Propagating Pinguicula

[David]

tarence
Joined: Apr 2007
Gender: Male
Location: Bandar Kinrara , Puchong

Reply #2 on Yesterday at 4:44pm

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The tip in germinating Pings from leaf cutting is to make sure the `white` part of the leaf is pulled out as well.....the one nearest to the plant...if not, the baby pings won`t appear. Pings rot if they constantly get water on their leafs.....my adult ko-ed that way.

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I pulled it using tweezers, making sure the whole leaf including the `white` part came off smoothly. Then lay it on spaghnum moss and keep moist. Plantlets should appear in 2-3 weeks.

[David]

Propagating Mexican Pinguicula
By Dino Zelenika (cosmo)


Step One

Select a Mexican Pinguicula that you would like to propagate. Spring is usually the best time for this, but the cuttings may grow in other seasons too. Make sure that the Pinguicula is healthy and has sizeable leaves, otherwise you could damage the plant. Be aware that species such as esseriana and jaumavensis will take much more readily than species such as gypsicola. Hybrids such as “Gina" will also take quite readily.

Step Two

Using either your fingers, or a pair of tweezers, carefully tear out the entire leaf, including the white base. This is very important, as plantlets will grow only from the white area. Be carefully to not damage the leaf when getting it off.

Step Three

Lay the leaf on moist-wet compost. Be careful not to bury the leaf, but it is beneficial to dig in the white base very slightly. Just dabbing it in very gently will work. This is not necessary however, but it somewhat improves chances of the cutting taking. You can also lay the leaves around the mother plant. Just make sure you keep the compost moist-wet, otherwise your cutting will dry up and die.

Step Four

Leave the leaf alone for several weeks, and make sure you keep the soil moist-wet at all times. In my experience, cuttings sometimes take a month or more to take. Please do not keep disturbing the leaf as this will disrupt the growing cutting.

Step Five

You will eventually notice a little bump around the white area. After a few more days you should see very tiny leaves as well, and possibly roots. This means that the cutting has taken. Do not disturb the leaf at all for a few more weeks until plants get bigger and stronger. After this, you may use a small spoon or something similar to carefully lift the plantlet from its position onto its permanent pot. Now cultivate the plant as you would for any other Mexican Pinguicula. Plants grown from cuttings will reach maturity in 1 to 2 years, sooner for some species such as esseriana and jaumavensis; I've had some speciments flowering within 6 months after plantlets appeared!

Pictures Coming Soon!!