Succulents are dry native plants. They have thick stems or leaves filled with moisture. Some of them have spikes and some have flowers. Succulents are low-maintenance ornamental plants. They are pretty popular nowadays for having bright beautiful colors and shapes. Honey is used as a succulent rooting aid.
So today we will discuss how to propagate succulents with honey and all sorts of other related questions as well.
After cutting new stems or leaves we put honey in them and plant it in a new pot to grow into a new beautiful succulent plant. So if you recently have decided to make your succulent collection go bigger using new leaf or stem cuttings, this article is for you!
How to Propagate Succulents with Honey?
Honey is a very useful component used in many cases. It has many antibacterial benefits as well as other things. There is no limit to honey’s purpose. There are a few steps you need to follow to propagate honey with succulents.
Step one:
Firstly, you have to take the stem or leaf out of the mother plant. Be gentle with your gadgets when you go it. If you are taking a leaf, use your fingers to twist the leaf. Make sure not to pluck the root from the soil and the leaf shouldn’t be broken. And if you are taking a stem, use clean scissors to cut the stem of the mother plant. Be as gentle as you can while doing it.
Step two:
Dry the cuttings directly in sunlight for two to three weeks for them to get healed in the process. Sunray has many benefits for the plants as we all know. This step will help the plant grow callus over at the end. A callus will help prevent pest infestations or root rot. Once you are done with this you can move to step two.
Step three:
This is the part where you dip the dried leaf’s end into the honey, this will create a thin layer. After dipping it in the honey, put it in a pot with a suitable soil mixture. Don’t bury the leaf just lay it on top. Mist the soil twice a day. Do the second time when you see after the soil is completely dried out. This will help with the growth of the succulent.
And that’s how you use honey to propagate your succulents.
What to Do After Propagation?
After the propagation is done, you will see the succulent growing roots in due time. While making sure to give it extra care than other times you should wait for a little more while. Don’t move it to a bigger place right away.
Wait for it to grow its roots further until it’s in a suitable shape patently. Once it has two to four stems or leaves on it, you should plant it in a bigger pot and treat it like other succulents. It doesn’t need extra care anymore. Your succulent is not a baby anymore it’s a ‘man’ now.
How Does Honey Work To Propagate Cuttings?
Honey is a natural antibacterial component. So dipping the dried leaf in honey helps to keep many pest and fungal infestations away from the plant. That helps in the growth of the succulent. Many rooting hormones may take two to four days for the cuttings to grow root.
But honey will take a longer period. Usually, it’s seven to fourteen days. But it’s still better than many other chemical rooting formulas. It’s natural and cheap. And if you are a believer in organic products then honey is your best option.
How to Use Honey As A Rooting Hormone?
Honey truly is used as a growth stimulator. There are some other ways you can use honey as a rooting hormone. Take two to three tablespoons of honey and put it in boiled water. Let the solution cool.
Dip the cutting in the growth medium and then roll them in cinnamon powder. Afterward, turn the cutting in honey before planting them. Use this honey solution for your succulent growth.
What Is A Substitute for Rooting Hormone for Succulents?
As plant lovers, we are always in a rush to expand our plant collections. So whenever we see new plants or we want a new version of an existing plant, we take a leaf or stem of it and put it in a pot to grow roots from it. The plant will grow by itself with nature doing the work.
But sometimes it takes a long time to wait and we become impatient to see our new plant. In that case, we use many new artificial things to make our plants grow faster.
There are many plants growing hormones on the market. But they are all chemical products that may cause harm to your precious plant. So you can use some natural rooting products such as honey, Apple Cider Vinegar, and cinnamon to make the growth a lot faster. These natural components are affordable, easy to find, and organic.
Can I Make My Rooting Hormone with Honey for Succulents?
Yes, you can make your rooting hormone with the help of honey and some other ingredients. There are quite a few growth hormones you can make and use with the help of honey and other stuff. There are some mixer ideas for you.
- Willow tea + Honey
- Aloe vera gel + Honey
- Cinnamon + Honey
So these are the homemade growth hormones that you can use for the growth of your plants. Make sure to try all of them since one may work better than the other depending on the succulent’s condition.
Closure
Honey is a great method to use for the growth of succulents. But as it isn’t a growth hormone it has some barriers. It also depends on your succulent’s type, the temperature of the environment, etc. So if you use only the honey, it may not be enough to grow the succulents as fast as you want.
But if you are not in a hurry and have the time to let your succulent grow then use honey as it’s very organic and affordable with many antibacterial qualities. Thus as a plant parent honey gives you the right opportunity to keep your plants healthy and growing at the same time.
Hi, I am Rahat Rubayet. I am an entrepreneur and A gardener by Hobby. I created This website to help people like you, who want to make the world greener and want to leave it as a better place for our next generation.
