How To Propagate A String Of Bananas

Senecio Rowleyanus 'String of Pearls' and Senecio Radicans 'String of Bananas' are ii very similar plants in not merely how they look, but also in their growing habits, care and propagation. Both are native to South Africa where they grow on the ground along with other vegetation every bit ground embrace.

In their native habitat, they creep on the ground and grow vine-similar. In cultivation, they are extremely popular plants for hanging baskets or abaft arrangements.

The major departure between the two plants is the manner their leaves are shaped. Senecio Rowleyanus 'String of Pearls' have pea-shaped, circular leaves; whereas Senecio Radicans 'String of Bananas' accept assistant-shaped, curved leaves.

I find String of Banana plants hardier than Cord of Pearls and more forgiving. If yous are a beginner, you may desire to attempt your luck with a String of Bananas showtime.

Senecio Rowleyanus 'String of Pearls'

Senecio Radicans 'String of Bananas'

Propagating methods for both of these plants are exactly the same. I accept propagated both plants by using three easy methods. All 3 methods employ stem cuttings. When you cut a strand from these plants, the stem will split into two, three, or more stems and proceed growing. The plant roots anywhere along the stem.

This movie shows a strand that has split into iii and you can see roots growing along the stems.

How to Propagate String of Pearls and String of Bananas Using Stalk Cuttings:

First thing you need to exercise is to choose a strand to cut. It is better to cut from long, mature stems. Another reason why it is skillful to pick mature stems is oftentimes these stems would already have roots growing along the stems, which makes them easier to propagate.

Choose the ones with leaves that are plump and house, not dehydrated, shriveled or mushy. Information technology is better to take a few stem cuttings to propagate just in case y'all lose one or 2 in the process.

Unlike other succulent plants, String of Pearls and Cord of Bananas' stems are sparse so yous do non have to wait that long for the stems to dry. Where I live, the climate is very dry so I just let it sit for a couple of hours and that's usually good enough.

If y'all live in a more humid climate, y'all can give it about a mean solar day or two to dry and that should be sufficient. The reason you desire to wait for the cut stems to dry is you lot want the cut to seal and heal before yous proceed with propagation to keep fungus or bacteria out.

Optional: Stick the cuttings in rooting hormone. I tend to skip this role. Others like to stick their cuttings in rooting hormone to speed up the rooting process and to assistance prevent fungus and bacterial growth.

Afterward obtaining your stem cuttings, in that location are three easy ways to propagate these plants.

First Method – Stick Cuttings in Soil:

Footstep one: Stick the cuttings in soil. Cutting at least ii inches or more than from the bottom the establish. Take the cuttings and stick the ends in soil. You may remove a few of the pearls or chaplet from the stalk to them longer and easier to stick in the soil.

Utilize the same stop that you cut off to stick in the soil for it to root faster.

Step ii: Use a well draining potting mix. I similar to utilise a combination of cactus mix and perlite (1:1 solution). Yous tin can also add coarse sand to this mixture (1:1:1 solution) for added drainage.

Step 3: Wait for the plant to root and new growth to develop. Around two weeks later on, y'all will notice roots starting to shoot out. After another 2 weeks or so, you may discover new growth developing from the acme of the plant.

Step 4: Keep abroad from direct sunlight to prevent sunburn while propagating and rooting the cuttings.

Step v: Mist the soil every few days or when the soil feels dry. Once rooted and more established, stop misting and switch to regular watering. You can decrease the frequency of watering to about in one case a week or less, depending on the humidity in your surface area.

Stick the ends in soil similar this

I'm propagating these stems that have broken off afterward a windy, stormy dark.

2nd Method – Lay on Soil:

Pace one: Lay the cuttings apartment on the soil, letting the stem touch the soil. The plant will shoot out roots from anywhere it touches the soil. This way you can start out with a fuller pinnacle and somewhen have the plants trail. Apply a well draining potting mix.

I like to use cactus soil combined with perlite (i:1 solution). Yous can also add coarse sand to the solution to add drainage (i:1:1).

Step two: If the stem already has roots growing on information technology, try to identify the stem so that the roots are excavation in the soil. You lot may demand to employ something to concord the stems in place. I similar using paper clips cut in half. I use them to hold the stems downwardly then the roots likewise stay downward.

Step 3: Mist the soil every few days or when the soil feels dry. Once rooted and more than established, stop misting and switch to watering the plant. Yous tin can decrease the frequency of watering to well-nigh one time a calendar week or less, depending on the humidity in your surface area.

Step iv: New roots volition emerge in around two weeks. If you use stem cuttings that already have roots growing, it volition take faster for the plant to be established in the new potting mix.

Step 5: Go on away from straight sunlight to forestall sunburn.

Lay the stem cuttings flat on the soil like this. Try to stick the existing roots into the soil.

You can actually utilise both methods of propagation mentioned to a higher place at the same time, especially if you take a larger or wider pot. That way you first out with a full top and a abaft institute all at once.

Here'southward a fun project that I recently finished using both methods. I wanted a full elevation so I layed some stalk cuttings on soil. Simply I too wanted some of the strands trailing so I stuck some of the stems in the soil. This style I have a fuller looking terminate with trailing stems.

I love upcycling materials that are no longer in utilize. This was such a fun project using my kids' old Elmo potty chair. I had my husband poke some holes in the lesser of the xanthous loving cup and I used information technology as a planter. I filled information technology with cactus mix and perlite.

The 'flush' still works and my kids become a kick out of flushing mama's plant down the toilet. And only in case you lot're wondering, yes, it has been cleaned and sanitized.

Third Method – Water Propagation:

Step one: Water propagation. Accept the cuttings and stick the very tip in water. Information technology does not seem to matter much what kind of water to use. I like to use purified water.

Step ii: You volition start noticing new roots growing in water in about 2-3 weeks.

Step 3: After about 4 weeks or when you see a lot of new roots, yous can transplant to a well draining potting mix. I recommend using a cactus mix combined with perlite, well-nigh ane:one solution.

Stride 4: Mist the soil every few days or when information technology feels dry. Stop misting and switch to regular watering once the plant is more than established. Decrease the frequency of watering to no more than than one time a week, less in humid areas. You will know if plant is established in one case you see new growth growing from the top of the plant.

Step 5: Keep away from direct sunlight to prevent sunburn.

String of Pearls rooting in h2o

String of Bananas propagating in h2o

The only thing I have non  really attempted to propagate is through the little circular leaves or banana shaped leaves. I've heard of some people that have propagated these plants through leaves. It is no doubt that the whole process will accept a lot longer than propagating from stalk cuttings.

Be prepared to wait for a much longer time if you want to propagate these plants through leaves. It volition take a lot more time and patience for sure but anything is possible.

What I do is I stick the little round leaves back in the pot whenever I discover whatsoever of them lose. Whether they root or not I am not quite sure. The little assistant leaves are not equally fragile and practice non fall off as much or as easily so I accept never really had to stick them back in the pot.

These are the three like shooting fish in a barrel methods of propagating String of Pearls and String of Bananas plants. I've been on a propagating frenzy lately. My Cord of Bananas plant has been growing like crazy and I take all these long trailing stems screaming to be propagated. So I have been taking cuttings and propagating them in dissimilar pots and containers.

Hither's my latest propagation projection where I take both String of Pearls and String of Bananas planted in this hanging basket. As you can see, I used the 2nd method of laying the stems flat on the soil. They may not expect that great withal, simply soon they will exist trailing down this hanging basket.

Endeavor these methods out. I've been propagating my String of Pearls and String of Bananas this way and have them growing in multiple pots all over my yard. Shortly you will accept a few of them everywhere.

These are some of my Cord of Pearls and String of Bananas that I take propagated and grown in different pots over time. What are you waiting for? Become propagating so you can spread these beauties around!

Where can you notice Cord of Pearls and String of Bananas? Check out my resources page for recommendations on where to buy these and other succulent plants online.

Interested in seeing other hanging succulents or cacti? Check out my postal service "Hanging Succulents."

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Source: https://succulentplantcare.com/3-ways-to-propagate-string-of-pearls-and-string-of-bananas/

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