Beheaded Echeveria

by Christina
(MA)

I just (for the very first time) beheaded my Echeveria “Topsy Turvy”. Without thinking, I also cut the remaining stem left in the pot away from the soil as well…now I have the beheaded rosette sitting atop a glass while I wait for it to show roots, and a long stem connected to nothing…will this stem still produce new plants? Where should I put it?

Thanks!
Christina

Drought Smart Plants reply:

Hi Christina, you’re halfway there! The top rosette doesn’t need water – in fact, I recommend that you don’t put water anywhere near it.

The roots will emerge in time, and don’t worry, the plant has enough reserves to live on until they start to sprout. Water doesn’t make it go any faster, and can actually cause it to rot.

For your long stem, I would just lay it down on the top of some potting soil, and you can even cut it into several pieces, and each one will most likely root and sprout some tiny new rosettes.

The beauty of these fascinating plants is their seemingly magical ability to make new growth out the air – that’s not quite accurate, but sometimes it seems that way!

Time and patience are the key, and once you’ve seen how long it takes to have success, you’ll be well on your way to being a great propagator.

Good luck with your Topsy Turvy!
Jacki

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