Succulent propagation is an exciting and satisfying project that can expand your collection while saving money by using existing plants instead of purchasing new ones.
Start a succulent garden from any root-bearing object by following these easy steps.
Leaf Propagation
By employing this propagation method, succulent plants with thick, fleshy leaves such as Echeveria can be grown from existing leaves alone. Simply find one in good health and remove it using clean hands or sterile knife before carefully twisting and wiggling it to ensure no tears occur in its removal.
Set the leaf cutting in a shallow tray or container filled with dedicated succulent soil and keep the rooting medium as dry as possible to help avoid rotting in water. Misting leaves or soil several times each day to maintain humidity levels without becoming soggy will encourage roots to form deep beneath the surface, encouraging leaf-based succulents to send down their roots instead of remaining on top of the soil surface.
Rooting hormone is sometimes recommended with this technique, though it's not essential - some have had success without its aid. Rooting hormone helps cuttings take hold more quickly while protecting from fungal infection as they're rooting. Powder, gel or liquid forms of rooting hormone are available from most plant nurseries.
Your leaf should now have roots that extend out and down from its cut end; at this point you are ready to transplant it. If unsure whether rooting has occurred successfully, gently tug on its stem; if it resists tugging back then your succulent has successfully taken hold!
Stem cuttings from larger mature plants may also be used to propagate succulents successfully; although more complicated, it has proven successful and provides you with larger plants than would be achievable through direct seeding.
To take a stem cutting, use a sterile knife or razor blade to slice off a section of stem, placing the cutting in a tray with succulent soil and misting several times daily to keep it slightly damp - this will encourage it to send out roots and grow larger before needing repotted.
Stem Propagation
Agave and aloe succulents are relatively straightforward to propagate with simple methods. First, collect a cutting from an established plant with healthy, well-attached roots; ideally choose one with multiple stems with multiple leaves attached if possible. When the cutting has dried completely, dip it in rooting hormone to promote faster growth before placing in an appropriately lit location.
Like leaf cuttings, stem cuttings require light and moisture in order to thrive. To start off with stem cuttings, gently twist a piece from the parent plant without breaking it before cutting just beneath the succulent head - this may take practice! Once prepared, let it sit on a windowsill for three to five days before adding rooting hormone (optional).
Soak the stem before placing it in a container filled with gritty succulent soil and covering it with plastic film to form a mini greenhouse. Keep in a bright location away from direct sunlight. As your succulent grows, water it regularly but not excessively.
Try propagating succulents by sowing their seeds. This method is generally easier, since you won't have to plant anything into soil but instead simply sprinkle the seeds onto your growing medium. Seeds from plants that produce lots of flowers such as Echeveria or Jade succulents make for great candidates in this case.
As soon as a root begins forming on your succulent leaf, transplant it to its own pot of cactus soil and be patient: it could take four to eight weeks before it starts producing its own baby succulents and roots.
Once their leaves and roots have settled in, continue placing your newly replanted succulents in indirect sunlight for several more weeks to allow them to adjust. Mist or lightly water the soil every 1-2 days as necessary - overwatering could cause serious rot issues for these delicate plants!
Offshoot Propagation
Many succulents produce offshoots, or "pups," that can either live directly on their parent plant or be separated and grown separately as separate plants. Hens and chicks, aloe, and certain haworthia species tend to multiply rapidly on their own in this manner; harvesting these pups and transplanting them into another container with fresh potting mix may actually improve mother plant health by freeing its energy for new leaf production rather than supporting multiple additional plants.
Succulent leaf and stem cuttings are an excellent method for propagating small to medium-sized succulents, and this method works best when they're at their peak growth period, such as at the end of a dormant phase (winter months) or just starting an active growth phase (spring/summer). You can even take cuttings from succulents that are already relatively large; simply cut away portions of leaves/stem with a sharp, sterilized knife.
When taking succulent leaf or stem cuttings, it's essential that they come from healthy leaves that are full of life and ripe with juice and maturity. A leaf that is yellowing, translucent or black may not produce new succulent plants and should never be cut off as this could damage its stem further down.
Once you've acquired your cutting, it's essential that the pieces remain cool and dry until roots appear. At that point, transfer to a well-draining pot or garden area; succulent cuttings particularly benefit from being mixed in with some sand or perlite for optimal drainage conditions; however too much moisture could cause them to rot over time.
Some growers have discovered that dipping cuttings in rooting hormone before placing them into their containers can accelerate the rooting process, but this step is completely optional; succulents often root well without needing extra help from rooting hormones. Succulents are easy to care for and can add an abundance of personality and color to both indoor decor and landscape design; planted individually in interesting containers or group together into eclectic desertscapes they make stunning accents to any space! With patience and some basic techniques you're on your way to growing as many succulents as your heart desires!
Root Propagation
Succulents are among the easiest plants to propagate using leaves or cuttings, as they root easily when given enough opportunity. Propagating by means of leaves or stem cuttings speeds up this process significantly and ensures a higher success rate; whether you're searching for specific varieties or just getting started in collecting succulents this is an excellent approach to consider.
Begin with a healthy succulent plant and select leaves from which to propagate new plants. Allow each cut end of each leaf to fully dry out before placing it into a potting medium to help regulate how much water each little plant can absorb. Fill a small container with succulent soil (I like adding perlite or pumice for extra aeration) and gently lay your callused leaves over top of it.
After several weeks, you should observe stringy roots growing out from beneath each leaf base. This is an encouraging sign and indicates that your leaves have started producing baby succulents of their own. Once these roots have developed, you have two options - either bury or leave them exposed - depending on whether or not the leaves wilt and wither; either will work fine.
Succulent cuttings can be taken from any part of a succulent plant, although roots should be established at its base for maximum success. A pair of clean, sharp scissors is the best tool for this task. Additionally, rooting hormone can help increase success rates; such products are available from many succulent growers.
Once the roots have settled in, transplant the new plant into its own container and care for it as it develops. At this early stage, baby succulents should be kept out of direct sunlight as they're fragile and susceptible to burning easily. Over time however, as your succulent grows it may outgrow its parent container and require being transplanted into something larger.