How to Propagate A Cactus
Cactus are cute spooky beings that are absolutely maintenance-free. We know how to care for them but do you know how to propagate them? Are you thinking of how you should propagate? Propagation is essential if you want to add more plants to your home or office cost-effectively. The other reason for propagation is to increase a plant’s population. Plant propagation also aids in the preservation of a species, which is crucial, especially if it is in danger of going extinct. Let’s see some easy methods to propagate cacti.
Things That You Need before Propagation
A small-scale home propagation requires just a few tools.
- A sharp, clean knife
- Pair of clippers
- Small starter pots
- Rooting hormone
- Potting mix soil
Types of Propagation
There are two main types of propagation. They are:
- Asexual propagation. Creating new plants using plant components other than seeds or spores. Since it derives from conventional techniques like cutting or layering a plant, asexual propagation is a popular approach for plant owners to multiply their plants. This technique is feasible if you stay at an apartment or if you have a backyard garden.
- Sexual propagation. This method of propagation is through pollination and fertilisation which includes pollen and egg.
The Methods of Propagation
Propagation from Seeds
The majority of cacti species may be grown from seeds. Although this procedure is slow and takes up a lot of your time and patience, the result will surprise you.
Step 1: Fill the pot with the soil mixture to the brim and level the topsoil by gently pressing it downÂ
Step 2: Because some species have very tough seed coats, soak the seeds in warm water for 30 minutes right before planting. Soaking them in warm water softens the seed coat and promotes germination.
Now scatter the soaked seeds over the top of the firm soil. Unless the seed is exceptionally large, avoid pressing it into the soil and then sprinkle some more soil to get the seeds completely covered in the soil.
Step 3: Place them under sufficient light and make sure the soil is well-drained. You might see newly sprouted seedlings but the roots will still be small making it difficult for them to absorb nutrients so keep them in a plastic container and under a high humidity level.
Step 4: When the seedlings are large enough to handle, gently take each seedling from its original nursing pot while wearing gloves or covering your fingers to prevent yourself from getting injured by the spike.
Step 5:Â Gently transplant the seedling into a pot filled with cactus potting soil till the brim and then top dress with sand, gravel, or pumice. Water after three to four days
Propagation from Cuttings
Select a healthy stem that is at least 10 cm long and use snips to cleanly cut it off. If you have plants without stems, remove the leaf from the plants by hand without chopping them off. Place the leaf on a window sill until the cut surfaces have healed over.
Once it’s healed, insert the base of each cutting to a depth of about 2 cm in a pot filled with cactus compost.
Water the cuttings well and set the pot on a warm ledge that’s preferably out of the sun. Cuttings of succulents or cacti should not be placed in propagators or wrapped in plastic.
Keep an eye on the cutting and moisten the compost as needed. Although new growth may take longer, most cactus and succulent cuttings root in a month or less.
Propagating from Offsets/Offshoots
Many cacti species reproduce asexually by producing lateral shoots or offsets but not all cacti have offspring. Echinopsis species, mammillaria species, and many others are among those that do.
To start a new plant, gently remove offshoots and place them in an appropriate potting mix. Removing offshoots from the mother plant helps to refocus energy on the main plant’s growth.
Times You Should Not Propagate a Cactus Plant
It is not advisable to propagate cacti or succulents during a heatwave. Your cactus is already stressed from struggling for survival, and propagating will simply add to that stress by dividing its attention between repairing and regrowing. Do not propagate them during winter as most cactus shuts off during winter. Your cactus is more susceptible to illness and rot during this period. With this in mind, it is best to wait until the temperature is balanced before propagating your cactus for maximum survivability.
Propagation at home takes time but it is not difficult and you will definitely enjoy the process of it. Buy the best cacti and succulent plants online from https://dharmikgardens.com/product-category/plants/by-variety/cactus-plants/
