A friend of mine was helping someone move and one casualty of the move was a portion of a large old jade plant that broke off. She gathered up the pieces and brought several to me (much to my delight) so I am starting them. I have heard that you should leave them out of the soil until they begin to wither a bit, then plant them. The last time I started one I didn't do this and it is fine - anyone know if there really is any benefit in letting a piece of jade or similar succulent wither before planting?
I found these two websites for you about how to propagate jade plants. Hope you find them useful. http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A1084664 http://www.ext.nodak.edu/county/cass/ho ... /start.htm
Prim first of all hope you had a great time in Hawaii! Next I couldn't find anything about leaving the plant to wither before planting but I'd like to throw one more link into the mix: http://www.thegardenhelper.com/jade.html
Aha - this part of that article: The cutting should then be left in a warm, dry place until a callous developes over the cut. This usually takes anywhere from 1-2 weeks, depending on the thickness of the stem. - must be what was being referred to. Leaving it until a callous develops makes more sense than leaving it until it begins to shrivel up - that I can do. And thanks! It's nice to be back home, but gracious I have so much catching up to do. Hawaii is lovely, and very, very warm and the plants are huge! Let's all take a field trip there sometime. ;-)
Ooo Prim, I think we should hold our Gardenstew Annual General Meeting in Hawaii! If I first it, anyone want to second it? My jade plants are funny critters and they will only grow if I do nothing! If I try to take a cutting, they rot and die, but if a bit snaps of and falls to the compost, in no time it is growing away! I have always wanted to grow one more like a tree - a standard - but have no idea how to do it....I should have a play really. Welcome home!
I SECOND THAT!! :-D :-D I don't think I've ever tried a jade plant but one of my old gardening books said to let your geranium cuttings "scab over". I wonder if this is to keep them from rotting I don't seem to have much luck with succulents. Southern Belle sent me a cute little baby aloe vera, I think he's on his way out Prim, welcome home...Aloha. (you lucky girl) Deanna :-D
