【Fowardpost 】 Twin-scaling as method of propagating Bowiea volubilis

Thanks to Hyyb Succulent for their enthusiastic sponsorship
This article was written by Hyyb

Succulenthttps://www.facebook.com/%E8%A9%A0%E8%A9%A0%E5%A4%9A%E8%82%89%E6%A4%8D%E7%89%A9-Hyyb-Succulent-851346291589808/
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Bowiea volubilis is a succulent plant of the hyacinth family, originating in Africa, summergrower.

The propagating rate of B. volubilis  is very low. It is not easy to divide the ball.
It takes forever to spurt new bulb. Stay as single onin  for a long time. It is not easy to flowers, and it is not easy to self-pollinate(Kohinoor: it is self fertile but the fruiting rate is less then 3%)

Unlike Drimia intricata which fruiting like crazy and marginally count as weed.

What should I do then? Fortunately, B. volubilis  has a very mysterious propagating  method, that is scale cutting or scaling  .Simple cut sown some scale ,new small bulb  will naturally grow out of the wound base.

But this time it is not the general scaling. It is called "Twin scaling". It is commonly used in bulbous plants such as amaryllis.

If general scaling will do,then why bother using Twin-scaling?
Because the title will look more professional.
WOW so PRO

First of all, get a B.volubilis with new vine spurting.It is best in April and May, the temperature just getting warmer  B.volubilis entering growing season.

Each plant has its own optimum temperature. In that temperature range, the plant's enzymes can react normally and carry out physiological activities. Overheating or too cold will not work.

     B.volubilis : FUK

Then prepare a clean knife, graft knife, utility knife, fruit knife, etc.. Just any knife u feel handy.
It is best to sterilize if you can.

     B.volubilis : SCREWD

Cut off the leaves and roots, don't be afraid to cut it off. She is a tough girl.

Remember to keep the basal plate  that is,the short-modified stem.

Cut onion

(Cut onion)^2

(Cut onion)^3

Cut it into 8 equal size slice. how many slice can u cut actually depend on the size of mother bulb.Bigger mother bulb can cut in to more slice. Vise-versa.

Kohinoor: you may want to practice with cheap real onion  before you lay knife on your precise Bowiea. 

Now is the key part.

Why is it called Twin-scaling? Because each breeding unit is composed of 2 scales.In the general Twin-scaling the most important thing is to make sure each slice has part of basal plate.
Because  it is where the bulb will grow from.
 But Bowiea volubilis is amazing. It doesn't require basal plate to work.
I don't know how it can be done??
(Kohinoor: it;s the family trait of hyacinth family. they can grow advantage bulb from scale and leaf in some case even flower stalk see also : Lachenalia leaf cutting)

Curious as you may be wondering , why limit in Twin scales? How about Tri-scaling  and Mono-scaling ?
The answer is yes!!

We all know that the bulb is mainly composed of starch and sugar.In case of Mono-scaling only one scale is used, it is possible that the nutrient is consumed before new bulb can grow.
On the other hand, if three or even four scale per slice are used, although it has more nutrient, but the propagating rate is much lower, and the maximum profit is not achieved.

Prepare clean media, like vermiculite and Perlite. Any thing with good Drain and porosity.

Wrong demonstration

In the general method of Twin-scaling  is to bury the base in to the medium. but I found that is not working with Bowiea volubilis .

It will get mold and infected all the way up XDDDD

Just put the scale on surface.
After encounter mold problem,i scratch  off the mold and put on surface.Just like the leaf cutting of Echeveria or Graptopetalum.
That is all! so casual so easy

After two months  the bulbling will quietly come out from the base . At this moment, the base can be shallowly buried in the medium, and more water can be apply to promote the root growth.

Even with out basal plate,Bowiea volubilis  can still grow new bulb normally.

grand gathering

The success rate of  Twin-scaling a is very high. Almost every piece has a 1 bulb. From the original one mother bulb, 40~50 small bulb can be propagated.

If you pulled out bulb before scales went completely dry,It may spurt new bulb second time,boosting profit even more

The final step is just transplant the rooting bulb into the medium and it will be done.







Kohinoor: below  are just some funny story about Twin-scaling happen to Hyyb Succulent in his high school years.i feel no obligation to translate these.

最後分享一下關於雙鱗片扦插的小故事。
當初高中時不小心當上了園藝類的技藝競賽選手，這個技藝競賽呢，有一個項目就是考植物繁殖，而他們出題者最愛考的題目就是嫁接與高壓繁殖，各種切接、舌接、芽接什麼接都要會，每年都是這樣，屢試不爽，但練習久了總是會膩，想找點別的事做。

就看到路邊有很多孤挺花，想挖幾顆來練習課本上傳說中的雙鱗片扦插，在練習雙鱗片扦插時，同學都在笑說幹嘛要切洋蔥R，我都是冷笑不語的在裝酷。到了技藝競賽當天，大家都準備好各種日本嫁接刀、高級剪定夾，準備大接一波，但好死不死居然考了孤挺花雙鱗片扦插這題，這是從以前到現在從來沒考過這題目。
到現在都還記得那時其他學校選手他們那不可置信的臉，說好的嫁接呢??而有練習過切洋蔥的我，就順順利利的拿下那一題的全場最高分，一種計畫通的概念，可喜可賀，可喜可賀，至於比賽結果，那又是另一個故事了。