Got some expensive leaves coming, a little help please!

9 years ago

Ok, I am a noobie here. I have been a silent AV fan for a while. I had not ever considered that there may be others out there like me. OK. I found out! Lots of AV fans out there. I have only recently (the last year or so) been toying w propagation. Putting some cut leaves in the dirt so to say. I've had mostly hit and miss success. I suspect my poor track record is due to my process, which I learned from watching Utube some few years ago.

I would really welcome a few suggestions here. I'm not soliciting experts nor hoping for responses suggesting the use of the "search" feature. I have used it and come up with the following question. I am a regular guy (read: somebody who does not enjoy long hours on the computer). I am simply trying to amplify my chances of succeeding w my new/expensive AV leaves.

I have over the last while, cut the top 1/3 of the leaf off, cut the stem off at a 45 degree angle with only about a 1/2" stem remaining. I dip the tip of the stem into a root stimulator and insert it at an angle into the wick watering dixie cup filled w a approved mixture of AV potting soil. (I mean vermiculite, perlite and moss).

My water pot is filled with a 50/50 solution of approved AV plant food w a wick that has proven successful.

After all that, here are my questions.

1. Is cutting the top half of the leaf off beneficial, or detrimental?

2. Should the leaf, or remaining portion of leaf be allowed to touch the soil?

3. Is "pinning" the leaf to the soil necessary or even beneficial?

tks

Featured Answer

aegis1000

9 years ago

What I have read ... and other growers swear by, ... is that cutting the top of the leaf directs the leaf to direct it's energies into propagation, rather than growth.

I've never tried this, except when a leaf had gone months without producing any babies. I don't remember whether it helped or not.

Other than that, cut a 45 degree angle on the front of the leaf stem ... leaving about an inch of stem.

Stick your leaf stem into your pot of soil mix, water lightly, and wait ...

I finally found it documented that you shouldn't allow the leaf to touch damp surfaces (to avoid rot). So try to keep your leaf up off of the soil. I have been allowing the base of my leaves to touch the soil without a problem.

I think that covers your questions.

I would caution to check your water supply for the use of Chloramine.

Chloramine stymied my propagation efforts for years.

Keep your soil damp ... but not wet.

Others can chime in with more advice.

This link gives more complete guidance ...

http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/1996

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Comments (8)

stamik2004
9 years ago
All that aegis said sounds great. And what your doing should work well. The only thing that stuck out to me are two things..

1. Dont use rooting hormone on your leaves. Soft tissue plants dont need it and with my same experiment what it does is causes the leaf to make roots roots more roots and thennn some more roots and you dont get any babies. The ones I did this to I was able to cut it again and put them down without hormone and now they are producing baby plants.

2. I am sure we all have our own methods but from all I have read starting them in water isnt best because the roots that develop in that environment are softer and get use to being in water so when you transplant them to soil they sometimes dont make it as its a shock to there system.

And with my experiments the other super important key is lighting. Must have lots of light. Kind of off your questions but hope it helps! I too am new to AV's just started last fall and have had alot of trial and error and done ALOT of research. Now I am really having great success and growing lots of babies!
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aegis1000
9 years ago
One more thing ...

I would use plain unfertilized water until any new plants gain starter plant size..
jeff_zennerf
Original Author
9 years ago
Perfect. Ok, at least now I have a plan. I don't like the mold that often develops on the leaves when I put the leaf directly on the soil. I also think the mold was encouraged by the small amount of fertilizer that is in the water. Soooo, I will try plain water w leaves not touching the soil except the stem w no root hormones applied. Thanks to both aegis and stamik for the help.
Leon Ash
9 years ago
When I first started, I used stimulator and I found it does no good at all.

Of course, that's just me.
Julie He
9 years ago
I have not had any luck with leaves in dirt method yet. Lately when I got an extra leaf, I put the 2nd one in water. I noticed today 3 have roots already after only 1 week. Amazing. You can try that.

I remember Leon said he never lost a leaf using this method.
jeff_zennerf
Original Author
9 years ago
Yes, I have been tempted to try just using water. My granny, my mom and my sister all did it w great success, not necessarily w AV plants though. I was just hoping that I would already have discovered and refined the ultimate propagation process before receiving any valuable leaves. Now I have to make a decision as to which process to try w my $$$ leaves. Maybe since most of my expensive leaves will come two at a time, I can try one each. We'll see!
Leon Ash
9 years ago
One benefit of using water is that you can watch the roots emerge and grow. That's part of the fun.