Simple Guide on
How To Take Leaf Cuttings
Leaf cuttings are primarily used for the propagation of houseplants with thick fleshy leaves or with plants that lack stems suitable for other methods of propagation.
Typical plants propagated by leaf cuttings include:
African Violets, Gloxinias, Peperomia, Hoya, Snake plant, Sedum, Rex begonia, rubber plant, Grape ivy, and Christmas Cactus.
This African Violet was propagated by a leaf cutting. Through perpetual propagation, mothers of this plant date back over 100 years.
Types of Media used for propagation:
½ sand with ½ potting soil, or;
½ sand with ½ peat moss, or;
½ sand with ½ perlite and/or vermiculite
- With a sharp knife, remove a healthy leaf and at least 1 ½ inches of the petiole or leaf stem.
- Hold the leaf gently and dip the cut end of the petiole into a rooting hormone.
- Insert the petiole of the leaf into an appropriate medium at a 45 degree angle. Since new plants develop at the base of the leaf it is important that the leaf does not shade the new plants.
- Increase the humidity around the cuttings. For a single pot use a clear plastic bag propped up with pencils. When using a standard black seedling tray, a clear plastic humidity dome works well.
- Once the new plants have formed, in approximately 8 weeks, carefully separate each new plant from the parent. Avoid damaging the delicate roots.
- Transplant each new plant into a 2 ½ -3 inch pot, using a lightweight potting soil and water thoroughly.