Aeonium haworthii 'Dream Color', also known as Aeonium 'Kiwi' and commonly called Kiwi Aeonium, adds year-round color and texture to gardens with its colorful foliage, which can range from chartreuse to cream to red. In USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 9 to 11, it grows equally well in containers and low-water landscaping beds. Kiwi Aeonium propagates best vegetatively but will also grow from seed. Seed-grown plants sometimes differ in appearance because Aeonium haworthii 'Dream Color' is a cultivar.
Seed Propagation
Propagating Kiwi Aeonium from seed is a gamble because the resulting seedlings may not closely resemble the parent plant. However, the seeds are highly viable and will germinate readily if sown while fresh. Sow the seeds in a nursery flat filled with neutral, fast-draining soil. Mix the tiny dust-like seeds with a pinch of fine sand to make sowing easier. Sprinkle the sand-and-seed mixture over the soil surface and do not cover it with soil. Expose the seeds to temperatures around 70°F (21°C), keep them moderately moist, and watch for the first seedlings in five to ten days. Thin the seedlings so only one remains in each 1 square inch (6.5 square cm) area, then transplant them into small pots once they have a mature set of leaves.
Stem Cutting Propagation
Stem-cutting propagation is the simplest and most effective means of propagating Kiwi Aeonium. The cuttings will root at any time of year, although those taken in spring or summer root faster and are less likely to develop rot. First, take a 3- to 6-inch (7.5 to 15 cm) tip cutting and place it in a warm, dry spot out of direct sunlight for 2 to 5 days, or until the severed end calluses over. Next, pinch off the lowest leaves and put the cutting in a pot filled with porous, fast-draining medium. Keep it in a bright spot, water it lightly, and watch for renewed growth in around four weeks.
Division Propagation
Older, well-established Kiwi Aeonium produces an abundance of offshoots (pups) that can be divided to grow new plants. The offshoots emerge around the base of the plant and are connected to the main stem. It is best to wait until the offshoot has developed a root system before cutting it from the main plant and potting it, but waiting is unnecessary. Unrooted offshoots can be severed, allowed to callus, and potted as cuttings. The offshoots perform best when potted in spring or summer, but they will root at any time if kept under warm, bright conditions.
Planting and Aftercare
No matter how you propagate Kiwi Aeonium, the resulting plants must be allowed to produce a viable root system before planting them into a garden bed. Grow the immature Kiwi Aeonium in a sheltered spot with morning shade and afternoon sun until they produce several leaves. Slowly acclimate them to the full, all-day sun over a week. Water deeply but infrequently so the soil has a chance to dry out slightly between waterings. Move the Kiwi Aeonium into a sunny bed or permanent planter in the fall. Water them occasionally during their first summer, but only if no rain has fallen for over three weeks.
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