Take the scissors and cut a tip of the leaf - on standard - you can cut 1/3-1/2 of an inch. The wound sends growth hormones and stimulates the baby production instead of a leaf increasing. Waiting for 2 months is not unusual especially in the fall - in spring everything sprouts much faster - and plants know what time of the year it is.

I have already trimmed the leaves down to about 1/3 of the leaf is left. From the advice of another member, I am exposing them to more light. Maybe I need more time? Seems like they take forever...

The steps you have taken should produce results.

I've yet to have a rooted leaf that survived, that didn't eventually produce mouse ears.

You may have to wait some longer though.

That is encouraging to know! I will just have to be a bit more patient. I wasn't sure if I was doing anything wrong. I think Irina is right on about the time of year and its effect on plant reproduction. The wait is maddening though. :)

I am sure I started these before September but don't remember exactly when.

They are under ordinary fluorescent lights and sit on a tray of very damp sphagnum moss.

Growing teaches us patience. I have a leaf I started in September. Of last year. It is just now showing babies. This is highly unusual but it does happen. On the other hand, I had one that was blooming from a leaf in two weeks-Arabian Nights. Usual time is about two months, but like Irina says, plants know what time of the year it is and will not produce as quickly in the fall and winter months. Patience!!!

I read years ago that not all leaves are meant to be mothers. It can take some leaves a very long time. Some varieties are very slow. Just enjoy the leaf as a plant on its own and try with a different leaf. Joanne

All leaves have the capability to reproduce, but, as you point out, some are better at it than others. Think how frustrating it is to try and get anything out of Ann! But trying with a different leaf can also work wonders.

I am happy to report that 4 of the 12 leaves have grown a couple babies. THe others are still taking their time...

If we would be selecting plants by their ability to reproduce...all we would be growing - dandelions ... Canadian thistle and bindweed... Good Stuff is Worth Waiting !

I don't know why it took mine so long to grow but my two leaf cuttings (tips cut off) didn't sprout anything for 9 months. Just be patient, as long as the leaf appears healthy, just keep giving it TLC.

Boulder, I was re-reading this thread and wanted to post this reminder. You said you put leaves down before September some time but you weren't sure when. Always mark your leaves as to name and when they were put down. Then you will know exactly how long your leaves are taking to put out babies.

Just want to say most of the leaves had sent up babies. Thank you all for your advice. Patience is the key!

Does it make any difference if the leaves are planted before rooting or if they are rooted in water first and then planted ?

They say that if you have long water roots, the leaf needs to grow new soil roots from scratch. I didn't check it myself. One of the recommendations I saw was to start a leaf in a water - until the roots are just showing up - and then plant. In my experience - if the leaf is fresh harvested and healthy - and it is planted in a humid soil and kept warm and under lights - it roots immediately. About the babies - if the leaf is older, if the light is lower, if the temperature is under 65F.. it slows down the growth - but they eventually show up.

My problem (if it is a problem) is that if I plant a leaf without first rooting it I don't know and can't tell if it's rooting.

Trust, brother ...

Actually, if the leaf remains viable, ... it has to have generated some roots.

Oh, we are so impatient when we put our leaves down! No criticism, I am just as bad as the rest of you! But you will have babies when the conditions are correct and not a moment before. Most of my leaf slowness is light. Plants get the best light,,,,,, leaves, well, I am working on that!

To me, as long as that leaf looks good I will wait! That is when I have most of my conversations with Miss Patience! Rosie

Depends on the size of the collection. In my crazy case - I just stick the potted leaves on the tray under the dome, good if I remember to water them... the next thing - OMG - I have to divide this mop of babies...

I'm afraid that if I had a middle name it would be impatience. I'll just have to learn to wait.
However, I've got to say when I put the leaves in water it's really fun to see the roots emerge.

Irina, is that with mat watering?

I keep my plants on the trays with eggcrates covered with mats - pieces of acrylic blanket, synthetic felt etc. - and pots have wicks. I think it is more appropriate for the dry climate - like CO. To limit the amount of water and not to get the soil waterlogged - I use skinny mason twine #18 wicks and put a layer of xcoarse perlite on the bottom of the pot. People who do not use mats - and just keep plants on eggcrate or reservoirs - they need to use a more efficient wick - acrylic yarn delivers more water and it doesn't clog and dry out on you like the mason twine.

Thank you for explaining! Very good info and description. Joanne

Hello! To start my leaves, I do a diagonal cut on the stem and put them into damp, pure vermiculite, and then I put them into a Ziploc under a lamp. Once babies appear I switch them over to a 1-1-1 peat/perlite/vermiculite mix.

I've had huge success doing it this way--this winter I planted 2 leaves that rooted in 2.5 weeks and sprouted babies at 4 weeks.

Best of luck!!

Way to go! Just look at those roots! I see it!! I see it!!! The little baby!! Astonishing!!!!!!!!!!! Rosie

Patience has been rewarded ! Mouse ears appeared yesterday on one I had almost given up on. Now I've become realistic and will wait for the others.

Good for you, Leon. Congratulations and keep the faith - as long as those other mama leaves continue to look good, they'll grow mouse ears sooner or later. (And it always seems I have at least one hold out in a tray of leaf pots that wants to take eons longer than everyone else in the tray....a true exercise in patience!)

Now they were all put down at the same time and date. Do you see the difference in their growth pattern?

The second pic has a leaf at the bottom that is just now starting to show a bit of new growth.

Leaves do as they please and will only grow when they choose. Theirs nothing we can do about it but wait, wait, and then stI'll wait some more.

Eventually they will sprout. If growing Avs has taught me anything it's patience and perseverance. :) Velleta

Velleta and Leon! Hooray for the both of you!!!!!! Great job! Always listen to Miss Patience! Rosie

I've got a question that I forgot to ask : Do I leave the mother leaf while the plantlets grow, or do I cut it off ?

Leave mom with babies until babies are ready to separate from her on their own. She will have roots and the babies will have roots and babies will pull apart from her easily.

And if she is still healthy you can replant her. Rosie

Thanks, Rosie, will do...Leon

I thought so too - but we had a program - that was done by a very knowledgable guy - on minis and semis. And he said - it is counterintuitive - but he cuts the mother leaves off when his babies are good size but not yet ready to be separated. It stimulates their growth.You can restart the mama leaf - if it looks good - with a new cut. Here - I can confirm - mother leaf has just so many babies - and to produce more - you need to go through the process again. Mother leaf - rooted - will finish its initial batch - and will do nothing with the same set of roots.

Since Leon is experimenting with a bunch of leaves - he can try both ways - cut the mother leaf - and not cut it. And tell all of us what he sees.

i.

Yes, I have heard that also. My information comes from waaaay back when... I would say, it won't hurt to re cut mom's stem and make more. I may eventually experiment with both ways to test the validity of it. Just for my own knowledge. Thanks Irina!

Leon, you made this statement, "My problem (if it is a problem) is that if I plant a leaf without first rooting it I don't know and can't tell if it's rooting."

Your statement got past me. There is an answer to this. It is in "Rooting Leaves 101". It is the Tug Test.

Every now and then, you give just a slight "tug" or pull on the rooting leaf. If there is resistance, the leaf is rooting. If it comes out of the soil, gently replant it. I don't suggest doing this until the leaf has been rooting for at least a month. Whether babies sprout or not, if the leaf doesn't come out of the soil when you "tug", you know something is going on down below. THIS is when you have a conversation with Miss Patience!!!!! Good Luck! Rosie

That tug test sounds great..I've hovered over the leaves and wished for x-ray vision.

I don't use the tug test as it can damage new fine roots. I have always waited till it puts out new growth then you are sure it is rooted.

Sans, that is true. I am not saying to literally TUG the leaf with any force. A very, very, VERY gentle little tug will tell you all you need to know. At the slightest resistance you stop. And then you know there is an anchor of roots. And then you smile! Rosie

resistance is futile … or something like that.

I just put my leaves in a zip bag and pop em under the lights. I check em in a couple months hmm that reminds me … )

Better yet, I have (accidentally) let them drop behind the couch and then 'rediscovered' them six months later. Seems that those that have a desire to stay alive, do ...

dave