray from it's original topic we should start another so everyone who needs the info can have a chance to read it!!!???? Thank you & happy gardening :thumbsup: I will share a picture    or 3 pictures  Bev,this last picture i have questions about your advice,please look for the thread i'm going to start to answer my questions. A green thumb comes only as a result of the mistakes you make while learning to see things from the plants point of view!! |
Name: Greg Colucci Seattle WA (Zone 8b) gg5 Feb 13, 2013 2:11 PM CST |
| Jojoe, I love your tenacity! Hang in there! I have a neurogenetic illness called Huntington's disease in my family so understand that type of illness - sorry! I am always pleased to read your threads and I can just hear your voice in your writing! Its entertaining and educational! Thanks Jerlinda! |
Name: Bev Salem OR (Zone 8a) webesemps Feb 13, 2013 7:27 PM CST |
Yes, Jelinda, I will look for your new thread. Its a joy to hopefully have helped you with your plants...  |
Name: Arif Masud Alpha Centauri (Zone 9a)      KAMasud Feb 14, 2013 9:08 AM CST |
| Jojoe wonderfully fat juicy babies which according to colour seem to have just the right amount of light so far and I see plenty of space. Wait a while until the weather warms up then you can pot them on but no hurry. Let them do what they want for now. As to this perlite rock controversy, every house has some type of acid for cleaning purposes. Pour a little on what ever rock you find and if it fizzes violently, then leave it alone. If there is no or slight reaction . Greg how does this scientific explanation sound to you instead of going round and round? You do not want calcium carbonate and calcium carbonate in whatever rock has to release carbonic acid on contact with acid. Carbonic acid is what you find in fizzy drinks and a no, no in the gardening world.Regards, Arif. |
Name: Jelinda AKA jojoe Ivey Thomson,Ga. (Zone 8a) If a door closes look for a window! jojoe Feb 14, 2013 9:32 AM CST |
| love the easy solutions.But I have to apologize,i'm not sure why i'm doing this or what i'm doing with these yard rocks.If your referring to something in a post further back in the thread well my memory is shot because of lesions on the brain from MS.Would you please refresh my memory or quote from the post your referring to,is it when i asked about pumice,sand,vermiculite and Tarev named a few things she uses i've never heard of. I will look back on the thread. HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY!!!!! A green thumb comes only as a result of the mistakes you make while learning to see things from the plants point of view!! |
Name: Arif Masud Alpha Centauri (Zone 9a) KAMasud Feb 14, 2013 10:17 AM CST |
webesemps said:JoJoe, the sand is to help with drainage and the larger the grain the better. I, sometimes, look in Aquarium stores for larger grain sand and some nurseries have bigger sand. Not sure about vermiculite but it is supposed to help with aeration but drainage is more the issue with succulents. Other small rock would also do about the same as sand but I think bag of small rock is more expensive. This is why when I dismantle a container of plants with rock dressing, I always save the rock dressing 'cause you never know when you might have use for it. _____________________________________ You came up with the counter argument about mobility and availability. I have just told a way to check what ever is easily available to you with your disability. Sweet dreams time, day has passed .Regards, Arif. |
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