LJ Posted July 31, 2007 Report Share Posted July 31, 2007 Hi all, Im wanting to try some leaf cuttings from my cephalotus but not really sure how to go about it. Im hoping someone can advise thats had experience with this?? Thanks Heather Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
An D Smith Posted July 31, 2007 Report Share Posted July 31, 2007 Hi Heather Taking leaf cuttings from Cephalotus is a very easy affair. The non-carnivorous leaves are best, although the pitchers can be used too. Using a gentle downward tug, pull the leaf away from the rhizome. The downward motion will make sure that a little of the rhizome will be attached to the leaf petiole (stalk). Place the leaf on the surface of some live sphagnum moss, making sure that the very end of the petiole (the severed end) is covered by a little moss. Keep the whole thing humid and bright, maybe placing it into a clear plastic bag. Within 2 months new roots and small shoots should appear. A mature plant can be raised to flowering size in about 18 months using this method. I hope this is of some help. Cheers Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Aidan Posted July 31, 2007 Report Share Posted July 31, 2007 Here's an old thread on the subject: http://www.cpukforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=907 The advice hasn't changed and live Sphagnum appears to work best as a media. All you need is patience. It's a slow process. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LJ Posted July 31, 2007 Author Report Share Posted July 31, 2007 Thanks for the advice Andy and Aiden, think I'll try it in live sphagnum. Just one question...... Andy you say I need to pull the leaf off with some of the rhizome attached, if I pull the leaf off without this will it not work?? Thanks Heather Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest FredG Posted July 31, 2007 Report Share Posted July 31, 2007 if I pull the leaf off without this will it not work It will :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Aidan Posted July 31, 2007 Report Share Posted July 31, 2007 You will get the best strike rate with entire leaves. In other words, if you break the stalk successful rooting is less likely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LJ Posted July 31, 2007 Author Report Share Posted July 31, 2007 Many thanks for advice everyone, fingers crossed I manage to get them to root successfully Heather Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimscott Posted July 31, 2007 Report Share Posted July 31, 2007 Here's a pictoral to help: original plant from elgecko, showing the winter leaves same plant a couple years later When that plant was in trouble I plucked a leaf, basal part included and placed in live LFS.... and waited several weeks for it to strike. same leaf cutting, several months later. I placed it like a chip dip in the media, uncovered. I have two more leaves, from the plant produced by the leaf cutting, for now a 3rd generation. Those are in with the parent plant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jorick Posted August 11, 2007 Report Share Posted August 11, 2007 You can use a thooth pic to help you pull of the entire leaf, it works well for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petesredtraps Posted August 23, 2007 Report Share Posted August 23, 2007 You can use a thooth pic to help you pull of the entire leaf, it works well for me. I use some super-fine tweezers,the ones with the slightly hooked end.They're also great for feeding your cephs fine food, i.e ant eggs . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RL7836 Posted August 27, 2007 Report Share Posted August 27, 2007 Thanks for the advice Andy and Aiden, think I'll try it in live sphagnum.Just one question...... Andy you say I need to pull the leaf off with some of the rhizome attached, if I pull the leaf off without this will it not work?? While I try to get as much of the full leaf & stem as possible, they seem to be less sensitive to missing a piece of rhizome than VFTs. Be patient, it may take a while .... If the leaf stays green, good things are going on below the surface. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adamski Posted March 29, 2008 Report Share Posted March 29, 2008 Hi all, ive just read this post and have decided to give leaf cutting a go. Ive taken your advice on the tooth pick and taken the leaft from as close to the rhizome as i can get to. Ive buried this into some choped LFS about 2mm deep. This all sits in a 2" pot of 50%peat 50% perlite mix toped with about 1" of LFS. For the time bieng this is sat in a little water and covered in a dome to retain humidity. All this has been treated with Trichoderma. Have I donr anything wrong or will this produce me a new little ceph in a few months? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LJ Posted March 29, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 29, 2008 (edited) Looks ok, although personally I normally bury the leaf a bit deeper so you cant see any of the stalk at all and live sphagnum is thought to be the best media to use but you can also use peat. All six leaf cuttings I've done have worked well using that method. Heather Edited March 29, 2008 by LJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mobile Posted March 29, 2008 Report Share Posted March 29, 2008 I use a peat/perlite/sand 1:1:1 mix. I dibble a hole in it to approximately the depth of the leaf stem, place the leaf in the hole then fill the hole in with a plug of live sphagnum moss. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scarlett Posted October 5, 2008 Report Share Posted October 5, 2008 Is Trichoderma necessary? Is there another readily available alternative? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LJ Posted October 5, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 5, 2008 Trichoderma is not neccessary for leaf pullings - I have a really good success rate without it! Heather Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mobile Posted October 5, 2008 Report Share Posted October 5, 2008 Is Trichoderma necessary? Is there another readily available alternative? Not really. There is some debate as to whether there are any benefits with using it on carnivorous plants and I'm not aware of any controlled experiments to confirm its effectiveness in CP species. There are some growers who have been growing Cephalotus for many years and have never used it. I'm not aware of an alternative. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scarlett Posted October 5, 2008 Report Share Posted October 5, 2008 Trichoderma is not neccessary for leaf pullings - I have a really good success rate without it!Heather Awesome! I think I'm finally going to give it a try...I've been so afraid to. Kelly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimscott Posted October 5, 2008 Report Share Posted October 5, 2008 I use no chemicals. I sprout them in something like this: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scarlett Posted October 7, 2008 Report Share Posted October 7, 2008 Well, I've done it...pulled three leaves and placed them in spaghum. Crossing my fingers!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevan Posted October 8, 2008 Report Share Posted October 8, 2008 I take it that this is not the time to be doing leaf pullings in the UK? When is the best time to take them in balmy Bath? Kevan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LJ Posted October 8, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 8, 2008 They can take a while so would think its better in spring and summer rather than late autmn/early winter. If you have a grow light then you should be bale to do them at any time of the year though........ Regards Heather Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scarlett Posted October 18, 2008 Report Share Posted October 18, 2008 They can take a while so would think its better in spring and summer rather than late autmn/early winter.If you have a grow light then you should be bale to do them at any time of the year though........ Regards Heather I've got a grow light on mine and keeping the moss moist. Do I need to put plastic over the top or anything? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mobile Posted October 18, 2008 Report Share Posted October 18, 2008 I've got a grow light on mine and keeping the moss moist. Do I need to put plastic over the top or anything? No, that would encourage fungal growth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scarlett Posted October 18, 2008 Report Share Posted October 18, 2008 Thank you. I will keep things as they are. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.