Sunday, June 28, 2015

Decapitation Propagation

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.

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.

The "head," minus unnecessary lower leaves.
Added some rooting hormone, for good measure.
Now ready for potting!
Potted head.

As for the original pot and plant, I just let it chill.

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!

New purple heads!

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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