Sempervivum tectorum 'Emerald Empress' with babies
Here is one of my plant buying secrets. When shopping for succulents I always scan the plant isles for succulents with offsets—the little identical plants that grow at the base of the mother plants. Like “Hens and Chicks.”
Like the time my friend bought this cute fat little pet rat for her daughter. Well, a couple weeks later she had seven pet rats. It’s kind of like that.
(But, in my opinion, the succulent idea has a better outcome.)
Normally I don’t buy succulents unless I go to a succulent show and buy unusual plants for my collection. They are just too easy to propagate from leaves or offsets.
You can easily pull off these offsets, and plant them.
You are supposed to let them dry a bit before you plant them, but I never do and haven’t lost a single one yet.
The offsets grow really fast. It doesn’t take long before they reach the size of the mature plant.
The main plant benefits, too: All the energy that the plant was using to keep its offsets alive is suddenly reinvested back in the main plant.
So next time you’re plant shopping, buy the pregnant plant.
I am all for free plants when you buy one plant.
Posted by: Curtis | August 14, 2007 at 05:13 PM
Great reminder. I always look for nice full plants that I can divide myself. But 26 free plants must be some kind of record!
Carol at May Dreams Gardens
Posted by: Carol | August 14, 2007 at 07:17 PM
I like the plant idea way better than the rat one! This is a great way to get more plants - I do that with perennials too.
Speaking of succulents, I just repotted a bunch and now have no little clay pots left ... I'm very aware that they are about to get moved back indoors any night now (something you are so lucky not to have to worry about - the dreaded frost!)
Posted by: kate | August 15, 2007 at 09:35 AM
Thinking like that got me three gigantic pink gaura plants from one little pot - love your amazing mother of dozens plant, Chigiy! I have sempervivum envy.
Annie at the Transplantable Rose
Posted by: Annie in Austin | August 15, 2007 at 06:25 PM
My mom and I always pick over plants at nurseries for just this reason! Another thing I like to do, early in the season, is buy a 6-pack of leggy impatiens and root cuttings from them. I can just about fill a small bed that way!
Posted by: gw | August 16, 2007 at 03:45 PM
I always look for bonus plants like this, too! But wow...26!!! Good job!
Posted by: Kylee | August 17, 2007 at 10:16 PM
There are certain cultivars of Sempervivums that put off lots of offsets, some don't.
I am just crazy about sempervivums. I have more than 1.700 diffrent plants.
You can read about my collection in
sempervivum.sosblog.com
Do come and visit me sometimes.
Best wishes from Ljubljana, Slovenia!
Posted by: renee | May 09, 2008 at 03:24 AM
Why is it there's a lot of FREEIES? Anyway, a great marketing strategy ...
Posted by: Flowers Gifts | September 12, 2009 at 02:37 AM