The ability of succulents to multiply is part of their allure. Plant propagation is the process of developing new plants from existing plants. In the wild, seed propagation is the most typical way. Flowering, pollination, fertilization, and seed creation all contribute to this.
As succulents and cacti lose their natural habitats, the need to propagate and maintain these species in cultivation becomes increasingly important for their survival. Furthermore, proliferation has become a part of the allure of growing these plants. Growers and hobbyists who have experimented with succulent propagation find it extremely satisfying and intriguing.
There are various methods for propagating succulent plants. Some species are more easily propagated than others. It takes some research and trial and error, but spreading is not difficult for the most part. Succulents are commonly propagated in the following ways:
Propagating from Leaves
One of the most common ways to propagate succulent plants is through leaf propagation. Simply put, propagating the leaves can be as simple as having a leaf naturally fall to the ground, root itself and grow into a new plant.
You can also intentionally propagate leaves by carefully removing the leaves from a healthy plant, placing them in a suitable potting medium and waiting for the leaves to root and grow into new plants. Propagating from leaf cuttings is usually done with several leaves at once. Leaf cuttings can be easily obtained from your fallen leaves, from discarded plant scraps, or by purchasing them.
How to Propagate Succulents from Leaf Cuttings
Step 1
Pick healthy leaves. You’ll have more success if you start with a healthy mother plant and leaves. Choose leaves with uniform colour and no discolorations, stains, or markings. Leaves that are broken, shredded, torn, or deformed should not be used. Look for lush, plump leaves rather than desiccated, flat leaves.
Step 2
Remove the leaves off the stem gently. With your thumb and forefinger, gently twist the leaves away from the stem. Some leaves are easily detached, while others are firmly linked to the stem.
Wiggle the leaf back and forth gently until the entire leaf comes off. You want the entire leaf, including the base where it connects to the stem. It will not survive if the base of the leaf does not fall off or if the leaf is injured.
Step 3
Allow the leaf wounds to heal. Wait for the wounds to heal after successfully removing the leaves off the stem. This can take anything between two days and a week. A callous or scab will grow at the base of the leaf where it was separated from the stem.
During this procedure, the leaves must be kept warm and out of direct sunlight. The leaves must be dry and calloused before being placed in the potting soil, or they will rot and perish.
Step 4
Rooting hormone should be applied to the leaves (optional). Dip the calloused end of the leaf into the rooting hormone, then place it in a good potting mix.
To secure the leaf, pack earth around it. Rooting hormone is optional, and you can skip this step if you do not want to use one. Simply insert the calloused end of the leaf into the potting mix without a rooting hormone.
Step 5
Lay them out flat. Instead of placing the leaves in the soil, another option is to lay them flat on a bed of suitable potting soil. Allow some space between the leaves to allow for fresh plant growth.
Step 6
Keep out of direct sunlight. Keep the leaf cuttings away from direct sunlight while they root. You can put them in a shaded area away from direct sunlight. When exposed to direct sunshine or full sun, leaf cuttings might shrivel and perish.
Step 7
The leaves should be misted. Instead of watering, spritz the earth with a spray bottle. Succulent roots require slightly more water than mature plants. If you reside in a dry climate, mist the soil daily. If you reside in a humid environment and the soil remains moist, spray every few days or until it feels dry.
Step 8
Roots will begin to form. After around four weeks, you should notice small pink roots developing from the wound. This is simpler to see if the leaves are laid flat on the earth. If the cut end of the leaves is buried in the soil, the roots will not grow unless you pull them out. To keep the exposed growing roots from drying out, cover them with a thin layer of dirt. Mist the soil again as needed.
Step 9
A new plant appears. Depending on the type of plant, a new plant with its own leaves will eventually appear where the roots are growing. This can take several weeks to several months.
The leaf that you propagated will begin to wither on its own. You can either gently twist the leaf off or let it fall off on its own. Take care not to injure the new roots when removing the mother leaf.
Step 10
Replace the new plant. When the baby plant has grown in size and the mother leaf has withered, it is time to transplant the succulent into its own container. Pull off the withering mother leaf if it is still attached to the new plant. Plant the tiny plant in its own pot with appropriate potting mix.
Step 11
Keep the new plants out of direct sunshine. At this stage, the new plants are still fragile and will not tolerate full sun. To avoid scorching the new plant, place it in a shady or partially shaded spot away from direct sunlight.
Step 12
Water only when necessary. Succulent cuttings require slightly more water than mature plants until roots form. Every few days or anytime the soil gets dry, you can mist or lightly water it. Once the plant has established, water it as you typically would succulent plants, allowing the soil to dry between waterings.
Step 13
Gradually move to a brighter location. Once your plant is established, gradually increase the amount of sunlight it receives. Your plant will develop into a mature plant over time.
Propagating from Stem Cuttings
The most popular and simplest method of propagating succulents is through stem cuttings. Propagating from stem cuttings has a better success rate than propagating from leaf cuttings when done appropriately.
Stem cuttings are taken from an established plant and dried and calloused. The cuttings will eventually root from the cut end and grow into a new plant. Stem cuttings can be purchased as well.
How to Propagate Succulents from Stem Cuttings
Step 1
Clean your tools. Make use of a sharp knife or scissors. To prevent the transmission of disease, make sure the shears, knives, or pruners you’re using are clean and disinfected. To disinfect, wash them with warm soapy water or use alcohol wipes. To avoid introducing fungi and infections, disinfect the instrument after each cutting by wiping it with alcohol.
Step 2
Choose a stem to cut. To increase your chances of success, choose a healthy plant that is actively developing. Use stems that show apparent symptoms of stress, illness, or discolouration. Choose a long enough stem and cut directly beneath the stem joint or the place where a leaf or bud joins the stem.
Step 3
Remove the lowest leaves. Remove the stem’s bottom leaves. Two to four inches of the bottom stem must be left naked. The leaves you remove can also be utilized to propagate plants (see above for instructions on propagating from leaf cuttings). If you intend to propagate the leaves, gently remove them so that the entire leaf is removed, from the base to the tip.
Step 4
Allow the cuttings to dry. Allow the cutting to dry for at least one day in a shaded place. Before planting, let the stem cutting to completely dry out and heal; otherwise, it will rot and die before the propagation process is complete. Keep the cuttings away from direct sunshine.
Step 5
Incorporate a rooting hormone (optional). When the cut end is dry, immerse it into a rooting hormone. This is entirely optional and can be omitted if so desired. When rooting hormones are utilized, other growers observe a higher success rate and a shorter rooting period.
Step 6
Sow the cuttings. Once the cuttings have dried, prepare a good potting mix and a pot large enough to hold the cuttings. Plant stem cuttings by burying the stem until the lowest leaves are slightly above soil level.
Step 7
Water only when necessary. Succulent cuttings require slightly more water than mature plants until roots form. Every few days or anytime the soil gets dry, you can mist or lightly water it.
In around four weeks, you should start to notice new roots. You can pull the stem cutting and look for new roots to see if there are any. It is possible that the cuttings will begin to dry out. This indicates that the plant is utilizing its stored energy to form new roots.
Step 8
Keep out of direct sunlight. While rooting, place the stem cuttings in a shady or somewhat shaded environment. Tender plants can be burned by direct sunlight.
Step 9
Reduce watering while increasing sunlight. One the root system has developed itself, you can reduce watering to once a week. Water your succulents as you normally would. Acclimate your new plant to sunshine gradually by increasing the amount of light it receives.
You’ve got a new plant. You can now pat yourself on the back for successfully propagating your plant. You can care for the plant in the same way that you would other succulents.
Propagating from Pups or Offsets/Offshoots
Plants that produce pups or offshoots are essentially cloning themselves. Not all succulents generate offshoots and pups, but those that do thrive on their own. Among the numerous others that produce pups or offshoots are hens and chicks, aloe, and certain haworthia and cactus species.
Remove the pups and offshoots carefully, place them in a suitable potting mix, and start a new plant that way. Removing offshoots from the mother plant promotes its health by redirecting energy to the main plant’s growth rather than supporting its pups.
How to Propagate Succulents from Pups or Offshoots/Offsets
Step 1
Look for plants that have pups or offshoots. Pups and offshoots are the offspring of the mother plant. Not all succulent plants give birth to pups or offshoots. Many succulents, such as hens and chicks, aloe, and certain haworthia and cactus species, do.
Step 2
Clean your knife. Make use of a clean or disinfected sharp knife. This can be accomplished by cleaning with warm soapy water or wiping with rubbing alcohol. To avoid introducing fungi or infections, disinfect the knife after each cutting by wiping it with alcohol.
Step 3
Locate and remove any offshoots or puppies. Once an offshoot or pup has grown large enough or begun to produce roots, it can be separated from the mother plant. When removing the pup, try to get some roots. You can remove a pup without roots, but you’ll have far better luck with ones that already have roots. Pups and offshoots that do not have roots will ultimately root themselves, while pups and offshoots that do have roots have a better chance of survival on their own.
Step 4
Get rid of the branch. You can gently remove the pup or branch from the mother plant with a clean knife. Some pups or offshoots are easier to remove than others. They can sometimes be separated by gently tugging the pup off.
Other times, a sharp tool is required to remove the pup. Insert the knife blade between the mother plant and the branch to carefully detach the baby plant from its mother plant. Slowly take the pup away from the mother plant and cut the connected root.
Insert the knife blade between the mother plant and the branch if removing the pup while it is still planted in the soil. To sever the connecting roots, slide the blade down the dirt. Carve a 2-inch radius around the base of the branch in the dirt, then dig a few inches along the radial parameter with the sharp end of a small shovel. To remove the offshoot, insert the spade at an angle underneath it and carefully peel it apart from the earth.
Step 5
The pup should be planted. Once the pup has been removed, the plant can be planted on its own. Fill a small container halfway with an appropriate well-draining potting mix. Place the pup or offshoot in the ground. Pack the soil around the plant lightly until it is secure.
Step 6
Water only when necessary. Puppies and offshoots require slightly more water than adult plants. Mist the soil lightly with a spray bottle every few days or if it feels dry. Reduce watering to once a week once the plant has become more established and rooted.
Step 7
Keep out of direct sunlight. To avoid sun damage, keep new plants out of direct sunlight when they are first planted in their individual container. As the plant matures, gradually increase sunshine and sun exposure to meet its needs.
Propagating from seeds
From an existing plant, you can harvest or sow your own seeds. Propagating from seeds takes time and is not the best option if you want quick results; but, when done correctly, this method may be quite profitable. The plant’s blossoms can be used to gather seeds.
Pollinators or self pollination are required to pollinate the flowers. Self pollination can be accomplished by pollinating the blooms using a paintbrush. Fertilization will occur if all goes properly.
The blossoms can then be dried and kept, and the seeds extracted. The gathered seeds must be given the proper conditions to develop into seedlings. Once the seedlings have grown large enough, they will be ready to be transplanted and treated like new plants.
You can buy seeds and germinate them yourself instead of gathering your own. Seeds are often a fraction of the price of a mature plant. Because few seedlings survive to maturity, you’ll need a lot of seeds.
How to Propagate Succulents in Water
Step 1
Obtain a cutting. Snip a succulent plant stem clipping. Leggy plants can be an excellent source of stem cuttings. Leave at least two inches of bare stem.
Step 2
Allow the cuttings to dry. Allow the cutting to cure for a few days, or until the cut end has calloused or dried.
Step 3
Submerge in water. Add water to a cup large enough to hold the clippings. Place the cutting so that the end of the stem is slightly above the water’s surface.
Step 4
Place in a well-lit area. Place the cup in a brightly lit place.
Step 5
Wait for the roots to form. As needed, add more water.
Step 6
The rooted cutting should be planted. When the roots have formed, remove the rooted cuttings from the water and allow them to dry for a few days. After that, the roots cutting can be planted in a suitable potting mix.
Step 7
Water only when necessary. Baby plants require slightly more water than older plants. Mist the soil lightly with a spray bottle every few days or if it feels dry. Reduce watering to once a week once the plant has become more established and rooted.
Step 8
Keep out of direct sunlight. To avoid sun damage, keep new plants out of direct sunlight when they are first planted in their individual container. As the plant matures, gradually increase sunshine and sun exposure to meet its needs.
When NOT to Propagate Succulents
The beginning of the growth season is an excellent time to consider propagating your succulents. To ensure propagation success, avoid propagating during the following times:
During a heatwave
During a heatwave, it is not the best time to propagate. Plants are not in the ideal condition to multiply when they are stressed and focused on survival. It is preferable to wait till the heatwave has passed or to propagate during a milder, less hostile season to achieve the best results.
Pruning and pruning your plant for propagation causes additional stress because it must work on healing and regrowing while also surviving these severe conditions. Plants can be propagated during a heatwave if they are kept indoors and protected from the strong heat outside, or if they are kept in a temperature controlled setting.
During frost or freezing temperatures
During freezing temperatures and frost, most succulent plants go dormant. Plants shut down and stop growing when it gets cold. Propagating your plants during this time period will not yield the optimum results.
To assure the plants’ survival, wait till the cold has passed before propagating. Pruning or pruning your plant for propagation during this time puts it under additional stress because it needs to focus its energy on healing and regrowing.
What is a rooting hormone?
Rooting hormone is used to accelerate the plant cutting, speeding up the process of sending out new roots or nodes. Rooting hormone also protects cuttings from fungus and disease, which newly cut plants are sensitive to. It is available in powder, gel, or liquid form.
Rooting hormones can be either naturally occurring or manufactured. While not required, it hastens the process and works as a catalyst for the roots to form. It can also increase the success rate of rooting newly cut plants. It is not required to employ a rooting hormone to root succulent cuttings, and some growers prefer not to. Others swear by it and root all of their cuttings with it.
Natural rooting hormones
You can use natural products to aid in the process of rooting your succulent plants. Some of these items are basic home goods that you may already have on hand.
Cinnamon powder–I learned about cinnamon powder being used as a rooting agent for succulent cuttings from a Succulent Group to which I belong. It appears to be widely utilized as a rooting agent. Simply coat the cuttings in cinnamon powder or sprinkle cinnamon on the soil. Cinnamon is both a wound healer and fungicide. It can help keep the cuttings disease-free when rooted and the soil fungal-free.
Honey–Honey is known for its antifungal and antibacterial effects, therefore it stands to reason that it is also utilized as a natural rooting agent. There are several recipes for using honey as a rooting agent.
Here’s an easy recipe to try:
1 tablespoon honey (pure or raw honey is recommended)
2 cups boiling water
Boil 2 cups of water and remove from heat. Mix the honey in the water. Let it cool. Store the mixture in an airtight jar or container. Keep away from light. To use, dip the cuttings in the solution. The mixture can be stored and will last for about two weeks.
Apple Cider Vinegar–You can use apple cider vinegar to assist speed up the rooting process of your succulent cuttings. Apple cider vinegar is often used as a weed killer in organic farming. You only need a small amount of apple cider vinegar; using too much may hinder roots.
Here’s an easy recipe to try:
1/2 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
8 cups of water
Mix the apple cider vinegar and water. To use as a rooting hormone, dip the cuttings into the solution.
