I've read that people often make the mistake of thinking they have more than one plant when what they really have is a trailing variety. However, I'm currently growing plantlets from leaves, two of which are trailing varieties. Some of the regular leaves have up to three plantlets growing from them, but I don't know on the trailing varieties if there are really multiple plants or if it's an illusion due to their trailing habit. How can I tell?? The plantlets are still rather small, but eventually I would like to separate each plant into its own pot. Will it be more evident once the plantlets get bigger, or will I have to look at the bottom of the crown(s) when I do go to separate them? Although the leaves are still small, they are beginning to get pretty crowded.
--Dana
Plantlets of Trailing Varieties
I think the plantlets have to get quite a bit bigger before they start producing trailers. I separated some trailing babies a while back, and they are just now starting to bloom, but they haven't yet started into their trailing habit.
Often, when they are bigger, you'll find that they fall apart easily into separate plantlets. I have, in the past, been too lazy to split them up when young and just left that to a later day.
another thought... I recently potted up 4 trailer babies together in a shallow, oval pot (one intended for bonsai, seems just right for these miniatures). I figured that since they were going to eventually (hopefully!) branch out in different directions and have a multi-crown look, there would be no harm in starting them out several to a pot. I did separate them so they're fairly evenly spaced around the pot. They look pretty cute! No blooms yet.... but they're young....
Thanks for your advice. I think I will try to split them up eventually. If they are all separate plants there are five! Some of my friends might like a trailing AV, and I at least want to give them each a little more room. Keyring, the Humpty Doo you sent me is about to bloom! I'll post a picture when it does, and now I understand how a trailing variety will grow. I'm glad my leaves are doing so well-- it's fun to have some trailers to add to my collection!