After potting the small divided cuttings, we usually water the plants by 
sub-irrigation, depending on the capillary action to supply the water to 
the soil from soak trays. Avoid overwatering in this operation. Allow- 
ing the plants to absorb only enough water to bring the moisture to the 
top and then remove them immediately. Watering this way instead of 
from the top preserves the proper physical characteristic of the soil un- 
til the root growth has started. 
In repotting larger plants not quite as much care need be exercised. 
Start by removing your pot bound plant from the original pot without tak- 
ing the soil apart, fill the larger pot with about an inch of dirt in the 
bottom. Then set the plant in the center of the larger pot and fill the soil 
in around it, pressing the new soil in firmly, to make a good base for the 
plant. Be sure not to set the plant too deep, always keep the heart at 
slightly above soil level. This reduces the danger of Crown Rot. Your 
plant may now be watered as described before. 
In the case of large multiple crown plants that are out of bloom, allow 
the soil to become quite dry, then remove the plant from the pot and 
break the sections gently apart as you did with the rooted cutting. Pot 
each one separately in a small pot and allow them to re-establish their 
root system. In the event one of them should have to be removed by 
cutting with a knife, it may be rerooted by placing it in water or a root- 
ing medium until it has rerooted, and then planted. 
Do not confuse multiple crowns with suckers. In some cases suckers 
can be rooted, but the wisest thing by far is to remove them when they 
are barely detectable, being sure they are suckers and not blossom 
buds. They are of no benefit to the plant and will stop blossom develop- 
ment if allowed to grow wild. They can be very easily removed when 
they are tiny with the point of a pencil or other similar object without 
harming the plant. 
LEAF CUTTINGS 
Propagation by leaf cuttings is the means used to carry on the indi- 
vidual characteristics of the parent aly A does not prove true in 
all cases. Some parts of the plant may-sp New plants are origin- 
ated in this manner, which is known as mutation. 
The other method of producing new varieties is by Cross Pollinating. 
Cuttings are chosen from the plants showing the best and most desirable 
features. They can be older leaves if in good health or of medium size 
and age, the latter size being preferred. It is advisable to leave one and 
a half inches of stem on the leaf. This allows more room when the tiny 
plants appear. 
A leaf cutting without a stem interferes with potting when placing it 
into a 2'' pot. Sand, peat and vermiculate are all good rooting mediums. 
A flat, or pan with bottom drainage is filled with 2 1/2'' of preferred 
rooting medium, water thoroughly and allow to drain before placing 
leaves into it. Then insert the cutting one inch deep, spacing them to 
allow enough room for the leaf to throw its tiny shoots. Keep the medium 
moist at all times but never soggy or wet, even if the leaves appear 
wilted for a,few days or so. After they have taken root, or in about 
