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Spring is finally here in Southern California and like many others in the community I’ve been getting into the planting mood. The succulent that my fiance and I had purchased and began growing 4 months ago has bloomed and waned. Now it’s beginning to show signs of new growth. Their older leaves have begun to wither away and new little nubbins of plant life, roots and all, are starting to emerge in strange places.
[img source: http://mspmag.com/home-and-design/succulents-bring-the-spring/]
As I began to trim and replant the new little ones in their own pots away from their parent plants, I realized that I had no idea about how plants propagate. So, instead of just planting them and hoping things turned out for the best, I began looking through the information repository that is the internet for some answers. I was immediately overwhelmed by the torrent that was presented, so I decided to start out with a simple question, “What is plant propagation?”.
[img source:https://www.crosstimbersgazette.com/2016/05/28/plant-propagation-for-beginners/]
I’m glad I did because it turned out to be more interesting than I initially thought. The term “plant propagation” refers to the process of growing new plants from seeds, cuttings, and other plant parts. Plants can propagate either sexually or asexually. Meaning that they either are created by combining two sets of genetics to create a third unique set or that they essentially clone themselves. Propagation can occur in both natural or artificial environments.
[img source: http://waywardspark.com/propagation-greenhouse-at-gathering-together-farm/
Both methods of propagation have certain advantages and disadvantages which will affect how specific plants are grown. Sexual propagation in some species of plants is a quick process. This causes the species to produce good genetic variation and potential disease resistance. The drawback is that this leads to many having to rely on pollinators to incite the process. It may also cause incredibly specific propagation requirements, like extreme cold or heat to start germination. Asexual propagation in some species is a quick method of multiplying their numbers using certain vegetative methods, like new growth coming from roots, stems, or leaves.
[img source: https://libraries.indiana.edu/history-seed-saving]
While natural propagation is the normal expectation, artificial propagation, artificially induce the seeds or cuttings to begin to grow is pretty common as well. Instead of waiting for the weather, soil composition, or required conditions to occur outdoors, we create the conditions ourselves using heating pads, seed propagation mats, or greenhouses.
[img source: https://www.thoughtco.com/vegetative-propagation-4138604]
With Spring finally here in Southern California and with this new knowledge, I confidently transitioned some of the little sproutlings into new pots. However, I then realized that propagation is the practice of growing new plants, and not transferring them to a new location. The mild unease came back to me, as I then began researching what “transplanting” was. But that’s a story for another time….
[img source: https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/yes-roundabout-to-be-continued]
This is my first time trying to grow and maintain a plant. If any of the readers have their own tips, tricks, or life hacks to help their little seeds grow, or have a story about their most rewarding gardening experiences, I would love to see them in the comments below. Hopefully we can all grow from these stories and experiences!
[img source: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/460211655662128255/]
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