I propagated my sans by leaf. When can I remove the leaf?

5 years ago

It was my first time trying to propagate by cut leaf. I have two similar plants. It was fun! I did learn that the yellow edging won't come true on the baby plants. I propagated in perlite. Later I potted them up in potting media. Was I supposed to remove the leaf then? Shall I do it now? If I remove the leaf and put it back in perlite, will it produce another plant?

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Comments (5)

Stush2049 Pitts. PA, zone 6
5 years ago
If the leaf doesn't brother you, why remove it. Could just leave alone and it will produce more pups in time. Or could remove it and start over again. Myself, I would leave it alone. Just my guess but I find the plants grow best if you keep them together.
newhostalady Z6 ON, Canada thanked Stush2049 Pitts. PA, zone 6
newhostalady Z6 ON, Canada
Original Author
5 years ago
"Just my guess but I find the plants grow best if you keep them together."

Maybe soil disturbance and propagation leads to setback and then the plant needs time to adjust? I think I'll leave it for now then. Come spring and summer, I may give it a repot and see how attached the leaf is to the plant. If it grows another pup, then I will certainly leave it alone. Thanks, Stush.
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Dan
5 years ago
Another tip if you're just trying to improve the appearance- you could cut the top of the that old leaf into a point shape. It'll look a little more natural, but might look a little corny too. If you do decide to take that leaf off in the future, maybe you can even get another propagation out of it?
newhostalady Z6 ON, Canada thanked Dan
newhostalady Z6 ON, Canada
Original Author
5 years ago
I never thought of cutting the top of the old leaf to a point! I propagated two leaf cuttings. For the other one, the leaf was the top part. It looks a lot better. Maybe I should just do an experiment: remove this old leaf for this plantlet; and keep the leaf for the other plantlet. The plantlets look similar. Then I could see if one grows better than the other.
Shawna H
5 years ago
I would cut the leaf as close to the soil as possible and propogate it again. That new plant it grew will keep producing pups and so will that leaf if you don't disturb the process. Meaning totally removing it. You only need about 2-4" pieces of leaves to grow a new pup. As I'm sure you learned it does take forever with these guys, but they'll pup eventually.