- Naturally. For some plants, variegation occurs naturally as part of their physiology. ...
- Chemicals. One way to induce variegation in plants artificially is by using chemicals, such as those found in some herbicides, to induce random changes in a plant’s DNA.
- Virus. ...
- Radiation. ...
Why are my leaves turning variegated?
Variegation happens when a plant doesn’t produce enough chlorophyll to turn the entire leaf green, and nicely variegated plants are a nice, decorative addition to your home. However, plants only produce variegation under certain conditions, and they could revert back to completely green leaves if the environment isn’t right.
How do plants become variegated?
For some plants, variegation occurs naturally as part of their physiology. There are three types of natural variegation depending on whether the genetic mutation only happens to some parts of the plant or the entire plant . They are:
What is variegation and what causes it?
In general, variegation is most commonly spotted on leaves. There are four main types of variegation that affects plants. Each type is caused by a different factor and can affect the plant differently.
How does radiation cause variegation in plants?
This process is also known as mutation breeding (International Atomic Energy Agency, n.d) In theory, radiation can cause variegation in plants, as the X-rays and Gamma rays can produce mutations in the plant’s DNA that may result in a variegated plant.
What triggers variegation in plants?
Variegation is caused by mutations that affect chlorophyll production or by viruses, such as mosaic viruses, which have been studied by scientists. The striking look of variegated plants is desired by many gardeners, and some have deliberately tried to induce it for aesthetic purposes.
How do you encourage variegation?
Place the plant in full sun to encourage variegation. Variegated plants need more sun than solid green plants because they don't have as much chlorophyll to absorb sunlight. If you're growing a variegated plant, leave it near a sunny window or a bright spot on your property so it absorbs enough sun to stay healthy.
Is variegation in plants natural?
Variegation comes in many forms and may be the cause of natural occurrences or genetic alterations. Depending on the type of variegation, some plants may be more delicate than others, but all are incredibly beautiful and unique!
How is variegation created?
Mutations, the changes in the sequences of genes in DNA, are one source of genetic variation. Another source is gene flow, or the movement of genes between different groups of organisms. Finally, genetic variation can be a result of sexual reproduction, which leads to the creation of new combinations of genes.
Can you force a plant to Variegate?
Variegation is not easily induced and can't be done so at home. Best to get a cutting of a variegated plant from a friend or pass your's on in order to keep the variegated plant love flowing.
Can you force a Monstera to Variegate?
The chances of randomly developing a variegated Monstera are only about 1 in 100,000. This means, to get a variegated Monstera, you would have to propagate 100,000 cuttings and hope one of the cuttings develops variegation.
How do leaves become variegated?
Answer: Variation in leaf color arises because of a lack of the green pigment chlorophyll in some of the plant cells. It isn't an adaptation to the environment, but instead it is usually the result of a cell mutation, and can be inherited (genetic) or occur randomly (chimeric).
Can reverted variegation come back?
It is not possible to reverse the loss of variegation, but you can usually keep it from taking over an entire plant.
What causes pink variegation?
It turns out that the pink color was chemically-induced and not permanent. Manufacturers were using a chemical that temporarily prevented the plant from creating chlorophyll, producing pink-colored leaves. Once the chemical wears off (within approximately 6 to 12 months) the leaves revert to green.
Which pigment gives green Colour to leaves?
ChlorophyllChlorophyll is a pigment that gives plants their green color, and it helps plants create their own food through photosynthesis.
Why do plants lose variegation?
Variegation loss in plants may be due to lighting, seasonality, or other factors. It is not possible to reverse the loss of variegation, but you can usually keep it from taking over an entire plant.
Why is my pink princess not pink?
Fewer plants are showing pink variegation early on. Most plants are all green and are not expressing any pink until they are quite mature. There is no reason why the plants won't produce pink leaves at some point, but no guarantee and only the plants DNA knows when.
What causes variegation in succulents?
What are Variegated Succulents? All leaves on any plant have chlorophyll — a pigment that's responsible for the plant's ability to absorb light in order to provide energy for photosynthesis. But when this chlorophyll — and other pigments — are unevenly distributed, it creates variegation.
Why are variegated plants so expensive?
Variegated Monstera plants are expensive due to its rarity. The marbled or a half-moon appearance is caused by a mutation in the plant's chlorophyll formation. Depending on the size and variegation pattern of a Monstera, their price can range from $100 to a few thousand dollars USD.
What causes variegated leaves?
Variegation can also be the result of a viral infection, showing as discolored veins or leaf areas. This form of variegation is relatively rare, but it is stable. Lonicera japonica ‘Aureoreticulata’ has this type of variegation, with golden yellow veins netting the leaves.
What happens if you propagate a plant from a green shoot?
A random mutation usually shows up as variegation. If you propagate from a green shoot or sow seed of the plant, the color will not recur. This kind of variegation is the most common, but is often difficult to stabilize. Propagation must be from variegated or colored shoots.
Why do leaves change color?
Answer: Variation in leaf color arises because of a lack of the green pigment chlorophyll in some of the plant cells. It isn’t an adaptation to the environment, but instead it is usually the result of a cell mutation, and can be inherited (genetic) or occur randomly (chimeric). If genetic, the color change is stable, which means that if you propagate a green shoot from a plant with colored leaves or sow its seed, the coloring will reappear in the new plant. This applies both to green leaves with irregular markings (variegation), say in white and yellow, and to those of a single solid color such as gold or purple.
What is variegation in plants?
In general, variegation refers to foliage with multiple colors. Let’s go over the five different reasons that variegation emerges in foliage. 1. Pattern-Gene/Natural Variegation. In the words of Lady Gaga “Oh there ain’t no other way, baby I was born this way”. Natural variegation is literally in the plant’s DNA.
Why is variegation important for plants?
If the patterning is in the genes, that suggests an evolutionary purpose — a benefit to the plant that helps protect it from predators or procreate. In the case of plants, predators are actually herbivores! Scientists suspect variegation may help plants camouflage or appear undesirable to eat (as though they are sickly, poisonous, or have eggs laid on them). Are you looking at your polka-dot plant differently now? Sorry…
How does chimeral variegation differ from pattern-gene variegation?
Chimeral variegation differs from pattern-gene variegation because the mutation is random and unstable — the plant’s pattern may change or even revert to solid green and reproducing the variegation pattern through propagation is generally a roll of the dice.
What is the most common type of variegation?
Chimeral Variegation. Chimeral variegation is the most common type of variegation. It results from genetic mutations that inhibit some layers of the leaf structure from producing chlorophyll (the green pigment in leaves that converts sunlight into energy for the plant).
What are some examples of pattern-gene variegation?
Examples of pattern-gene variegation are: fishbone prayer plant ( Ctenanthe burle-marxii ), rattlesnake calathea ( Calathea lancifolia) and variegated spider plant ( Chlorophytum comosum ‘vittatum’) A variegated spider plant with its identical variegated babies. If the patterning is in the genes, that suggests an evolutionary purpose — a benefit ...
Why are house plants so variegated?
The natural variegation we see in many houseplants today is the result of breeding: the patterning was accentuated and manipulated by growers through selection and breeding hybrids. The results are ‘cultivars’, not native plants as they would appear in the wild. Think of cultivars like designer dog breeds — you won’t find packs of teacup poodles or puggles in the wild!
What is the evolutionary purpose of blister variegation?
The evolutionary purpose of blister variegation is providing a bit of sunscreen for the plant cells. When plants receive too much sunlight it can cause photoinhibition (a reduction in the plant’s ability to photosynthesize). 4. Viral Variegation.
What causes variegated leaves on plants?
Viral variegationis caused by infection. It is stable as long as the infection is present, but not necessarily good for the plant. The one infection that I am most aware of is Dasheen mosaic virus (DsMV), which can affect many species of plants and often expresses as a feathering pattern along the veins of leaves.
Why do plants have variegated colors?
This beautiful array of colors is caused by some of the plant’s cells lacking chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is the green pigment in plants that works to convert light into energy the plant can use.
How to care for variegated plants?
Because chimeric variegated plants are unstable mutations, a change in conditions (especially not enough light) can cause the plant to revert to green. The plant needs these green areas to convert light into energy and if it isn’t getting enough light, then it needs more surface area to absorb as much light as it can. To survive, it will ditch those beautiful variegated areas for the more efficient green.
Why are chimeric variegated plants called mutants?
Plants with chimeric variegation are often described as mutantsbecause it is cell mutations that cause the variegation. Because they are randomly occurring, these patterns are not stableor consistent. To maintain the variegation you generally have to propagate it from a variegated piece of plant.
Why is chimeric variegation not predictable?
Plants with chimeric variegation are often described as mutants because it is cell mutations that cause the variegation. Because they are randomly occurring, these patterns are not stable or consistent. To maintain the variegation you generally have to propagate it from a variegated piece of plant. Even then, it isn’t guaranteed to remain stable!
What is a blister on a plant?
Blister or reflective variegationis a type of variegation formed by air pockets that exist between the outer leaf layer and the inner pigmented layer of the plant . When light hits the air pockets, it creates a shimmery, reflective patch that is quite stunning. Often these areas can seem sparkly or silvery, even.
Why cut off all green parts of a plant?
Horticulturists also recommend cutting off all-green parts of variegated plants because once the plant begins to produce fully green foliage it will continue to revert to maximize energy production. Removing those sections should retain the plant’s ability to produce variegated foliage as long as the other conditions it needs are available.
What causes variegated leaves?
Some of them appear spontaneously (chimeric) or are coded in the plant’s DNA (genetic), while others are caused by the appearance of air pockets (blisters) between the leaf’s epidermis and the pigmented layer or even by viral infections (viral).
Why do plants have variegated cells?
Variegation in plants usually appears due to a cell mutation. This means that some of the plant cells contain less chlorophyll. However, since chlorophyll plays a huge role in the process of photosynthesis, strongly variegated plants come at a disadvantage, reason why their growth rate is slower.
What is reverse variegation and what causes it?
Reverse variegation refers to the loss of white or yellow markings in houseplants, which makes the plant’s leaves turn completely green.
What are some examples of variegated house plants?
For example, Variegated Cotyledon Orbiculata, Philodendron Pink Princess, and Variegated Echeveria Lola. The list can go on, but we might go broke if we think about all of them.
What is a variegated plant?
Most variegated plants are a result of chimera variegation. This type of variegation can appear as symmetrical and consistent or randomly spread throughout the plant. It’s also relatively stable, but there are cases in which the plant will revert to its green state (reverse variegation).
Why can't my houseplants keep their albino leaves?
So if you’re wondering why your houseplants can’t maintain their albino leaves for a longer period, that’s because the leaves have an insignificant amount of chlorophyll, so they don’t actually produce enough energy for the plant, but require energy from the plant to thrive. Think of it as removing the weakest link. Nature, can’t help it.
What does it mean when a plant has two different tissues?
Chimerical variegation is a random mutation and it means that the plant contains two genetically different tissues. Some of these tissues will produce chlorophyll, while the rest won’t. As a result, you’ll get a plant with green leaves that also have white and yellow-colored zones.
Why Does Variegation Disappear?
Why does variegation disappear? The plant may do it as a survival tactic. It may also occur due to another leaf cell mutation.
Why do plants lose variegated leaves?
Variegation loss in plants may be due to lighting, seasonality, or other factors. It is not possible to reverse the loss of variegation, but you can usually keep it from taking over an entire plant.
What does it mean when a plant's leaves turn green?
Image by Chansom Pantip. Reversion of variegated leaves occurs in many types of plants. This is when the white shading or lighter speckles and borders turn into green. This is frustrating to many gardeners, as the variegated forms of plants provide increased interest, brighten dim areas, and are bred specifically to enhance this trait.
Why do plants revert to green?
Once the leaves revert to all green, the plant can increase its harvest of solar energy, which in turn gives it more fuel to produce bigger and stronger growth.
Why do leaves turn green?
Whichever the case, variegated leaves may turn completely green for a number of reasons. The coloring results from unstable changes in the leaf’s cells. One of the most common variegated plant problems is limited chlorophyll in the leaves. Less chlorophyll means less solar energy, as it is a primary component in photosynthesis.
Do varigated plants have problems?
Variegated plants tend to be less hearty and vigorous as compared to their completely green cousins. They have no more or less general problems, but some plants can produce albino growth. This type of growth cannot gather solar energy and will eventually die back.
Do variegated plants need light?
Variegated plants growing in shady or semi-shady locations are really at a disadvantage. Not only do they have low levels of chlorophyll, but they are not even exposed to adequate light. This scenario lends itself to the reversion of variegated leaves.
Why do plants lose variegation?
Lack of sunlight is a major reason that plants lose variegation, so keeping your plant in a sunny spot is also an important way to preserve variegation.
How to preserve variegated plants?
1. Keep the plant potted so you can move it around. Variegated plants are sensitive to light and temperature changes, so leaving them in the same spot could make preserving the variegation harder. It’s much better to leave the plant in a pot that you can pick up and move around.
Why do variegated plants need more sun than solid green plants?
Place the plant in full sun to encourage variegation. Variegated plants need more sun than solid green plants because they don’t have as much chlorophyll to absorb sunlight.
Why is sun important for plants?
Sunlight is important because in the shade, the plant produces more chlorophyll to absorb as much sun as possible. This is why plants lose variegation if they don’t get enough sun.
Why do you prune non variegated leaves?
Prune the non-variegated leaves so they don't overgrow the other leaves. Since non-variegated leaves have more chlorophyll than variegated ones, they can grow quickly and overtake your plant. [10]
How to prevent variegated plants from stoking?
Quick temperature snaps, both cold and hot, can shock the plant and cause a loss of variegation. Keep your plant in a spot where the temperature is consistent and avoid large swings. This should prevent the plant from losing variegation.
How to remove nonvariegated leaves from a plant?
Find a node, which is the slightly thicker part of the branch, and clip the branch just above it. Repeat this to remove any non-variegated leaves.
