A study was conducted to evaluate the effects of auxin, cytokinin, and their combined application to hasten their propagation using leaf cuttings. Different hormone levels were evaluated on two Echeveria species (E. subsessilis and E. runyonii). Three levels of auxin as represented by the use of indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) (0, 100, and 500 ppm), three cytokinin levels as represented by Kinetin (Ki) (0, 100, and 200 ppm) and their combination were applied and observed for 8 weeks. The use of 100 ppm IBA resulted in the highest shoot height, diameter, and rooting and shooting rate. Using 500 ppm IBA led the roots to develop the earliest but both species also had the highest mortality. The application of 100 ppm Ki significantly affected the majority of leaf cuttings of E. runyonnii which exhibited the highest and thickest shoots, and the number of leaves. The application of 100 ppm IBA and 100 ppm Ki is recommended to obtain increased shoot growth and development for leaf cuttings. In the case of single hormone use, the application of 100 ppm IBA may be preferable. The combination of auxin and cytokinin significantly stimulated the hastening of production of succulents using leaf cuttings.

Growth and development of succulents were studied in response to two leaf cutting types, the tip and base, using four Echeveria species (E. ‘A Grimm One’, E. ‘Momorato’, E. pulvinata ‘Frosty’, and E. pulidonis) and the planting position, either upright and faced-downward, using Graptoveria optalina. The shoot diameter (mm), height (mm), and number of leaves were significantly affected by the leaf cutting type. Results revealed that the shoot diameter of buds from base leaves were significantly larger by 4 - 9 times than those of buds from tip leaves. Shoot height of buds from tip leaves either not developed or reached a maximum of 2.29 mm while buds from base leaves had an average height of 11.61 mm from E. ‘Mamorato’. Using base leaves allowed to obtain roots and leaves for all selected succulent species after 60 days from planting. Regarding planting position, upright planted and downward-facing plants showed significant differences: buds from upright planting showed taller shoots, greater number of leaves which in turn gave higher visual quality rating and superior color reading using Hunter’s Cielab compared with buds in downward-facing planting position. Planting succulents in an upright position led to well-formed shoots and roots which had a high-quality rating and color evaluation compared with faced-downward planting producing etiolated and abnormal grown shoots. Based on these findings, we suggest that the use of base leaf cuttings and an upright planting position provides a rapid vegetative propagation method for selected succulent varieties.

This study was conducted to determine the effects of supplementary lighting intensity and duration on selected Cassulaceae species grown in a hydroponic system. Five subfamilies in Crassulaceae with corresponding species were chosen as experimental units namely Sedeveria ‘Letizia ’, Sedum ‘Sun Red’, Crassula rupestris, Echeveria ‘Momotaro’, and Graptoveria opalina. Light duration (3 and 6 hours) and intensity (4,000 lux or 60 μmol • m−2 • s−1 and 8,000 lux or 120 μmol • m−2 • s−1), and their combinations served as factors which were replicated twice. Results revealed that the use of supplementary lighting using LED fixtures had influenced selected species under Crassulaceae. The use of three hours supplementary lighting under low light intensity had statistically similar results with those of the control S. letizia, C. rupestris and G. opalina in particular parameters. Meanwhile, succulents under six-hour with high intensity condition grew well, compared to species S. letizia, C. rupestris and E. ‘Momotaro,’ demonstrating that the data was significantly different. Interestingly, there were no statistical significant differences between species C. rupestris and the control regardless of change of variables (duration and intensity) in all parameters.