I am so excited! I have just had my first Chirita (Hisako) baby. I thought I would never get any and I almost threw the cups out. But when I was watering yesterday, there it was. I put the leaves down on June 3rd and they finally came threw for me. I only have one so far but what a cute little bugger it is. I can't wait to get more. I think I put down 6 leaves. I sure hope the others have babies soon.
Jesse
Here is a close up view of just the baby. Isn't it the cutest little thing?
Jesse
Awesome Jesse! Way to go!
Thanks Snowrose. I guess you stay up late too.
Jesse
Jesse (fellow nightowl) - Hisako is such a striking looking chirita. The other leaves you have....are they of different varieties?
No, they are all Hisako. Hisako is the only one that I have.
Jesse
Let me correct that answer. I do have another chirita named Stardust but I have not put any leaves down yet since it was not a very big plant. But I will probably be putting some down soon.
Jesse
Jesse WOW Awesome baby ! Yipee ! Congratulations ! This is my favorite Chirita. You'll have lots of babies inno time ! Great growing Jesse ! Thanks for sharing !
Thanks for the compliments. At least I'm doing something right, although it took about 4 months for my first baby erupted. So I have learned that you don't throw something away just because it just sits there and does nothing. If you have patience and wait long enough you will most likely end up with some cute little babies.
That is awesome! Am I correct in the amount of time it took to appear -- 4 months? You ARE patient.
Yes you are patient. Mine rooted super fast BUT other Chirita leaves I've rooted were slow. I think their all different, age of leaf, and environment , and when they want don't babies come on their own time. :)) Your Mom leaf looks good for 4 months old Jesse your going to have some nice babies ! Have any fish emolsion, or Vf-11 , or even Optimara plant food ?? Give them a drink once a week. I do these with my new babies and they were hungry and just started growing all over the place !
Congratulations! That furry little leaf is adorable!!
I haven't put any leaves down, but my Chirita 'Hisako' has several new crowns forming around the central crown... can/should they be grown multi-crowned, or should I remove the suckers when they're a little bigger and root them for new plants?
I've been growing my single crown as I like the nice perfect rosette it forms. But it's up to you it can be grown single crown or multi.
Plus I put several leaves down and wanted the suckers to give plants to others. Though most of the babies I grew were by leaf. I have a few new leaves down now. Just can't resist this plant !
I think you're right... it had such a gorgeous shape before it started suckering. I'll let the suckers get a little bigger before I remove them so they have a good chance of rooting & growing -- everyone who sees this plant admires it, so I'll have no trouble finding homes for its babies!
Chriita sinensis 'Hisako' foliage is so stunning. I know what you mean Jill everyone notices this plant right off. I'm sure there are lot's of people who would enjoy one ! I don't think many place sell it anymore.
Jesse,
Love your baby!
Sharon
Jesse keep taking picture please so we can watch her grow up :))
WHAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaa! I want babies TOO!!!! Congrats plantcrazii!!! I still stare at my leaves waiting...and waiting.....Iol
Jessie,
I just popped over "here" for a peek...such a cutie!! Wonderful macro shot!! What kind of camera do you use?
Jesse - that is so adorable. I have to try doing the leaf thing. Maybe if someone gets any extras of this beauty they would share with me? I admired this plant on another thread.
It's so exciting to see the baby growing from a leaf, I'm impressed.
Maureen
Thanks for all the compliments. That makes me feel really good inside and makes me feel like I'm doing something right.
Chantell, I got my camera a couple christmas' ago and would not trade it for anything. It is an HP Photosmart 945. I love being about to use the digital zoom to take some really cool macros.
I just realized that I have one other chirita named Stardust. I think I'm going to put a couple leaves down from that one too and maybe one day I will have some baby stardusts. But I think I will wait for a little bit to do anything to my Stardust because it has one tiny little bloom on it and I do not want to do anything to it until after it has bloomed. Some plants are really picky about how they are handled when they are in the process of blooming. I have about 5 or 6 Hisakos down and still waiting for them to make little babies.
Jesse
Jesse t leaf to progate from is right above or below a new bud ! Fast take that leaf off and grow some babies it will not hurt the bloom !
Ok, thanks Allison. I will do that.
Jesse
Cool ! Jesse can you lable the leaf and date so you know it was from under new bud . Keep warm and give plenty of light you can feed it too!
You should have babies fast ! Thanks can't wait to watch it grow too !
I took a leaf off of the stardust to put down to hopefully make another baby. I have a question though. Since the leaves are thicker and longer than an AV leaf because they do not have a stem like an AV leaf, can I split the leaf in half to make two babies instead of one? I was not sure if I could split up a leaf or do I have to remove more leaves. The plant will look sort of funny and out of shape if I take anymore leaves off of it. So that is why I was asking if one long leaf can be split into pieces.
Thanks,
Jesse
I don't see why not I have done it both ways , one long leaf and split.
Split it all the way up from bottom to top?
Jesse
I cut mine in half like an AV leaf. The top half and bottom. I guess if you split the center you could take the rib in middle off like when doing Strep leaves and you lie the leaf the long way in the soil right where rib in middle came off. Me I place safe and use the whole leaf.
I think I might try cutting it in half, making a top and bottom piece and see how that works. I'm always trying to learn new things.
Jesse
It's good to have fun !
