My Moses in the Cradle was getting pretty mangy... It kept growing taller and taller, leggier and leggier. I wasn't sure how to slow it down, the taller it got the further apart its leaves came in as well. I tried putting it in different light, watering it less, but no matter what, the situation continued. It finally got so tall it just bent completely over.
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| Leaning up against the window jamb for support! |
I remember when I first got the plant, doing some preliminary research, that it could be propagated by essentially decapitating, much like the Echeveria. Seeing as it was no longer growing UP, I thought it an appropriate opportunity to give this a whirl. I essentially cut it in half and ripped off a good length of leaves on the "head" to allow for rooting. I think I even trimmed back some of the stem so it could properly fit below the soil line in its new pot.
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| The "head," minus unnecessary lower leaves. |
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Added some rooting hormone, for good measure.
Now ready for potting! |
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| Potted head. |
As for the original pot and plant, I just let it chill.
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| Beheaded! |
Weeks later, the original pot and plant have sprouted many a new heads, and the "head" repot appears to be showing signs of new growth and rooting!
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| New purple heads! |
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| The crooked stem is a result of this thing bending towards daylight, and me spinning it to resist. |
I suspect, much like the Echeveria, this will just be a vicious cycle. I may need a more active approach in pruning this bad boy back much more regularly instead of letting it go like I did with the Echeveria (which eventually grew to be primarily stalk and pathetic little leaves).
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