When a green cactus develops stripes and patches of yellow or white tissue in its progeny, the unique coloring is called variegation. With the popularity of succulents, this unusual feature is producing many new cultivars featuring curious color changes.
In this manner, how do you take care of a variegated cactus?
Variegated succulents have the same water needs as any other succulent. This means infrequent soakings are key. Make sure that the top inch of soil is dry before watering. Water about once a week in the summer and once every 3 to 4 weeks in the winter, allowing the soil to completely dry out completely in between.
In this regard, what are variegated succulents?
Variegation is the lack of green chlorophyll in some plant cells, causing different colored zones to appear on the leaves and stems. Generally, any plant is considered variegated as long as it has leaves, stems, flowers, or trunks in different colors within the same structure.
What causes variegated cactus?
Usually, variegation is due to the lack of chlorophyll in that section of the leaf, forming a yellow or white band, streak, or mottling of tissue. Sometimes variegation is due to the presence of pigments that mask the chlorophyll pigments producing even darker colors (purples, reds, etc.).
How do you encourage variegation in plants?
Place the plant in full sun to encourage variegation.
Variegated plants need more sun than solid green plants because they don’t have as much chlorophyll to absorb sunlight. If you’re growing a variegated plant, leave it near a sunny window or a bright spot on your property so it absorbs enough sun to stay healthy.
How often should Cactus be watered?
Generally, cactus plants will need watering every 7 to 10 days for optimal growth during spring, summer, and autumn months. Increase the interval between watering schedules during the plant’s rest or dormant period during winter (approximately every 4 to 6 weeks).
Can you force variegation in plants?
A. Variegation is not easily induced and can‘t be done so at home. Best to get a cutting of a variegated plant from a friend or pass your’s on in order to keep the variegated plant love flowing.
How long do grafted cacti live?
10 to 200 years
Can succulents be variegated?
Variegated succulents, or any plants with a variegated leaf, can occur in a few different ways. … It is not an adaptation to the plant’s environment, but rather a genetic accident. Some of these mutated plants will pass on this colorful change to their offspring.
How do you mutate succulents?
However, the grown mutations are generally transmitted by seeds, so the best way to propagate these plants is by cuttings. Variegation in succulents is almost always initially caused by normal genetic variation. Variegated succulents even get selected and magnified in a cultivation process, due to their mutation.
What does Monstrose mean?
Crested and monstrose plants are those that exhibit abnormal, distorted or disfigured growth. This happens when a mutation occurs during cell division.
Is a kalanchoe a succulent?
Kalanchoes are beautiful soft succulents, easy to propagate from cuttings, with showy flowers.
How do you trigger variegation?
Convenient phenotype control using specific promoters: For example, with an alcohol-inducible promoter, variegation can be induced by spraying plant leaves with ethanol. Visible Selection: Plants carrying a gene of interest can be easily identified without antibiotics or other chemicals.
