Good evening steemit.
I’ve got this plant that’s a bit of a drama queen. I’m pretty sure it’s an iresine bloodleaf.
It started as a cutting, never really doing much but growing leggy and dying back. I eventually found a spot it got on with but it was still getting leggy.
In addition to the legginess, I usually come home from work and it’s wilted. I give it a glass of water and go on with my night and it’s right as rain the morning. Next evening, same problem. So not only have a I got this leggy plant, but it’s lying along half the windowsill.
Tired of trying to prop up a plant insistent on growing and wilting sideways, I finally lopped the top of the plant off. I gave it some space above the last set of leaves in case the top dried out. I needn’t’ve worried, it healed very nicely.
Not wanting to waste the life present, I pulled off the bottom set of leaves on the cutting, dipped the end in some striking powder, pushed it into the soil next to the bottom of the plant, and called it a day. I wasn’t expecting much. A few days later, the cut stem was wilting and I thought to myself, ‘eh, I tried.’
I left it and continued my daily ritual of watering my diva plant. Slowly the cut stem picked back up and mirrored its donor in the daily ritual of wilting for my return from work.
I figured it would be interesting to post the results of the striking powder here, so I roughly pulled the cutting out of the soil. I am certain that I lost a sizeable amount of the roots by doing so. Nonetheless, I hope this pictures here give you some indication of what is possible in a short period of time (less than a month) with striking powder and a cooperative cutting. I have rinsed off most of the soil from the roots to give you a better look.
My tip for growing your own cuttings would be to cut a length of plant that includes at least 3 leaf nodes (the area where the leaves come out of). Pull off the bottom leaves and dip the end into some water. Shake off the excess water and dip into the striking powder (also called rooting powder) then press deep enough into the soil for the stem to support itself.
Then just water as you would if it were a normal plant in your collection.
I’ve had some pretty good success with striking powder and cuttings, my favourite being this variety of prayer plant (possibly a Kerchoveana?). This photo depicts the plant in “night mode” where the leaves fold up (as if it were praying, thus the name). It’s hard to believe that a year ago this was just three leaves in a pot of dirt.
If you have any questions about using striking powder, please feel free to comment below and I’ll try to answer as best I can.
