JENNY'S UMBRELLA PLANT PROPAGATION

My mom had been taking care of an umbrella plant at her home in Minnesota for more than 30 years. The plant was a favorite of my dad's. When my mom passed away in October 2019, however, the umbrella plant seemingly lost the will to survive.

Umbrella plant, propagated by Jenny from its parent plant in Minnesota. Photo taken this morning (10/27/22)

I tried to find help for the plant in Minnesota, but nothing seemed to work and everyone over there had run out of ideas. It was a plant native to Australia in the upper Midwest after all. It needed the tender loving care that only a mom could give. Seeing my dad and me in distress over this plant, Jenny came to the rescue. When I took a subsequent trip back to the Twin Cities in June 2021, Jenny instructed me to take three different cuttings: (1) one of a stalk only, (2) one of a branch with a full set of leaves and (3) one with a stalk plus a branch. Jenny instructed me on how to pack them in a suitcase, which I checked in on my return flight to California. It turned out only (3) worked out--but that was enough.

Six weeks after coming from Minnesota: On the left is a branch with leaves (this sample wouldn't propagate) and on the right is a branch with a stalk, which did end up propagating--see photo below.

Jenny added rooting hormone to each of the three cuttings then watered each about two to three times per week. It was clear that the stalk-only cutting wasn't going to thrive and it was removed from its pot. For the branch with a full set of leaves, Jenny cut each leaf in half so the specimen could conserve energy. Indeed, it survived for several months, but didn't make any noticeable progress.

At about eight weeks after arrival in California, two branches emerged from the stalk.

The stalk plus a branch likewise showed no progress for the first six weeks or so. However, two branches began to sprout from the stalk at about the two-month mark (photo above). More branches have since sprouted and the plant is doing great outside in indirect light with watering about twice per week.

Of course, today, the umbrella plant means so much more than a specimen that's tied to a tree loved by my parents. It's Jenny's work. It's very existence is because of her. I think of Jenny and her desire to care for something just because it was important to somebody close to her. It embodies her generosity, resourcefulness and ingenuity. Her spirit lives on in many ways and this plant is one of them.