Chip off the old block…

Now is the perfect time to take stem cuttings of Aeonium ‘Zwartkop’.

These stunning succulent beauties hail from the Canary Islands and Madeira.

Cuttings should be taken approximately 8-10cm from the tip of each stem. These should then be plunged into gritty compost, so that the tips of the leaves are almost in contact with the compost. The cuttings should be well watered, and left in a place which is warm and bright. They should only be watered again when compost is beginning to dry out. This will prompt the cuttings to make roots of their own.

The parent plant will look pretty forlorn after the cuttings have been taken. But fear not, new rosettes will begin to grow quite quickly.

Once all danger of frost is over, the plants can be used outside to add a tropical touch to summer planting schemes.

Author: Mike the Gardener

Freelance gardening writer, consultant and designer. Mike Palmer is a passionate and professional plantsman, offering services in garden writing, consultancy and garden design. Mike is also available for garden and plant related talks and presentations. Mike has been a professional horticulturalist for over fifteen years. View all posts by Mike the Gardener