Tuesday 25 June 2013

Never say never

It is common knowledge that certain echeverias can be propagated through leaves, the general opinion is that variegated leaves will produce normal plants.  This is so ingrained I have even posted that myself.  It is apt that this is first post returning to plants; Paul was a firm believer in testing everything as you never know what will happen.  I am not against experiments, so I test every plant I get just to see if it will produce new plants, and if any turn out variegated. 

The latest experiment was with leaves from echeveria 'Compton Carousel' and look what happens:


I am waiting to see if it throws out any more green leaves, otherwise as the old leaf dies it will die to.  It is a lovely oddity though and while it stays almost pure white I think as suitable name is echeveria "Compton Carousel Ghost"

9 comments:

  1. That's cool! Keep us posted!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I have never seen a flower like that! I guess I won't toss those loose leaves any more! Now you have me curious- I will have to try this...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's not the flower but a new plant. Instead of being only slighted variegated the leaves have no chlorophyll at all. But you should always try leaves, middle age ones work best, so not brand new, but not the ld leaves on their way out.

      Delete
  3. That's beautiful--you may end up with all-green leaves if it keeps growing long enough. That's what I'm seeing with Agaves, any way.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks. I think you are right, it will either die, due to no being too white, or each leaf will get greener until it reverts to normal.

      Delete
  4. Since you are into some experimentation, have you considered trying to graft the developing plant "Compton Carousel Ghost" onto another echeveria? I know grafting is not practiced much on echeverias because of their ease of propagation, but it probably would work, and if your stock plant maintained a few leaves, the "Compton Carousel Ghost" would live on.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've never experimented with grafting, as you say it is so easy to propagate echeverias it it not normally needed. I may have to do a bit or reading and see if it would work for something like this.

      Delete
  5. Did it survive? :-) Really curious to know..

    ReplyDelete