Take Leaf Cuttings From These 5 Plants in July – and Get Dozens of Free Plants by Fall
Cuttings root reliably when plants are actively growing in summer
Early summer is a great time to propagate plants from leaf cuttings. They are in peak growing mode in July, and gardeners can take advantage of this. As growth hormones are highly active this month, when you take leaf cuttings in July from indoor or outdoor plants, they reliably root quickly.
Popular plants such as African violets, cape primrose, begonias, and various succulents all reliably propagate from leaf cuttings taken in summer. Just remember to take cuttings with sharp tools, give the leaves time to callus over (when required), provide them warmth, and use a very well-draining potting mix, like this organic seed starter at Amazon, suitable for all seedlings and cuttings.
Leaf cuttings may sound difficult if you haven't tried before, but don’t be daunted. To help you take leaf cuttings in July with confidence, here we look at five of the simplest plants to experiment with, along with detailed tips on how to take the cuttings and care for them. With a bit of care and patience, you can get lots of new plants to enjoy for free.
1. African Violet
African violets are one of the best indoor flowering plants for vibrant blooms. Also, they are one of the easiest houseplants to propagate from leaf cuttings, and they root and grow at any time of the year.
To propagate African violets this way, pick a healthy, mature leaf and remove it from the plant with an inch or two of stalk attached. Make an angled cut across the bottom of the stem with a sharp knife, like this gardening knife at Walmart. You can either place the stem into water or compost.
For the water propagation route, place the cutting into a container of water so the stem is submerged and the leaf sits above the water. You can do this by covering the top of the container with plastic wrap or foil and poking the stem through the hole. Change the water regularly and look for roots to develop; once they reach a quarter-inch long, pot up the cutting.
Alternatively, place the cuttings into pots filled with a well-draining potting mix. Insert the cuttings into holes so the base of the leaf just touches the soil surface. Cover the container with a clear plastic bag to create a humid environment. When you see baby plantlets at the base of the leaf, separate and pot them up.
2. Echeveria
Echeveria are low-maintenance types of succulents. They like sun and heat, are drought-tolerant, and are easy to propagate via leaf cuttings in summer. If you are new to leaf cuttings, echeveria are among the simplest to do.
Pick a healthy, plump, mature leaf and break it off the plant. Make sure it is a mature leaf, rather than a new one, as older leaves make the best propagation material.
Let the leaf callus over in a dry, cool spot out of direct sunlight for a few days. Letting this natural process occur stops the leaf rotting when you place it in soil or water, and you’ll know enough time has passed when the cut edge has formed a hard layer.
Lay the leaf onto trays or pots filled with well-draining cutting or succulent compost and place in a sunny position, such as a bright windowsill. Lightly mist the soil to keep it moist and watch for small roots to form over the coming weeks.
You can get a bag of succulent potting mix at Amazon.
3. Cape Primrose
Cape primrose, or Streptocarpus, is a popular houseplant that comes in a wide range of colors and flowers for a long period. Native to South Africa, the plants have vivid foliage and showy flowers that can put on a display from the spring through to mid-fall.
Cape primroses are easy to propagate using leaf cuttings. Take a healthy leaf from the center of the plant and cut it from the base with a pair of sharp pruning snips or scissors. This leaf can be cut horizontally into two-inch sections with a sharp knife.
Push the bottom of the leaf cutting into a pot or tray filled with a well-draining mix, with the base around an inch deep in the soil. Use a cutting compost or add perlite to a standard potting mix to boost the drainage. You can get bags of perlite at Walmart to improve drainage and aeration in potting mixes.
Water the soil and cover the cutting with a clear plastic bag or a propagation lid. Keep it somewhere bright and warm, but out of direct sunlight, and new plants should start to form in six to eight weeks.
4. Begonia
Foliage, rhizomatous, and tuberous begonia varieties can all be propagated from leaf cuttings. Begonias are easy to grow from cuttings, and you can produce several new plants from a single leaf.
Take a healthy, newly mature leaf and carefully make small cuts an inch apart along the main veins. New young plants will develop at the cut points along the veins.
Lay the leaf vein-side down on a pot filled with cutting compost, or a mix of sphagnum moss (available at Amazon) and perlite or vermiculite (you can get bags of organic vermiculite at Burpee). Use pins to secure the leaf to the potting mix, or weigh it down with small pebbles. Keep the soil moist and place the container somewhere warm. New plantlets will form from the veins in 1-2 months.
An alternative method is to slice the leaf into wedge shapes, with each section containing a portion of the main vein.
Place each wedge point-down into the potting mix, cover with a plastic bag or propagator lid to maintain humidity, and keep the medium consistently moist. New plantlets will form from the base of the vein.
5. Sedum
Tender and hardy perennial sedums (including Hylotelephium spectabile) can be propagated from leaf cuttings. Taking leaf cuttings is slower than propagating via stem cuttings. However, it is worth experimenting with if you grow sedums as an effective way to get new specimens of your favorite varieties.
Pick a healthy leaf from the fast-growing succulent and twist it free from the stem. You need the entire leaf to come free, including the base where it is attached to the stem. If the leaf rips, the cutting won’t work, so discard it and get another rather than wasting time.
Leave this stem somewhere cool and dry to callus over for two or three days – wait until the base feels dry. Place the leaf flat on the surface of trays or pots filled with a succulent potting mix.
Don’t try to bury the leaf; it only needs minimal contact to work. You can push the end gently into the soil, but it only needs to touch the soil, not be buried. Mist the soil to moisten it and repeat this each time it dries out. Tiny roots and new leaves may start to appear in a few weeks.
What to Shop
A specialty blend formulated for succulents and cacti. It contains plant food, limestone to adjust the pH, and perlite and horticultural sand to aid fast drainage.
A set of nursery pots with humidity domes to create a warm, humid environment. They are well-suited to growing cuttings, as well as transitioning succulents and cacti.
A set of straight-bladed pruning shears with SK5 Japanese carbon steel blades. They are an ideal pruning tool for precisely taking cuttings of many plants.
If you’ve got the urge to take even more cuttings this month, we’re here to help. Our guide to plants to propagate in July contains seven shrubs, perennials, and herbs that you can take stem cuttings from this month to fill your garden with lots of new plants.
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