My 5 steps guide
- Step 1. The first thing you need to do is to select the type of succulents you need to breed. Basically, you need two...
- Step 2. This step is critical, and it is one when you use a small fine brush to transfer the pollen from the donor...
- Step 3. Protect the flower from potential accidental cross-pollination. The best way to do this is by covering the...
Can you cross-breed succulents?
Sterile succulents cannot be cross-breed with another succulent through pollination. The only option is to propagate using stems and leaves. Another problem in breeding succulents is that your chosen two plants may not bloom simultaneously. You cannot save the pollens of each plant thus requires an immediate breeding process.
What is hybridization of succulent?
Hybridization is the process of breeding two plants of different species. Succulent fans seem to have an insatiable appetite for new varieties, and nurseries are more than happy to appease.
What is the breeding process for succulents?
Breeding, however, requires an entirely different process. In the breeding process, two types of succulents are combined to produce new species through cross-pollination. The flower is very important in the pollination process.
How to transplant succulents?
Transplant the new plant. When the baby plant becomes bigger and the mother leaf withers, it is time to transplant the succulent into its own pot. If the withered mother leaf is still attached to the new plant, gently pull it off. Transplant the baby plant in its own pot using a suitable potting mix. Protect the new plants from direct sunlight.
How do you breed two succulents?
If you want to try hybridization of some of your succulents, you first need to get at least 2 of your succulents to flower at the same time. Once you have, use a soft, small paintbrush or a Q-tip, then place it inside one flower to gather its pollen, transferring it to another succulent's flower.
How do you make a new species of succulents?
How To:Remove Some Leaves or Behead. Randomly remove a few leaves from your succulent plant, twisting gently to remove the entire leaf without tearing. ... Callus Off. Set the cuttings aside in any type of container or tray. ... Grow Roots. Watch for the growth of roots over the next few weeks. ... Plant. ... Water and Feed.
How do succulents mate?
Breeding succulents involves cross-pollination between the flowers of two different succulent species. You will need to wait for them both to flower, take pollen from the stamen of one flower and put it onto the stigma of the other flower, cover both of the flowers, and let them produce seeds.
How do you propagate hybrid succulents?
Plant them flat on top of some potting mix and you'll end up with plants arising from each node. Leaves - but to get the greatest number of plants in the shortest amount of time, take leaf cuttings. Gently pull leaves away from the rosette and place on top of potting mix.
Can you crossbreed succulents?
Succulents are easy to cross-pollinate. Succulents are most commonly propagated by stem cuttings. Rooted stem cuttings produce a plant that is genetically identical to its parent. If you want to cross the genes of two different succulent cultivars, you must cross-pollinate them.
How do I make variegated succulents?
Variegated succulents do best with indirect light to protect the white parts of the leaf from damage. Midday, during peak sunlight, you might want to move your plant into the shade. Continuously rotate your plant so that all sides receive sunlight equally. Sunburned leaves appear dark brown, calloused and dried out.
How do you make a hybrid cactus?
Place your two cactus plants beside each other once flowers appear. These can be the same type of cactus or two different types you are trying to cross into a hybrid. If the cacti are planted outside, select which plants you want to pollinate.
What plants can you cross breed?
What Kinds Of Plants Can Be Crossbred? Any two plants of the same genus can usually be cross bred. When breeding plants, growers typically cross two species that are within the same genus.
Can you grow a succulent from a leaf?
Taking Succulent Cuttings Most popular succulents propagate well from individual leaves or stem pieces. Leaf propagation works best for succulents with fleshy leaves, such as jade plants or echeveria and sempervivum rosettes. To root successfully, the leaf must stay whole.
What do you do with baby succulents?
There are options when you're wondering what to do with succulent pups. You may allow them to continue to grow on the mother if there is enough room, or you may remove and replant them individually. Let them get the size of a quarter before removing though.
How do you hand pollinate succulents?
5:1111:10#90 How to manually pollinate echeveria flowers - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipBut if you're going to use one type of pollen just one type of plant. And hugging it all of themMoreBut if you're going to use one type of pollen just one type of plant. And hugging it all of them then.
Why is my succulent growing up and not out?
Etiolation is most commonly caused by lack of sufficient sunlight to the plant, which in turn produces a change in the shape, color, and growth of your plant. This happens most often with indoor succulents, since they are not in direct sunlight for very long, but it can happen to any succulent.
How do you divide succulents?
Tilt the pot and be gentle. Set the unpotted plant right side up and remove as much soil as possible, gently teasing out the roots. If the plant does not easily pull apart, cut through the roots and separate sections, starting at the top. Do it easily, but don't worry if a few roots break off.
How do you propagate baby succulents?
Place leaf cuttings directly on top of a shallow layer of succulent potting soil (do not bury) and mist with water to keep moist. Within three weeks or so, the leaf cuttings will begin to sprout tiny "pup" plants. Around eight weeks, the mother leaf will wither and fall off, and your pups are ready to be planted.
Can you grow a succulent from a leaf?
Taking Succulent Cuttings Most popular succulents propagate well from individual leaves or stem pieces. Leaf propagation works best for succulents with fleshy leaves, such as jade plants or echeveria and sempervivum rosettes. To root successfully, the leaf must stay whole.
How do you propagate succulents from stems?
Simply cut the stems to the length you want, peel the bottom 1/3 of the leaves off and then let those stems heal off (this is where the cut end of the stem callus over) for 2 weeks to 4 months before planting. I plant them directly in the garden or in a pot with succulent and cactus planting mix.
How to breed succulents?
In most cases, the propagation process involves the use of succulent stem cuttings and leaves. Stems and leaves will eventually produce roots that allow the plant to survive on their own.
How do succulents propagate?
In most cases, the propagation process involves the use of succulent stem cuttings and leaves. Stems and leaves will eventually produce roots that allow the plant to survive on their own.
How long do succulents open their petals?
Another reminder is that not all flowers reveal their anther at the same time. Some succulents would only open their petals for a very short period of time (a couple of hours). It is important that you capture such a specific moment to successfully breed your succulents.
Why are flowers important in succulents?
The challenge is that, because succulents have so many varieties, there are different types of flowers with different shapes . The good thing, however, is that the inner structures of the flower are the same. This means that the pollination process you used on one type ...
How to transfer pollen from a flower to a recipient?
This step is critical. It is in this phase wherein you need to use a small fine brush to transfer the pollen from the donor flower to the receiver. Carefully brush the donor’s pollen-covered anther. As you see pollens on the strands of the brush , carefully and lightly rub the brush on the receiver’s stamen. Repeat the process as many times as you want.
How to protect a succulent from cross pollination?
Protect the flower from potential accidental cross-pollination. The best way to do this is by covering the stigma and stamen (or the whole flower) with a small bag. You do this for your outdoor succulents. For indoor succulents, this is not an issue. Because in most cases, insects do not reside inside the house.
How many flowers do you need for a succulent?
Basically, you need two flowers – the donor and the receiver. The selection process heavily depends on your preference. In my case, most of the time I want to combine two succulent types (of the same genus) with different distinctive colors. I want to see what the resulting breed will look like.
How Do You Create a Hybrid Succulent?
Practicing hybridization involves cross-pollinating your succulents. It's tricky, but we'll try our best to explain it.
Some of the Most Popular Hybrids
There are so many crosses of succulents, and likely more getting created as you read this!
Common Problems With Hybrids
What are the most common problems when attempting hybridization? You'll be happy to learn that the most prevalent issues are straightforward— time and unpredictability. If those two things don't worry you, then you don't have much to worry about!
Are You Ready to Experiment?
Hybrid succulents are so fun. You'll love caring for them, showing them off to your plant-loving friends, and maybe even creating your own someday. We can help you get started on your cross-breeding journey!
What is a rosette succulent?
A charismatic rosette-forming succulent with olive-green leaves that blush pink. A small, slow-growing, low-maintenance plant, which presents bright yellow, starry flowers in Spring and Summer months.
What does a frosted silvery plant look like?
An exceptional plant that exhibits frosted, silvery leaves that stack up the stems in opposing pairs and feature rounded tips. It has chubby, water-filled leaves, which makes it exceptionally drought-tolerant, and can produce pink and white star-shaped flowers during the spring months, adding stunning contrast to the leaf tones.
Is there a cross breed succulent?
As you might be already aware, there are a lot of cross-bred succulents in existence right now, and some of the most popular genus are;
Can you combine two names of plants?
After you see the result of your hard work, you now get the fun of naming it. You can either combine the two names of the plants you have bred into one or simply create a completely new one!
Can you cross pollinate a succulent?
Plus, you won't actually know if you are successful in your hybridization until the succulent has grown up.
How to propagate succulents?
One of the most common ways to propagate succulent plants is through leaf propagation. Simply put, propagating the leaves can be as simple as having a leaf naturally fall to the ground, root itself and grow into a new plant. You can also intentionally propagate leaves by carefully removing the leaves from a healthy plant, placing them in a suitable potting medium and wait for the leaves to root and grow into new plants. Propagating from leaf cuttings is usually done with several leaves at once. Leaf cuttings can be easily obtained from your fallen leaves, from discarded plant scraps, or by purchasing them.
How to transplant a baby succulent?
If the withered mother leaf is still attached to the new plant, gently pull it off. Transplant the baby plant in its own pot using a suitable potting mix.
What plants produce offshoots?
Plants that produce offshoots or pups are basically cloning themselves. Not all succulents produce offshoots and pups, but the ones that do pretty much multiply on their own. Hens and chicks, aloe, certain haworthia and cacti species are among the many others that produce pups or offshoots. You can carefully remove the pups and offshoots, place them in a suitable potting mix and start a new plant that way. Removing offshoots from the mother plant improves its health by refocusing energy to the growth of the main plant instead of supporting its pups.
How to plant a calloused leaf?
Just stick the calloused end of the leaf directly into the potting mix without a rooting hormone. Step 5. Lay them flat. Another way is to lay the leaves flat on a bed of suitable potting soil instead of sticking them in the soil. Leave some room between the leaves to allow for space for new plant growth.
When do succulents go dormant?
Most succulent plants go dormant during freezing temperatures and frost. During frost, plants shut down and are not actively growing. Propagating your plants around this time is will not provide the best results you are aiming for. Wait until frost is over before you propagate to ensure the optimal survival of the plants. Pruning or cutting your plant for propagation during this time introduces new stress to the plant as it needs to focus its energy on healing and regrowing.
What is the process of creating new plants from the plants you already have?
Plant propagation is the process of creating new plants from the plants you already have. In the wild, propagation from seeds is the most common method. This is achieved from flowering, pollination, fertilization, and eventually seed formation. As natural habitats of succulents and cacti decline, the need to propagate and maintain these species in ...
How to protect new plants from scorching?
The new plants are still delicate at this stage and will not be able to tolerate full sun. Place in a shaded or partially shaded area away from direct sunlight to avoid scorching the new plant.
How long does a hybrid succulent last?
Patenting a plant is a complicated and expensive process, but once completed the plant is protected for 20 years.
How often do new succulents appear?
Despite the thousands of succulent varieties available across the globe, new plants are popping up practically every day.
Why do nurseries use hybridization?
Nurseries use hybridization to create new plants with a specific combination of traits in mind. Perhaps they have certain characteristics from each of the parent plants that they would like to combine, improve or eliminate. They might also just want to create a succulent unique from anything else on the market.
How long do pollinated plants stay in seclusion?
It’s usually kept in seclusion until the seeds are ready to harvest. Once the seeds have been collected and planted, it’s simply a matter of waiting until the seeds sprout.
How often do hybrids appear on the market?
There are new cultivars appearing on the market nearly every week.
Why are hybridizations more common?
Hybridizations within a genus are more common because they are easier. Two species in the same genus are more closely related and more likely to hybridize successfully.
Why are hybrid plants fragile?
Especially with cross-genus hybrids, the process of smushing together radically different genomes leaves you with a DNA that is “weak”. That’s why they’re often sterile.
What Are Hybrid Succulents, exactly?
How Do You Create A Hybrid succulent?
- Practicing hybridization involves cross-pollinating your succulents. It's tricky, but we'll try our best to explain it. Because of this, it's necessary to cross-pollinate using an already-bloomedplant. The best part is that the following rules and guidelines apply to any types of succulents you're attempting to cross-pollinate. You'll first need to...
Some of The Most Popular Hybrids
- There are so many crosses of succulents, and likely more getting created as you read this! Some of the most popular hybrids in existence right now are: 1. Any varietal of Echeveria, as these are very easy to cross-pollinate 2. Graptosedum, which stands for 'California sunset.' If you make a cross-breed of this, propagate it! 3. Sedeveria, which is a cross of Sedum and Echeveria 4. Gaste…
Common Problems with Hybrids
- What are the most common problems when attempting hybridization? You'll be happy to learn that the most prevalent issues are straightforward—time and unpredictability. If those two things don't worry you, then you don't have much to worry about! You'll have to wait a while to see if your cross-breeding has worked. It may take some time (think: the average time it takes a succulent …
Are You Ready to Experiment?
- Hybrid succulents are so fun. You'll love caring for them, showing them off to your plant-loving friends, and maybe even creating your own someday. We can help you get started on your cross-breeding journey! Click here to peruse our selection of hybrids, and let us know if you have any questions.