Also known as Blue Finger plants, the Blue Chalk Stick is a succulent that originates from South Africa. If you have other brightly colored plants, they can blend in well together due to their contrasting colors.
Usually, the leaves will appear pale blue due to the powdery chalk substance that coats them. If you rub the white powder, you’ll notice that the leaves are actually blue-green. When exposed to a lot of direct sunlight, the leaves will be purple at the tips.
The Blue Chalk Sticks is a perfect plant for indoor decor and outdoor landscaping. It is a good ground cover due to its short stems and ability to spread. This guide will discuss how to propagate Blue Chalk Sticks and care for them.
Blue Chalk Stick care
Blue Blue Chalk Sticks are easy to care for, and it is drought resistant. Water your plant once a week during the growing season and once every three to four weeks once it establishes.
The plant grows to a mature height of 36 inches, unlike the dwarf Blue Chalk Sticks, which only grow to a maximum height of about 12 inches. This succulent can thrive in full sun or indoors and tolerates a minimum temperature of 25 degrees Fahrenheit.
You can propagate it from cuttings, offsets, or seeds. Pruning is only recommended if the succulent grows too long. During pruning, you only need to pinch it so that it branches appropriately.
How to Water Blue Chalk Sticks
A mature Blue Chalk Sticks is drought tolerant. If you’ve brought home a new plant, it’s best to water it once every week during the first summer and spring. As the plant matures, you can reduce the watering to once every three or four weeks.
The soak and dry method of watering is the best for established Blue Chalk Sticks. You only need to soak the pot with water and allow the excess to flow through the drainage holes.
You should ensure the soil is completely dry before the next watering session. Usually, this is once every three to four weeks. If you overwater the plant, it will rot and attract pests and diseases.
How to Fertilize Blue Chalk Sticks
You should fertilize your Blue Chalk succulent once a year in spring. Fertilize Blue Chalk Sticks using diluted low-nitrogen plant food. Alternatively, you can use a weak compost tea fertilizer specifically for succulents. Of course, like with other succulents, fertilizing your Blue Chalk Sticks is really optional.
Lightly fertilize with diluted fertilizer in spring only
How to Propagate Blue Chalk Sticks
The Blue Finger plant can produce roots in water or soil. This means that you have several options to propagate Blue Chalk Sticks. There are benefits to each one of them so be sure to choose one that’s best for you.
Can you Propagate Blue Chalk Sticks from Leaves?
Yes, you can propagate Blue Chalk Sticks from leaves. Using a sterile but sharp knife, cut a leaf to a length of about 4-6 inches. If your leaf cutting is shorter than 4 inches, there is a probability that it will not root.
If you want to use water as a medium for rooting, place the leaf into a cup of water. It will take about three weeks for the roots to shoot. Be sure to change the water weekly.
If you decide to propagate in the soil, place the cut leaf on a surface away from direct sunlight for 3-7 days so that the wet edge dries out first. Otherwise, it will rot. Then, in a well-mixed potting mixture, propagate your leaf cutting.
When you propagate in soil, ensure to water once a week. Check using your fingers that the soil is completely dry before watering. It takes about three weeks for the roots to shoot.
How do you Propagate Blue Chalk Sticks from Cuttings?
Cuttings are mainly from the stem of a Blue Chalk Sticks plant. You should use a sharp, well-sterilized knife to propagate the part you want. You can choose to propagate in water or on the soil.
Remember, if you want to plant the cutting in the soil, you should allow the wet edge to dry in about 3-7 days before you cover it in the soil. Also, ensure that the soil is well watered once a week. If you use a water medium, change the water once a week. Roots in both cases will begin to show in about three weeks.
Make sure you use very sharp and very clean knives to get your cuttings to prevent rot
How do you Propagate Blue Chalk Sticks from Offsets?
Blue Chalk Sticks produce offsets at the base, usually attached to the mother plant. When you want to propagate Blue Chalk Sticks using offsets, you should use a sharp knife to cut the specific offsets as close to the mother plant as possible.
Then, you need to separate the roots before replanting. Ensure that the soil is well drained before you propagate Blue Chalk Sticks using offsets.
Be patient with your propagations. Regardless of which technique you use, it takes weeks for any sign that roots will develop. Keep an eye on your propagations for any sign of rot and throw out rotten pieces immediately.
How to Prune Blue Chalk Sticks
Pruning is recommended if you want your Blue Finger plants to look their best. However, it is not a must to prune because the plants are slow-growing and small in size. If you choose to prune, it’s advisable to prune while the plant is still young so that it is not left with visible scars later.
Use a pruning shear or pinch the pieces off. You can prune in half or cut where the joints are and plant the cut-off part as new Blue Finger plants.
Do Blue Chalk Sticks Spread
Yes, with proper care, Blue Chalk Sticks spread between 1-2 feet wide and a length of 6-12 for the dwarf variety and up to 36 inches tall for the taller variety.
What is a Dwarf Blue Chalk Stick
A dwarf Blue Chalk Stick is the shorter and more dense version of the Senecio Blue Chalk Sticks . It has upright, narrow, and fleshy leaves. The stems are short and cylindrical. The plant has a vivid blue color and does well in pots due to its ability to fit in small spaces.
The dwarf variety of Blue Chalk Sticks thrives in full sun, well-drained soil, and a minimum temperature of about 25 degrees Fahrenheit. The mature height of the dwarf Blue Chalk Sticks is about 12 inches. Notably, the plant is dormant in summer and grows actively during winter.
You can propagate it from cuttings and seeds. Ensure to place it away from children and pets because it is mildly toxic when ingested.
Conclusion
Growing, maintaining, and even propagating Blue Chalk Stick plants is easy. Due to its vivid blue colors, it does well when grown with other brightly colored plants. The succulent also serves as a ground cover for outdoor landscaping. Propagation is done from seeds, leaves, cuttings, or offsets.
