"Ann"s ears!

8 years ago

Just about the time I think I know something, I find out I don't. I received a single leaf of "Ann" as a gift some time back. Since I viewed the leaf as semi valuable, I did what I always do and cut it in half, propagating both halves.

I had been told that Ann was a stinker and that there was a good chance that neither half would produce. I was ok with that.

Working around the shelves this morning, looked down at the Ann leaves and saw a little itty bitty pair of white ears coming up from the top half of the propagated leaf!

I am elated on several levels. One, it is great that the leaf is growing! Two, I am encouraged to have the top of a difficult leaf produce first! Makes some of my failed efforts of the past seem a little less futile!

Now I will start looking at it more often!

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Comments (7)

terrilou
8 years ago
Thats great, Jeff! I have propagated Ann several times with mostly success. I picked up a leaf at the AVSA convention a couple of years past and that one leaf was strong and sturdy producing babies from both the top and bottom. It probably could have kept on going as it still looked good after eight months, but enough is enough!
beeperkeeper
8 years ago
Congrats!!! I find it so exciting when you see the new babies starting, you look and look, and then it seems all of a sudden (which it isn't) you see a tiny something.
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Rosie1949
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Good for you Jeff! I wonder how many people out there plant the top half of the leaf that they cut off??? Or do they toss it???? Course you know I plant both halves!!!!! Rosie
irina_co
8 years ago
That is the way to go - trim white edges on the leaf. Neil Lipson wrote an article in AV Magazine a couple years ago - specifically recommending doing it. 'Ann" white edges are very white - no chlorophyll there and they are very prone to rot. I also picked a leaf at Albuquerque convention - BJ Ohme was selling them - and I got a couple plants out of it. SLOW.

I would put a top of the leaf down too if I only have one - and it is not too variegated. It will probably give only one baby, at best 2.

I got a leaf of Cajun's Christy - Belinda Tibodeaux named it after her beloved daughter she lost couple years. We had an AV auction at the Council meeting on Saturday. I am going to put the tip down too.

I found a pic of it

http://www.iwallace.com/avsa2017/56_395.jpg
Jeff Zenner
Original Author
8 years ago
Cajuns Christy is nice. Im sure there is a good deal of sentimental value there as well.
Rosie1949
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Ok you just threw me a curve. I just looked at the pix of Cajun's Christy. When I have a variegated leaf, I cut the leaf in half, and plant both halves.

BUT I never heard of trimming off any white rim of variegation on either the top or the bottom half of the leaf. Do you trim BOTH the top and bottom?

I can see the logic, white provides no food, but I never heard to actually trim it off. Thanks for that tidbit Irina! Rosie
irina_co
8 years ago
This a tip for the "Ann". It is hard to start, it is an extremely slow grower - until it reaches the first bloom size. And then it grows and behaves normally.

You can do it on any heavily variegated leaf I guess. But the rest of the leaves do not rot on the edges, It is a specific "challenge" of Ann, the stubborn b**ch.