The propagation of exotic plants is almost considered the supreme discipline for hobby gardeners, but sometimes it is not difficult at all, as is the case with the screw tree. The screw trees are at home in the tropical forests of Africa, Madagascar and Malaysia.
How do you grow screw tree cuttings?
To grow screw tree offshoots, cut off side shoots on the trunk, put them in a peat-sand mixture and cover the pot with foil or use a small greenhouse. After 4-6 weeks of rooting, slowly accustom the offshoots to a normal room climate and water moderately.
How do I cut offshoots from the screw tree?
The screw tree forms small side sprouts on the trunk, which can be used excellently as offshoots. Sometimes they root directly on the trunk, but this is not necessarily the case for all species and is not necessary. Using a sharp, clean knife, carefully cut the shoots close to the trunk. If necessary, you can dry the interfaces (of course only on the trunk) a little with charcoal powder.
How should the offshoots be cared for?
Place the cuttings in a pot that is about eight to ten centimeters high and filled with a mixture of peat and sand. Moisten the substrate well and carefully stretch a transparent film over this pot. To ensure that the foil does not touch the cutting, you may need to support the foil with rods. A good alternative is also a mini or small greenhouse (€239.00 on Amazon).
High humidity is beneficial for rooting and growth. In addition, the substrate should be slightly moist, but definitely not wet. In a warm and bright location, your cuttings should be quite well rooted after about four to six weeks. Now they can slowly get used to the regular room air.
Normal room temperatures of around 20 °C to 22 °C are completely sufficient for the screw tree. At first (about two months) you should only water your young plants moderately. The top layer of soil is allowed to dry out minimally in between. Waterlogging would cause the young roots to rot very quickly. If the air is too dry or watering is too sparse, the leaves turn brown.
The most important things in brief:
- Use side shoots as offshoots
- pruning in (early) spring
- draw in a peat-sand mixture
- under foil or in a small greenhouse
- Rooting after about 4 to 6 weeks
- slowly get used to normal indoor climate
- water moderately at the beginning
Tip
A screw tree is quite easy to grow from cuttings, give it a try!
