Cloning plants is a lot easier than some people realize, it just sounds like there's all this "scientific stuff" you would need to know to do it, but that isn't so. Especially when it comes to house plants and succulents
. House plants
usually come from places that stay somewhat warm throughout the year, and don't have much direct sunlight, like under a canopy of trees, in the rain forest for instance. Succulents
usually live in places that get very little water throughout the year and very bright, or direct sunlight, like the desert, pretty much the opposite of house plants. Although their habitats are basically the opposite of each other, they have something in common, they have to survive in extreme conditions.
This common factor makes them both easy to clone. If a succulent leaf was broken off by an animal, let's say, and that broken leaf is exposed to the right amount of light, and damp for a period of time, like a few weeks or so, they quickly start growing roots to ensure their survival. I don't think hoping is the right word to use, but I'll use it anyway, they are "hoping" that their roots grow into the ground and become established before the water evaporates away.
. House plants usually come from places that stay somewhat warm throughout the year, and don't have much direct sunlight, like under a canopy of trees, in the rain forest for instance. Succulents usually live in places that get very little water throughout the year and very bright, or direct sunlight, like the desert, pretty much the opposite of house plants. Although their habitats are basically the opposite of each other, they have something in common, they have to survive in extreme conditions.This common factor makes them both easy to clone. If a succulent leaf was broken off by an animal, let's say, and that broken leaf is exposed to the right amount of light, and damp for a period of time, like a few weeks or so, they quickly start growing roots to ensure their survival. I don't think hoping is the right word to use, but I'll use it anyway, they are "hoping" that their roots grow into the ground and become established before the water evaporates away.
When a plant doesn't produce seeds it is called "Asexual reproduction", in this case the only way to reproduce is through cloning. That is why many house plants grow roots so easily, if a stem is growing along a damp area it can produce roots, that part will now become a separate plant, natural cloning. These plants often produce more rooting hormone than most others to ensure survival.
Some house plants can be finicky, so here is a list of some of the easiest house plants to clone:
Most Succulents
are fine.
are fine.Supplies:
- Small pots
or Flats
- A light potting soil
with vermiculite
or perlite
or cacti soil
- Rooting Hormone
, although it may not be necessary
- And your plant cuttings
Place the soil in the pots or flats and lightly tamp it down, you still want the soil to be a little loose. Take your cutting and place a small part of the bottom of stem in rooting hormone if you decide to give it a try , and place the stem in the soil as far as the rooting hormone is on the stem. Make sure the cuttings are placed in an area where the get their required amount of light.
Do not let the soil dry out for the first few weeks. The new roots are fragile and close to the soil's surface so they can dry out quickly. It is also important not to keep them too damp or in a lot of humidity, this can cause them to rot and encourages mold and fungi growth. Now its just a matter of waiting, some plants root more quickly than others so be patient. If you plan on cloning woody plants, landscape plants and / or other types of plants, there a few extra steps that need to be done, I will talk about those in another blog.
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