How to take cuttings without mother plant dying off?
Recently I received a cutting of a wandering dude. I started off only having one cutting, but I decided to chop it in half and make it into two. The cutting with the growth point is doing great, while the other one shriveled up at the tip and is slowly pushing out growth from a lower node. I would like to cut the one that is thriving into smaller pieces so I have a more full and lush looking plant once they are ready for a bigger pot, but I’m afraid that if I do I’ll end up with another one like the first.
#HappyPlants #PlantsMakePeopleHappy #PlantAddict #NewGrowth #PropagationStation #PlantTherapy #GrowLights #PlantCorner #PlantShelfie #ChopAndProp #WanderingDude #Soil #help
#HappyPlants #PlantsMakePeopleHappy #PlantAddict #NewGrowth #PropagationStation #PlantTherapy #GrowLights #PlantCorner #PlantShelfie #ChopAndProp #WanderingDude #Soil #help
1ft to light, direct
4” pot with drainage
Last watered 1 year ago
14
You want that to get way more established before cutting it. Let it grow several more inches before cutting it again. Otherwise you’re not letting the cutting root as it doesn’t have the energy. It’s going to keep using all its energy trying to regrow where you cut instead of using that energy to establish a solid root system.
@LauraLynne's advice is totally correct! Give her a wee while to root and establish, then get your snips ready! Lol 🤣 you can take chunks but I find they looks best (& stay healthier for longer) if you just take a few inches off the top and just propegate that.
The "dying off" of the older stem is totally normal though, so don't worry! You'll probably find that the slightly shrivelled section puts out a couple of new "branches" (which once they're a few inches long I would chop and prop again). Tradescantia don't actually live happily more than a couple of years, so chopping and propping continually is the only way to achieve that lovely "full" looking pot! (And keep her going for years and years!).
As the bigger section is "new" you should find when you do chop her, the tip will shrivel but not the whole stem! and she'll branch accordingly from that but the main stem (being young) and continue to grow.
I knew nothing at all about Trads when I got my first, a Zebrina, and I put her in FAR too big a pot! Lol, which I've gradually been filling up... But the very oldest stems that I've chopped are starting to die off. when they get truly sad looking and are no longer producing happy shoots after chopping, I remove them completely and replace them with newly propped stems... It's still a work in progress! Lol 🤣 (as I said, it was FAR too big a pot for her!) but I constantly have Trad props on the go! And this one is due another haircut... As soon as my Trad pale puma props have rooted (since I've used every available prop jar this morning for those! Lol) xx
The "dying off" of the older stem is totally normal though, so don't worry! You'll probably find that the slightly shrivelled section puts out a couple of new "branches" (which once they're a few inches long I would chop and prop again). Tradescantia don't actually live happily more than a couple of years, so chopping and propping continually is the only way to achieve that lovely "full" looking pot! (And keep her going for years and years!).
As the bigger section is "new" you should find when you do chop her, the tip will shrivel but not the whole stem! and she'll branch accordingly from that but the main stem (being young) and continue to grow.
I knew nothing at all about Trads when I got my first, a Zebrina, and I put her in FAR too big a pot! Lol, which I've gradually been filling up... But the very oldest stems that I've chopped are starting to die off. when they get truly sad looking and are no longer producing happy shoots after chopping, I remove them completely and replace them with newly propped stems... It's still a work in progress! Lol 🤣 (as I said, it was FAR too big a pot for her!) but I constantly have Trad props on the go! And this one is due another haircut... As soon as my Trad pale puma props have rooted (since I've used every available prop jar this morning for those! Lol) xx
Give the plant time to settle, each time you cut a plant it goes into shock.
If the plant is still recovering from that last shock and you cut it again, there's a higher probability that it doesn't make it.
Shortly just stay patient and you will get your bushy plant soon :) I have the same one also waiting for a cutting ✂️
If the plant is still recovering from that last shock and you cut it again, there's a higher probability that it doesn't make it.
Shortly just stay patient and you will get your bushy plant soon :) I have the same one also waiting for a cutting ✂️
@WarrantedMelon I dip the stems in honey (I keep a pot just for this purpose, of course! Lol I don't use the one for cooking! 🤣), put them straight into demineralised water, stand them on a bright windowledge and wait for the magic to happen! 🥰 This isy prop set up from this morning (progegating my Trad Pale Puma) x
@WarrantedMelon I like to put plant that are not classified as succulents right in the water after I cut them, for succulents I like to wait a few days and then stick those into soil and mist them daily. With non- succulent type plant I wait until the roots are at least 3inches long and put them into soil, when they are first transplanted to soil they throw a fit then they adjust and get nice and healthy.
This is probably more info than you wanted but I hope it helped
This is probably more info than you wanted but I hope it helped
@zestfest it does indeed! Saves using rooting hormone gel/ powder or the like... Though Trads root so easily it's hard to tell with them tbh! Lol 😂
I also use a completely natural recipe for rooting liquid sometimes (I dint tend to bother with Trads, but if I'm propping something trickier I do!), which utilises common household Ingredients if you're interested... You can use it in place of water for propegation, or even use it as a drench to encourage root growth in newly potted plants 😊
I really try and avoid chemicals wherever possible! And I've found that for the most part you can use certain kitchen scraps to address a lot of planty issues 🥰 maybe I should do a post on it... 🤔😂
The advantage of using premixed fertilisers is you know they're balanced correctly... And it takes no work! (there are lots of good natural ones about that dint have harsh chems in them)... a lot of the concoctions I use need prep obviously, and at least 24hrs (sometimes days!) before they're ready. BUT I do love utilising things like banana peels, potato peelings, garlic, white vinegar, HAIR!! (yeah, weird right?) Even cigarette ash is useful (not that I'm suggesting anyone start smoking! 🤣 But my Pothos especially love a wee sprinkle of fag ash water, they go crazy for it! Lmao 🤣!) before the scraps and peelings get put into the compost or food waste! Xx
I also use a completely natural recipe for rooting liquid sometimes (I dint tend to bother with Trads, but if I'm propping something trickier I do!), which utilises common household Ingredients if you're interested... You can use it in place of water for propegation, or even use it as a drench to encourage root growth in newly potted plants 😊
I really try and avoid chemicals wherever possible! And I've found that for the most part you can use certain kitchen scraps to address a lot of planty issues 🥰 maybe I should do a post on it... 🤔😂
The advantage of using premixed fertilisers is you know they're balanced correctly... And it takes no work! (there are lots of good natural ones about that dint have harsh chems in them)... a lot of the concoctions I use need prep obviously, and at least 24hrs (sometimes days!) before they're ready. BUT I do love utilising things like banana peels, potato peelings, garlic, white vinegar, HAIR!! (yeah, weird right?) Even cigarette ash is useful (not that I'm suggesting anyone start smoking! 🤣 But my Pothos especially love a wee sprinkle of fag ash water, they go crazy for it! Lmao 🤣!) before the scraps and peelings get put into the compost or food waste! Xx