Leaf Cuttings

Selection of leaf cutting material

You should choose the material to be used for leaf cuttings from stock plants which are:

• free from insect and disease infestation;

• free from damage;

• typical of named plant required (that is, correctly named);

• well-watered-always ensure that the stock plant is not under any water stress;

• grown in optimum light conditions for that species. The leaves you choose should:

• be fresh mature leaves;

• show no signs of deterioration, pests or diseases.

Arrows indicate which leaves are most suitable for selection as leaf cuttings from a Saintpaulia ionantha stock plant

Once you've cut the cutting material, you should work with it quickly, keeping it away from sunlight and in a turgid state at all times.

Types of leaf cuttings

Leaf lamina (whole leaf)

The leaf lamina, without the petiole, is used.

Whole leaf cuttings are suitable for use:

• with plants with succulent leaves where water loss is high if the leaves are cut; eg: Sedum spp., Crassula spp.;

• where material is plentiful; the larger the leaf or section of leaf propagated, the more chance of success; eg: Saintpaulia ionantha;

• where foliar 'embryos' are present on the leaf margin; eg: Bryophyllum pinnata (see Figure 5);

• where preformed plants are present at the junction of the leaf blade and petiole; eg: Tolmiea menziesii.

Figure 5: Foliar embryo of Bryophyllum pinnatum

Leaf and petiole cuttings

Leaf and petiole cuttings may be used:

• where material is plentiful; eg: Saintpaulia ionantha (see Figure 6);

• where the meristems are located in the petiole but not in the leaf lamina.

Figure 6: Plantlets developing at the base of Saintpaulia ionantha petiole

Leaf segments

A whole leaf is cut into sections or segments.

Leaf segments can be used for:

• sections of long tapering leaves; eg: Sansevieria trifasciata (see Figure 7);

• wedge sections of fleshy leaves, each section containing a vein; eg: Begonia rex (see Figure8).

Figure 7: Sansevieria trifasciata leaf cuttings showing leaf sections

Figure 8: Begonia rex leaf wedge sections

Severed vein cuttings

Severed vein cuttings may be used:

• where many new plants arise from the cells located along the veins of the leaf; eg: Streptocarpus x hybrida, Begonia rex (see Figure 9).

Figure 9: Begonia rex leaves with plantets forming

Note: This method of leaf cuttage is not used extensively on a commercial scale for Begonia rex. Because the leaf is laid flat on the surface of the medium this method consumes too much space and tends to be prone to disease invasion, especially by fungi (see Figure 10).

Figure 10: Begonia rex leaves laid flat on the medium

Streptocarpus × hybrida have the veins of their leaves severed, but when planted, are placed upright, and so you don't find the fungal problems associated with Begonia rex leaves

Production of leaf cuttings

Media types

The medium you use must retain moisture but be well-aerated and well-drained. Examples of suitable media include:

• a mixture of peat and sand

• peat, vermiculite and perlite

• straight peat (this is recommended for leaf cuttings).

The proportions of each ingredient is determined by:

• the time of year propagation is being performed; the species being propagated;

• the environmental conditions available.

While the trend is not to add any fertiliser to propagation media, I have found that using a small amount (about one-sixth of the amount normally added to potting mixes) is beneficial to the success and early growth of the newplants from leaf cuttings.

The mixture of ingredients and fertiliser is initially very much trial-and-error so you have to experiment to find the best combination for your production schedule.

Type of container

The most suitable container to use is a shallow seed tray (or 'flat). These shallow seed trays are suitable because:

• the cuttings form only a shallow root system and therefore the media underneath the root system si wasted ni a deep pot;

• the soil temperature would be difficult to keep constant in a deeper container because the available water, under the cutting or the root system being formed, is not being utilised (this cools the media to unacceptable levels);

• shallow trays are more economical of space on the propagation bench;

• if there are problems with disease due to air circulation in the centre of a seed tray, the medium can be 'humped' or hilled' in the middle of the container (see Figure 12).

By hilling the medium, aeration will be improved around the cutting in the centre of the container.

Plant growth regulators

Usually an IBA (indole butyric acid) based hormone preparation is used at 0.2% concentration (2000 ppm). You can also use a quick-dip solution.

You will need to ensure that the correct hormone application technique is used.

Use of fungicides

Fungicides are used on plant material as a precaution against fungus diseases, either as a:

• dip for the plant material prior to preparation of cuttings (gloves should be worn and all protective practices regarding use of fungicides must be observed stringently refer back to the section on hygiene and sanitation to remind yourself of the full safety procedures);

• dip after cuttings have been prepared;

• drench after dibbling cuttings into container.

*Please remember that the use of fungicide does not permit other hygiene practices to be ignored.

Wounding

Wounding IS not necessary for leaf cuttings as sufficient exposed tissue is available. Also, due to the fleshy nature of most of the leaves, dessication will be higher if more tissue is exposed.

Watering, spacing and labelling

Watering

Take care not to overwater leaf cuttings. Overwatering can lead to:

• leaf damage and subsequent infestation of fungal diseases;

• lower soil temperature, which in turn reduces metabolic activity in this area (where it is most needed!).

Some leaf cuttings are severely damaged by water droplets if watered incorrectly or at the wrong time of day-for example, Saintpaulia ionantha. With some species it may be necessary to water using capillary methods rather than conventional methods.

Spacing

Allow sufficient space between cuttings and containers for adequate air circulation; failure to do this will result in fungal problems.

Labelling

Always label carefully with at least the correct name of plant and date of propagation. Record this information and any other relevant details in a separate propagation diary.

Leaf cuttings- -suitable species

Saintpaulia ionantha (African violet)

Begonia rex

Tolmiea menziesii (piggy-back plant)

Bryophyllum vinnata

Asplenium douglasii

Asplenium ebenoides (Scott's spleenwort)

Asplenium pinnatifidum (lobed spleenwort)

Asplenium rhizophyllum (walking fern)

Asplenium ruprechtii (Asian Walking Fern)

Sedum abchasicum

Sedum acre (goldmoss stonecrop)

Sedum actinocarpum

Sedum adolphii

Sedum aetnense

Sedum alamosanum

Sedum albertii

Sedum albomarginatum (Feather River stonecrop)

Sedum album (white stonecrop)

Sedum alexanderi

Sedum alfredii

Sedum allantoides

Sedum alpestre

Sedum alsinefolium

Sedum alsinifolium

Sedum amecamecanum

Sedum andegavense

Sedum andinum

Sedum anglicum (English stonecrop)

Sedum annuum (annual stonecrop)

Sedum apoleipon

Sedum aquilanum

Sedum arenarium

Sedum argunense

Sedum assyriacum

Sedum atratum

Sedum attenuatum

Sedum australe

Sedum aytacianum

Sedum baileyi

Sedum baleensis

Sedum balfourii

Sedum barbeyi

Sedum baselicis

Sedum batallae

Sedum batesii

Sedum battandieri

Sedum beauverdii

Sedum bellum

Sedum bergeri

Sedum berillonanum

Sedum bhattacharyyae

Sedum blepharophyllum

Sedum bonnieri

Sedum booleanum

Sedum boreale

Sedum borissovae

Sedum botteri

Sedum bourgaei

Sedum brachetii

Sedum bracteatum

Sedum brevifolium

Sedum brissemoretii (Vulnerable)

Sedum bulbiferum

Sedum burrito (burro's tail)

Sedum caducum

Sedum caeruleum (Sky Stone-crop)

Sedum caespitosum

Sedum calcaratum

Sedum calcicola

Sedum callichroum (needle stonecrop)

Sedum candollei

Sedum carinatifolium

Sedum carnegiei

Sedum caroli-henrici

Sedum catorce

Sedum cavei

Sedum celatum

Sedum celiae

Sedum cepaea

Sedum chauveaudii

Sedum chazaroi

Sedum chihuahuense

Sedum chingtungense

Sedum chloropetalum

Sedum chrysicaulum

Sedum chuhsingense

Sedum churchillianum

Sedum cirenianum

Sedum citrinum

Sedum clausenii

Sedum clavatum

Sedum clavifolium

Sedum cockerellii (Cockerell's stonecrop)

Sedum commixtum

Sedum compactum

Sedum concarpum

Sedum confertiflorum

Sedum confusum

Sedum conzattii

Sedum copalense

Sedum copatense

Sedum cormiferum

Sedum correptum

Sedum corymbosum

Sedum corynephyllum

Sedum costantinii

Sedum craigii

Sedum crassularia

Sedum cremnophila

Sedum creticum

Sedum cuadripetalum

Sedum cucullatum

Sedum cupressoides

Sedum cuspidatum

Sedum cymatopetalum

Sedum cyprium

Sedum daigremontianum

Sedum danjoense

Sedum dasyphyllum (Thick-leaf stonecrop)

Sedum debile (orpine stonecrop)

Sedum decipiens

Sedum dendroideum (tree stonecrop)

Sedum derbezii

Sedum didymocalyx

Sedum dielsii

Sedum diffusum

Sedum diminutum

Sedum dimorphophyllum

Sedum dispermum

Sedum divergens (Pacific stonecrop)

Sedum donatae

Sedum donatii

Sedum dongzhiense

Sedum dormiens

Sedum droseraefolium

Sedum drymarioides

Sedum dugueyi

Sedum dulcinomen

Sedum duthiei

Sedum eastwoodiae (Red Mountain stonecrop)

Sedum ebracteatum

Sedum ecalcaratum

Sedum edwardsae

Sedum edwardsii

Sedum eichlamii

Sedum elatinoides

Sedum elburzense

Sedum emarginatum

Sedum engadinense

Sedum engleri

Sedum epidendrum

Sedum erici-magnusii

Sedum eriocarpum

Sedum ermenekensis

Sedum erraticum

Sedum erythrospermum

Sedum euxinum (Euxinian Stonecrop) (Critically Endangered)

Sedum fanjingshanense

Sedum farinosum

Sedum feddei

Sedum fedtschenckoi

Sedum fedtschenkoi

Sedum filipes

Sedum fischeri

Sedum flaccidum

Sedum flavidum

Sedum formosanum

Sedum forreri

Sedum forrestii

Sedum fragrans

Sedum franchetii

Sedum frutescens

Sedum fuereri

Sedum fui

Sedum furfuraceum

Sedum fuscum

Sedum fusiforme

Sedum gagei

Sedum galeananum

Sedum garciamendozum

Sedum gattefossei

Sedum giajae

Sedum giajai

Sedum gibbiflora

Sedum glabrum

Sedum glaebosum

Sedum glassii

Sedum glaucophyllum (cliff stonecrop)

Sedum glaucum

Sedum globuliflorum

Sedum glomerifolium

Sedum goeldii

Sedum goldmanii

Sedum gracile

Sedum grammophyllum

Sedum grandipetalum

Sedum grandyi

Sedum greggii

Sedum grisebachii

Sedum griseum

Sedum guadalajaranum

Sedum guatemalense

Sedum gypsicola

Sedum gypsophilum

Sedum habonense

Sedum hakonense

Sedum hangzhouense

Sedum havardii (Havard's stonecrop)

Sedum heckelii

Sedum hemsleanum

Sedum hemsleyanum

Sedum hengduanense

Sedum henrici-roberti

Sedum hernandezii

Sedum herreianus

Sedum hintonii

Sedum hintoniorum

Sedum hirsutum

Sedum hispanicum (Spanish stonecrop)

Sedum hoi

Sedum holei

Sedum holopetalum

Sedum hultenii

Sedum humifusum

Sedum hutchisonii

Sedum hypogaeum

Sedum ichangense

Sedum ichangensis

Sedum ignescens

Sedum incarum

Sedum ince

Sedum inconspicuum

Sedum isidorum

Sedum jaccardianum

Sedum jahandiezii

Sedum jaliscanum

Sedum japonicum

Sedum jarocho

Sedum jerzedowskii

Sedum jiuhuashanense

Sedum jiulungshanense

Sedum jordanianum

Sedum juarezense

Sedum jujuyense

Sedum jurgensenii

Sedum keniense

Sedum kiangnanense

Sedum kimnachii

Sedum kingdonii

Sedum kiusianum

Sedum kotschyanum (purple stonecrop)

Sedum koyuncui

Sedum kristenii

Sedum kuisianum

Sedum kuntsunianum

Sedum kwanwuense

Sedum laconicum

Sedum laetifolium

Sedum lagascae

Sedum lahovarianum

Sedum lampusae

Sedum lanceolatum (lance-leaf stonecrop)

Sedum lancerottense

Sedum latentibulbosum

Sedum latifilamentum

Sedum laxum (roseflower stonecrop)

Sedum leblancae

Sedum leblancei

Sedum leibergii (Leiberg stonecrop)

Sedum lenkoranicum

Sedum leptophyllum

Sedum leucocarpum

Sedum liebmannianum

Sedum lineare (Needle stonecrop)

Sedum linguifolia

Sedum lipingense

Sedum litoreum

Sedum longifuniculatum

Sedum longipes

Sedum longuetae

Sedum longyanense

Sedum luchuanicum

Sedum lucidum

Sedum lumholtzii

Sedum lungtsuanense

Sedum luteoviride

Sedum lutzii

Sedum lydium

Sedum macdonaldii

Sedum macdougallii

Sedum madrense

Sedum magellense

Sedum magniflorum

Sedum maireanum

Sedum majus

Sedum makinoi (golden Japanese sedum)

Sedum marmorense

Sedum maurum

Sedum melanantherum

Sedum mellitulum

Sedum mesoamericanum

Sedum mexicanum (Mexican stonecrop)

Sedum meyeri-johannis

Sedum meyranianum

Sedum microcarpum

Sedum microsepalum

Sedum microstachyum

Sedum millspaughii

Sedum minimum

Sedum minutiflorum

Sedum mocinianum

Sedum mocinoanum

Sedum modestum

Sedum moniliforme

Sedum monregalense

Sedum mooneyi

Sedum moranense (red stonecrop)

Sedum moranii (Rogue River stonecrop)

Sedum morganianum

Sedum morrisonense

Sedum mucizonia

Sedum mukojimense

Sedum multicaule

Sedum multiceps

Sedum multiflorum

Sedum muscoideum

Sedum muyaicum

Sedum nagasakianum

Sedum nanchuanense

Sedum nanifolium (dwarf stonecrop)

Sedum nanlingense

Sedum nanshanchunense

Sedum nanum

Sedum napiferum

Sedum nellydiegoi

Sedum neoacutifolium

Sedum neoalbiflorum

Sedum neoimbricatum

Sedum neopulvinatum

Sedum neoviride

Sedum neovolcanicum

Sedum nevadense

Sedum nevii (Nevius' stonecrop)

Sedum niveum (Davidson's stonecrop)

Sedum nokoense

Sedum nothodugueyi

Sedum nudum

Sedum nussbaumerianum

Sedum nuttalianum (yellow stonecrop)

Sedum oaxacanum

Sedum obcordatum

Sedum oblanceolatum (oblongleaf stonecrop)

Sedum obtrullatum

Sedum obtusatum (Sierra stonecrop)

Sedum obtusipetalum

Sedum ochroleucum (European stonecrop)

Sedum ocuilense

Sedum oligocarpum

Sedum oligospermum

Sedum onychopetalum

Sedum orbatum

Sedum oreades

Sedum oreganum (Oregon stonecrop)

Sedum oregonense (cream stonecrop)

Sedum oteroi

Sedum oxycoccoides

Sedum oxypetalum

Sedum pacense

Sedum pachyphyllum

Sedum pagetodes

Sedum pallidum

Sedum palmeri

Sedum pampaninii

Sedum paniculatum

Sedum papillcaulum

Sedum papillicaulum

Sedum paradisum

Sedum parvisepalum

Sedum parvum (dwarf stonecrop)

Sedum patens

Sedum patrickii

Sedum pectinatum

Sedum pedicellatum

Sedum pentapetalum

Sedum pentastamineum

Sedum perezdelarosae

Sedum perpusillum

Sedum perrotii

Sedum peruvianum

Sedum phyllanthum

Sedum piaxlaense

Sedum piaxtlaense

Sedum piloshanense

Sedum planifolium

Sedum platysepalum

Sedum platystylum

Sedum plicatum

Sedum plumbizincicola

Sedum polystriatum

Sedum polytrichoides

Sedum porphyranthes

Sedum pososepalum

Sedum potosinum

Sedum praealtum (green cockscomb)

Sedum praegeri

Sedum praesidis

Sedum prasinopetalum

Sedum pratoalpinum

Sedum pringlei

Sedum przewalskii

Sedum pseudomulticaule

Sedum pseudosubtile

Sedum pubescens

Sedum pulchellum (widowscross)

Sedum pulverulentum

Sedum pulvinatum

Sedum purdomii

Sedum purpusorum

Sedum pusillum (Granite stonecrop)

Sedum pyriseminum

Sedum quadalajaranum

Sedum quadripetalum

Sedum quevae

Sedum radiatum (Coast Range stonecrop)

Sedum ramentaceum

Sedum raramuri

Sedum raymondii

Sedum reniforme

Sedum renzopalmae

Sedum reptans

Sedum retusum

Sedum rhodiola

Sedum rhodocarpum

Sedum roberti

Sedum roborowskii

Sedum rosthornianum

Sedum rubens

Sedum rubiginosum

Sedum rubrotinctum (Jelly Bean Plant)

Sedum rupicola (curvedleaf stonecrop)

Sedum ruwenzoriense

Sedum sagittipetalum

Sedum salazarii

Sedum samium

Sedum sarmentosum (stringy stonecrop)

Sedum satumense

Sedum schizolepis

Sedum scopulinum

Sedum sedoides

Sedum seelemannii

Sedum sekiteiense

Sedum semilunatum

Sedum sexangulare (tasteless stonecrop)

Sedum shaoakouense

Sedum shengkuangense

Sedum shigatsense

Sedum shitaiense

Sedum sieboldii

Sedum sinforosanum

Sedum sinoglaciale

Sedum smallii (elf orpine)

Sedum somenii

Sedum sorgerae

Sedum spathulifolium (broadleaf stonecrop)

Sedum spathulisepalum

Sedum spiralifolium

Sedum stahli

Sedum stahlii (coral beads)

Sedum stefco

Sedum stellariifolium

Sedum stelliforme (Huachuca Mountain stonecrop)

Sedum stenopetalum (wormleaf stonecrop)

Sedum stenophyllum

Sedum stimulosum

Sedum strobiliforme

Sedum suaveolens

Sedum subgaleatum

Sedum subtile

Sedum susannae

Sedum susanneae

Sedum taiwanalpinum

Sedum tamaulipense

Sedum tarokoense

Sedum tehuaztlense

Sedum tenellum

Sedum tenuifolium

Sedum ternatum (woodland stonecrop)

Sedum tetractinum

Sedum tianmushanense

Sedum timidum

Sedum torreri

Sedum tortuosum

Sedum torulosum

Sedum tosaense

Sedum treleasei

Sedum triactina

Sedum tricarpum

Sedum trichospermum

Sedum trichromum

Sedum tristriatum

Sedum trollii

Sedum trullipetalum

Sedum tsiangii

Sedum tsinghaicum

Sedum tsonanum

Sedum tuberculatum

Sedum tuberiferum

Sedum tuberosum

Sedum ulricae

Sedum ursi

Sedum urvillei

Sedum valens

Sedum versadense

Sedum versicolor

Sedum verticillatum

Sedum victorianum

Sedum villosum (Purple stonecrop)

Sedum vinicolor

Sedum wangii

Sedum wannanense

Sedum weberbaueri

Sedum wenchuanense

Sedum wilczekianum

Sedum wilsonii

Sedum woronowii

Sedum wrightii (Wright's stonecrop)

Sedum xerophilum

Sedum xochipalense

Sedum yildizianum

Sedum yvesii

Sedum zentarotashiroi

Sinningia araneosa

Sinningia barbata

Sinningia bulbosa

Sinningia conspicua

Sinningia douglasii

Sinningia elatior

Sinningia glazioviana

Sinningia helleri

Sinningia incarnata

Sinningia lindleyi

Sinningia ornata

Sinningia sellowii

Sinningia speciosa (nodding broomrape)

Sinningia warmingii

Sansevieriatrifasciata (mother-in-law's tongue)

Peperomia spp.

Crassula spp.

Streptocarpus x hybrida