Rooting advice?

9 years ago

last modified: 9 years ago

When I bought an echeveria colorata I removed the old soil but most of the roots were killed then I potted it and watered it after a week and half. Well as you can guess it didn't survive and it rotted because the roots were too few or too old.

Because of that I decided to cut the roots on my echeverias so they can grow new ones after removing old soil. I have only rooted a small echeveria so I do not have a lot of experience and a lot of questions.

1 Do older and bigger echeverias grow roots faster or slower than small ones?

2 How much stem do I have to leave?

3 Do I have to remove blooms?

4 How long will it take?

5 Do I have to remove more leaves?

I might have more questions later.

Featured Answer

rina_Ontario,Canada 5a

9 years ago

last modified: 9 years ago

You watered it too early IMO. There is also a chance that stem was damaged - water got in easily and started rotting the stem; or stem had some rot left in it. In either case, watering before any roots sprouted is usually too early. If plant lost all the roots, it may be good idea to recut the stem (if there is enough left) and let it callus = treat as a cutting. Look at -this thread- I just started; first post is showing Aloe that was beheaded. Just about same process for many succulents; you don't have to leave them out of soil for over a month, good callusing really doesn't need more than day or two. But it is showing that there is plenty of moisture in the plant to sustain it for a while.

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Comments (8)

rina_Ontario,Canada 5a
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Sorry, some suggestions re your questions (hope others will add/correct me):

1. IMO, plant that is healthy will root faster, age and/or size may not be important so much.

2. Stem should, probably, be long enough to stick in the potting mix. But many will root even with much shorter stem - just sitting on top of the mix -, as long as it is healthy and not over-watered.

3. Blooms are said to take lots of energy. So maybe yes to that question?...Some could wilt if plant is moved or otherwise handled.

4. It could take days or weeks or even months; depends on plant (some root very slowly), it's health and growing conditions.

5. I would leave all healthy leaves; remove diseased/water-logged or dry leaves. And if the stem is non-existent.
Vanessa (Bulgaria,zone 7) thanked rina_Ontario,Canada 5a
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Vanessa (Bulgaria,zone 7)
Original Author
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Thank you Rina! Im thinking of letting them heal for a week then pot them and let them stay in bright shade on the terrace where it is warm. Is that okay?
rina_Ontario,Canada 5a
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Sounds ok. Do not let them get very wet in case it rains, that's all.
Vanessa (Bulgaria,zone 7)
Original Author
9 years ago
Keep roots or remove them?
No stem?!
Vanessa (Bulgaria,zone 7)
Original Author
9 years ago
Is this normal? Will it be okay if I just put it on top of a small layer of grit.
rina_Ontario,Canada 5a
9 years ago
Is the center OK (it looks ok in the photo) - I am thinking that stem has rotted, so make sure there is no rot leftovers. Nothing else you can do just put it on top of mix and let it be; it may start growing roots. I see quite a few offsets? Maybe you can take off couple of biggest ones and try to root them separately - normally, I would say to wait until offsets are bigger, but maybe you should try to get new plants. If anything (stems, leaves) is mushy or completely dry, clean it off. You could use grit, or perlite or mix of the 2.

Plant in 1st pic seems to have good roots; clean off only broken, dry or any mushy/slimy (I don't see any). If any roots got ripped or broken, just make a clean cut with sharp knife or blade. If you do any cutting, wait with watering for few days. Otherwise, water day after potting up. Use well draining mix. No direct, hot sun for a while, bright shade is good for start. Move slowly into better, stronger light. Further watering should be when mix deep inside is almost completely dry: using bamboo skewer or chopstick to check deep inside of pot helps to make sure...
Gabby C (FL 9A)
9 years ago
If you ever behead a succulent like this and want to root the head, the spots where you remove a "leaf" from the "stem" is where the new individuals will begin to grow. So that is just another factor to consider when determining how many leaves to remove, aside from removing enough to form a stem for the head.