Contrary to expectations, the not very easy-to-care-for rotary fruit can be multiplied quite easily. You can even choose between different methods. Sowing, however, is not one of them. The seeds of the hydride varieties are usually not very promising.
The rotary fruit can be propagated via leaf cuttings, among other things
Which methods of propagation are suitable for the rotary fruit?
You can take leaf or head cuttings, depending on the type of your rotary crop. Head cuttings can only be cut from stem-forming velvet bells. Choose a healthy shoot about three to four inches long. Defoliate and leave only the top pair of leaves. Put the shoots individually in small pots with a mixture of peat and sand.
To obtain leaf cuttings, take a healthy leaf and cut it crosswise into three to four pieces. Put the cut edges in the growing substrate, about one centimeter deep. For better stability, you can support the leaf cuttings with wooden matches or toothpicks. The cuttings need about five weeks until small plants form. A division of the blade along the central blade axis increases the chances of success.
How should I care for the cuttings?
Any kind of cuttings should be kept warm and bright, but not in the blazing sun. Keep the substrate evenly moist. However, it must not be wet, otherwise the cuttings could rot or become moldy. You can repot the young plants as soon as they are about three inches tall.
The spiny fruit is not hardy. Like the adult velvet bells, the young plants also react sensitively to cold, drafts and direct sunlight. Temperatures below 13 °C can certainly cause damage. If the temperatures rise above around 24 °C, you should increase the humidity, preferably with a humidifier. Spraying the plant is unsuitable for the rotary crop, as the leaves are sensitive to moisture.
The essentials in brief:
- Cut leaves into 3 to 4 parts for leaf cuttings
- Cut head cuttings about 7 to 10 cm long
- Only use healthy plant parts for cuttings
- Keep substrate evenly moist
- Avoid moisture - risk of mold!
tips
The easiest way to propagate your rotary crop is to take top cuttings. It also promises the greatest success.