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Aeonium is a genus of succulent plants native to the Canary Islands. They form rosettes at branch ends that look like large flowers. Most Aeoniums form a small shrub or small tree-like plant, but some do not branch. There are about 35 species, as well as hybrids and cultivars. Aeoniums are hardy in USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 9 through 11.
Aeoniums are usually propagated by stem cuttings, except for unbranched species, such as Aeonium tabuliforme, that die after flowering and are propagated from seed.
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Stem Cuttings
- Clean the sharp pruning shears by dipping them in rubbing alcohol.
- Decide how long a stem cutting should be. It could be 5 to 6 inches (12.5 to 15 cm) long for tree-like species with bare stems. For small, shrub-like species, it could be 0.5 inches (1.3 cm) or shorter. Cut off the stem segment containing the leaf rosette.
- Allow the cut end to heal in a shaded area for at least 3 days, longer if the stem is thick and fleshy.
- Fill a clean container with drainage holes with a well-drained potting mix. Use a pot just big enough to contain the cutting.
- Insert the cutting into the potting mix, burying just enough to hold it upright. Place the cutting in bright indirect light and water it lightly once a week.
- Resume regular watering when the Aeonium develops roots. Water thoroughly, and allow the top 2 inches (2 cm) of soil to dry before watering again.
Seeds
- Collect seeds after the Aeonium has finished blooming. Put them in a paper bag and allow them to dry.
- Fill a shallow, clean nursery flat with the same potting mix you used for rooting the cuttings.
- Sow the seeds on the soil surface, scattering them evenly. Cover them with twice the thickness of the potting mix. Water the flat well.
- Put the flat in bright indirect light and cover it with plastic wrap. Keep the potting mix moist until germination occurs. Remove the plastic wrap when germination starts.
- Prick out individual seedlings when they reach a diameter of 0.5 inches (1.3 cm). Provide each seedling with its own 2-inch (5 cm) pot, transferring it to the next larger pot size as the plant grows.
Tip
Take cuttings when the plant is actively growing, usually in spring and fall. Aeoniums go dormant in summer, and cuttings taken while plants are dormant do not root.
Source: sfgate.com
Links
- Back to genus Aeonium
- Succupedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
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