Should I or should I not spritz the ends of the leaves with water once or twice a week? The leaves and the stem prop don't have roots (yet, hopefully). These are my first props that I started a week ago and I've been getting different information about using water sparingly (some say do, some say don't until roots are formed).
by Two-toed_Being
2 Comments
I personally don’t fully water until the mother leaf whithers off the new plant, but once a week or so I’ll add a few drops to the roots once they’ve developed just to keep them from drying up. I don’t add any water to just the leaf itself.
I will usually get the roots started by suspending the end of the leaf over a cup of water (plastic wrap over a cup, poke some holes and stick the end in some water so the leaf is tempted and shoots out roots to reach the water). Once the roots are a half in long or so, then I’ll stick the end in some soil and add a few drops of water once a week or so to keep moist. Many people in the succulents sub will tell you to never do that, but I live in a very dry environment where they dry out quickly. If you live in a more humid place where humidity is 40% or higher, I’d maybe not add water that often, if at all.
For that cutting, don’t add water at all until you get some roots. It’ll rot quickly. Wait 2+ weeks and then try to gently tug it out of the soil. If it resists, there are roots. If it comes out, put it back and wait another few weeks.
Unfortunately there aren’t really any good firm answers. Everyone has their own method – you’ll have to test things out for yourself.
Edit: just wanted to emphasize that the mother leaf will provide the moisture needed for the incoming babies. The water I drop on the roots is exclusively to keep them from drying IN MY DRY ENVIRONMENT, not to feed the plant. The babies don’t need you to give them water until the mother leaf is gone.
I sprayed and I poured little puddles of water on it and it makes no difference. The soil (atmosphere) has to be moist, not wet and with time roots will develop…
Don’t worry, some cuts grow, some don’t. The beauty of nature and life is, most do grow.