Plant Propagation Technique
Offsets are short, lateral shoots, bearing clustered leaves at the tips, and are capable of taking root as plant daughters when separated from the parent plant.
Offsets remain connected to the parent plant but often fall to the ground naturally, where they root and form a completely new plant.
Plant offsets are propagated by either cutting the offset off the mother plant with a sharp, sterile knife; or by gentle separation, generally accomplished by slowly working the offset back and forth until it separates from the plant.
Offsets should not be planted immediately after separation as the wounds caused during the separation could introduce bacteria or viruses that could kill them.
Ideally, offsets should be allowed to heal in a cool, dry location for at least four days. Some recommend dusting the division wounds with garden sulphur shortly after separation to reduce the risk of disease or infection by viruses.
A wide variety of plants are commonly propagated through their offsets including aloe vera, bromeliads, cacti, succulents, and amaryllis.
