Post a reply

Avatar for jarmand424
Jan 14, 2025 2:39 PM CST
Thread OP
Astoria, NY
Hello, has anyone ever tried notching a Crassula with any success? I know that cutting back the end of a stem makes it branch, as it does with a Ficus, so it got me thinking that maybe notching could work as well, seeing as they grow in a similar fashion to a Ficus.
Image
Jan 14, 2025 8:01 PM CST
California Central Valley (Zone 8b)
Region: California
What is notching?
Avatar for jarmand424
Jan 14, 2025 8:28 PM CST
Thread OP
Astoria, NY
This video explains

https://www.youtube.com/watch?...
Image
Jan 15, 2025 12:02 PM CST
California Central Valley (Zone 8b)
Region: California
If you try it, I hope you have a little more concern for your fingers then that lady seems to have. Report back with results.
Image
Jan 15, 2025 1:37 PM CST
Name: tarev
San Joaquin County, CA (Zone 9b)
Give PEACE a chance!
Adeniums Cat Lover Garden Photography Region: California Houseplants Plays in the sandbox
Orchids Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Composter Cactus and Succulents Dragonflies Hummingbirder
I never had to do notching to Crassula ovata. It is one succulent quite easy to encourage to branch out. Just twist off leaves or cut a portion of the branch and new growth easily sprouts below the cut node, or the newly exposed nodes. Ideally that branch has a hardened bark area already. And it goes across to many succulents in the Crassulaceae family.
Depending on ones growing area, like in my area with very mild winters, doing the cut towards late Fall when temps has cooled down, the plant does a faster comeback.
Either late Fall or early Spring works best to do these cut. Last year, some stray kittens decided to 'prune' my Crassula ovata and Crassula ovata 'Gollum' so it easily showed me the quick regrowing time of these succulents.
Thumb of 2025-01-15/tarev/3c5288

Thumb of 2025-01-15/tarev/ef112d

Thumb of 2025-01-15/tarev/5699e9

Thumb of 2025-01-15/tarev/07cfdb
Last edited by tarev Jan 15, 2025 4:16 PM Icon for preview
Image
Jan 15, 2025 1:54 PM CST
Name: Zoë
Albuquerque NM, Elev 5310 ft (Zone 7b)
Bee Lover Salvias Region: New Mexico Herbs Container Gardener Composter
Cat Lover Butterflies Bookworm Birds Enjoys or suffers hot summers
I agree with Tarev. Jades require little encouragement to branch and leaf. I've only ever seen the technique of notching used on hardwoods.
Avatar for jarmand424
Jan 15, 2025 8:48 PM CST
Thread OP
Astoria, NY
Thanks everyone for your input, I'll try the pinching technique. The lower stems have become woody so hopefully it'll work.
Image
Jan 16, 2025 9:29 AM CST
Name: Rick R.
Minneapolis,MN, USA z4b,Dfb/a
Garden Photography The WITWIT Badge Seed Starter Wild Plant Hunter Region: Minnesota Hybridizer
Garden Sages I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Plant Identifier Million Pollinator Garden Challenge
All good advice here. Some additional notes that back up these recommendations:

- Hormones going up the stem that might be disrupted by notching have no consequence here, as reported in the video. Rather, it is hormones going down the stem from "above" that normally suppress branching that are disrupted, and so allow for new branching.

- Similarly, hormones have consequence in incredibly tiny amounts, and I can't stress enough how minuscule that is. For many plants, as tarev suggests, just cutting of the tiny tiny tiny amount of hormones that a leaf produces by removing the leaf, can stimulate bud growth.

- Dormant buds (technically called adventitious buds) attach to the stem rather weakly, originating from the outer part of the stem. Axillary buds (the ones that form naturally, in general) attach from deep inside the stem and are stronger and won't fall off so easily with excessive weight or break off as easily with an inadvertent bump. The bud that tarev is suggesting is an axillary bud.

- Notching (when appropriate) tends to be with woody plants, not to with succulents, since the comparatively non-fibrous, juicy stem of succulents is also more prone to infection, and the benefit in the end overall isn't always beneficial for other reasons, too. FYI, notching can stimulate both adventitious and axillary buds, but it could b hard to tell the difference.

Despite all this, experimenting is always fun and educational, whether it achieves your goal or not. If you want to try notching, go for it!


P.S. Tarev, great photos!
When the debate is lost, slander becomes the tool of the losers. - Socrates
Image
Jan 16, 2025 12:15 PM CST
California Central Valley (Zone 8b)
Region: California
Guess I'll have to watch that video with the sound on. Rolling on the floor laughing
Only the members of the Members group may reply to this thread.
Member Login:

( No account? Join now! )

Today's site banner is by Paul2032 and is called "Echinacea and Rudbeckia"

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.