What should I do if the succulent leaf cuttings only emerge from the seedlings and do not take root?
Hello everyone, I'm Uncle Ma of Eslite Green Cang Succulent Academy. Do you also like succulents? Then you must read this issue**, because I want to share with you a secret of succulent leaf cuttings, that is, why some leaves only emerge from seedlings but do not take root. Does this confuse and frustrate you and don't know what to do? In fact, the answer to this question is very simple, the principle and skills of succulent leaf cuttings propagation can be easily solved, so let's start quickly.
First of all, we need to know that the principle of succulent leaf cuttings is a kind of cells with high differentiation ability, which can be based on external stimuli, such as rhizomes, leaves, flowers, etc. Meristems are distributed in various parts of succulents, such as stem tips, leaf rounds, petioles, leaf wheat, and so on.
When we break off a leaf from the plant and put it on the soil or sand, it is equivalent to giving the meristem a stimulus to start differentiating. Meristems determine what kind of organs they differentiate into based on factors such as the position, orientation, temperature, humidity, and light of the leaves. Why is the differentiation of meristems not so smooth or neither? In fact, it has to do with the differentiation ability of meristems.
The differentiation ability of meristems is not static, but changes with time, environment, nutrition, and other factors. The differentiation ability of meristem will decline with the aging of leaves, and the fresher the leaves, the stronger the differentiation ability, the easier it is to emerge from roots, and the more difficult it is to emerge from roots and seedlings.
In addition, the differentiation ability of the meristem will also be affected by external conditions, such as too high or too low temperature will inhibit the differentiation of the meristem, resulting in leaf failure. Too high or too low humidity can also affect the differentiation of meristems, causing leaves to rot or shrivel. Too much or too little light causes the leaves to change color or deform. Therefore, when cutting leaves, it is necessary to choose the right temperature, humidity, light and other conditions to improve the success rate.
Another important factor is the nutrition of the leaves themselves. Leaves are the water organs of succulents, and they contain a lot of water, sugar, inorganic salts and other substances, which can supply the energy and substances needed for meristem differentiation. However, the nutrients of the leaves are also limited, and the nutrients of the leaves will be gradually depleted over time, and the differentiation ability of the meristem will also decrease. Therefore, the time of leaf cuttings should not be too long, and the leaves should be allowed to take root and emerge as soon as possible to ensure the vitality of the leaves.
So why do some leaves only emerge but do not take root? This is because the energy consumption of meristem differentiation into seedlings is smaller than that of seedlings, so when the nutrients of the leaves are insufficient, the meristem will preferentially differentiate into seedlings, so that the leaves can use the photosynthesis of seedlings to supplement their own energy and prolong their lifespan. It is also a self-protection mechanism, giving the leaves more chances to survive.
Now that we know the reason why the leaves only emerge from the seedlings and do not take root, what should we do about it? In fact, there is no need to worry about this situation at all, as long as we take some simple measures, we can make the leaves both seedlings and roots grow into healthy succulents.
First of all, we need to ensure that the conditions of leaf cuttings are suitable, avoid extreme changes in temperature, humidity, light and other factors, and give the leaves a comfortable environment so that the meristem differentiation can proceed smoothly.
Secondly, we should choose fresh leaves, and try not to use aged leaves, because fresh leaves have stronger differentiation ability and are easier to take root and emerge.
Again, we need to water properly and keep the soil moist, but not too wet, so as not to cause leaf rot.
Finally, we should wait patiently, don't be in a hurry, don't move or touch the leaves frequently, let the leaves differentiate quietly, give them enough time, and let them take root and emerge naturally.
As for the leaf cuttings that do not emerge from the roots, there is no need to worry at all, they do not come out of the roots completely because of the dry air and the dependence on the nutrients of the mother leaves. When the seedlings are grown enough to grow enough, the seedlings can be broken off the mother leaves and then cut into moderately moist soil. Seedlings generally take root quickly in a few days, and if the mother leaves of the seedlings are not completely shriveled, they will emerge again. Isn't it amazing that some leaves can emerge 3-4 times in a row, so that we can reproduce multiple succulents with one leaf?
Of course, we also need to pay attention to some details, such as gently and evenly pinching the base of the seedling with your fingers when breaking off the seedling, and then gently pulling it out upwards to avoid damaging the seedling or mother leaf. When cutting seedlings, use a toothpick or bamboo skewer to dig a small hole in the soil, gently press the soil, and gently spray the soil with a watering can or syringe, and do not pour it directly on the seedlings, so as not to cause water stains or rot.
It is a very interesting and practical method, as long as we master some basic principles and skills, we can easily breed our favorite succulents and enjoy the beauty and fun of succulents.