The Papua plant is native to the tropics of the Philippines and India. It has quite an interesting rapport regarding being an indoor plant. The beauty of its white and green leaves provides a room with a much-needed ambiance.
As a gardener, you should know how to propagate Papua plants from seeds or using stem cuttings. Propagating plants can be a delicate task, especially if you are a beginner. It’s an easy task once you understand what you are supposed to do.
This article will look at how you can propagate Papua plants in your garden.
How to Propagate Papua plant
As you have seen above, there are two ways that you can propagate a Papua plant. You can grow it from seeds or a stem cutting. Both methods are easy, and it will depend on your preference for how you grow the plant.
When using seeds to start growing your plants, you must ensure you choose the correct seed from the store. Otherwise, you will plant the wrong plant in your garden. Always ask an experienced person to guide you when picking the seeds for propagation.
What are the conditions required to grow Papua plants?
Growing plants indoors requires understanding the primary conditions, such as temperatures, growing media, etc., to ensure you grow a healthy plant. The factors to consider include;
- Air temperature —- The temperature surrounding the area of the plant should be around 70 to 87 degrees Fahrenheit. This temperature is ideal for the growth of the seeds because it is a tropical plant. Without the required temperature, you can have a weak plant.
- Potting soil —- The correct soil qualities are soil rich in nutrients, well-draining, and proper pH levels. If you decide to use garden soil, ensure that you test it using a soil tester to ensure it is optimum for plant growth. Most potting soils are ready for growing with the optimum qualities. Also, ensure the soil pH is neutral from 7.0 to 7.3.
- Water —- Most gardeners have killed their plants by giving them more or less water. For the seeds to grow, ensure the soil is moist and not soggy or dry.
- Light —- Papua plant grows in a bright, shaded area. So, if you are propagating Papua seeds indoors, ensure that you place them in a window that receives indirect sunlight, such as morning light. You can use a grow light if there isn’t enough sunlight outdoors.
Step-by-step process of propagating Papua plant from seeds
Prepare the container
The container you use to grow the seeds should have enough space to fit several seeds. Choose seed starting trays that have partitions for each seed. Clean the tray to remove any germs from the previous plant.
Add soil to the container.
Once it is clean, add soil into the tray until it is ¾ full. Spray the soil with water until it is moist. Ensure you don’t overwater it.
Add seeds
Remove seeds from their packet and place them in a container. Then place two seeds in each container in the tray, so you can remove the weak seedling during thinning. After placing the seeds, add about 1 inch of soil to cover the seeds. Don’t make the soil compact; let it be loose to encourage air circulation.
Using a sprayer, spray the topsoil until it is moist. Then cover the seed tray with its cover to maintain its humidity. Place the container in a warm area until the seeds start to sprout. Once they sprout, you can move the tray to an area with access to light. Remove the cover and let them grow.
Transplanting
After 3 weeks, the seeds are ready for thinning. Pick out the weak seedlings to leave room for the strong seedlings to grow. Then, after 7 to 10 days, the seedlings are ready for transplanting.
For outdoor planting, ensure that you harden them off before transplanting. But for indoor planting, you don’t have to harden them.
Add soil to a pot with proper drainage holes at the bottom and the sides. Then, place the seedlings about 1 to 2 inches into the soil. Spray water around the soil until the soil is moist. Then place the pot in a window facing south or west for sunlight.
How to grow Papua plant from stem cuttings.
Propagating Papua plant using stems is common for this plant. That’s because it is easy, and the plant requires low maintenance to grow. This method involves cutting a stem from a mature, healthy plant and using it for new growth.
There are two main forms that you can use to get stem cuttings from a plant. That is;
- Tip cuttings — This involves cutting a section of the plant’s stem with healthy leaves.
- Section cuttings —- This part involves taking part of the stem between the tip and joint of the plant where it meets the main trunk. However, you don’t include any of those parts in the cuttings.
This guide will look at how you propagate the Papua plants from tip cuttings.
To start this process, find a healthy Papua plant, or you can purchase a stem cutting from the local store. If you are cutting from your plant, choose a healthy plant with stems with leaves.
Use a sharp knife and cut the base of the stem. Remove the leaves at the bottom of the stem to ensure they don’t use the stem’s energy. Prepare the soil in a pot and add water to keep it moist.
Some gardeners prefer to add a rooting hormone for plants to the mix to help the plant grow roots faster. It’s a simple process of dipping the stem into the hormone for 2 minutes. Then, take the stem and plant it in the soil.
Place the container in a warm, well-lit area away from direct sunlight. Sunlight can dry your stems, preventing them from growing. After 1 to 1 ½ months, the stems will develop a root system that is hard and ready for transplanting.
Transplant the stem cuttings into a new container with fresh soil. Add water frequently to ensure the soil is always moist. Then care for the plant as it grows.
Conclusion
Propagating Papua plant is the easiest process for an indoor plant. The plant requires minimum care as it grows, making it a good plant to have in your home. But, ensure that you provide it with minimal maintenance to avoid problems with pests and diseases.
Now that you know how to grow Papua plant, start the process and grow the plant in your garden.
