Succulent Propagation

By Audrey Miller

Succulents, Succinctly

• Type of plant
• Store water in their leaves
• Thrive in dry climates and don’t like humidity
• Can endure long periods of drought, making them great for beginning gardeners
• Becoming more popular
• Most prefer warm temperatures, cannot tolerate colder ones
• “Pups” are baby succulents/offsets
• Propagate easily

What are succulents?

Propagation

What is plant propagation?

Propagation in general is “The act or process of causing to multiply or spread out” (Merriam Webster)

What is propagation?

What is succulent propagation?

Succulent propagation is “the act of taking an element of a mature succulent and using that element to grow a new plant. It can be done by using the offsets, leaf cuttings, stem cuttings, or seeds from a mature plant.” (Leaf & Clay)

Succulent Propagation Methods

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Detached Leaves

Cuttings

Offsets

Basic Propagation Process

1. Get succulent part to propagate.
2. Let callus over.
3. Plant in soil or place on top.
4. Water minimally.

Detached Leaves

1. Gently twist leaf off stem of mature plant. Make sure that leaf comes off completely and does not rip.
2. Set leaf or leaves in dry place to callus over and begin developing roots. Depending the variety of succulent the leaf is and conditions that you put the leaf in this can take anywhere from a day to a week.
3. Once callused over and roots are present, place leaves on top of soil (cactus soil is best).
4. Wait a day or two and then water the leaves. Water very lightly (a few drops) or use a spray bottle.
5. Tiny succulents will start to appear at the callused end of the leaf next to the roots. Once this happens you can give them a bit more water. Leaves will shrivel up and fall off as the energy stored inside of them is used up.
6. Carefully transplant succulent pups to their own containers.

Cuttings

1. Cut stem of succulent just above a leaf with sharp scissors or pruning shears.
2. Let callus over. This will take longer than it does for succulent leaves.
3. Once callused over, make a hole in the soil (in permanent container)and plant cutting in it.
4. Wait a few days, then water minimally.

Offsets

If offsets sprout from base of parent plant…

1. Move surface soil so that the roots of the offshoot and the roots of the parent plant around the offshoot are visible.
2. Gently separate roots and if the offset is still connected to the parent plant by a stem use scissors, a knife, or pruning shears to cut them apart.
3. Let removed offsets dry for a few days.
4. Carefully plant offsets in their own containers.
5. After a couple days, water very lightly.

If offsets sprout from leaves of parent plant…

1. Gently pull and wiggle offsets to separate them from parent plant or use a sharp knife to cut them off.
2. Let the offsets callus over.
3. Place on top of soil and, after a few days, water sparingly.

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Tips to Successfully Propagate Succulents

• Keep succulent pups out of direct light
• Do not overwater them-only water when soil is dry and even then use minimal water
• When callusing succulents, keep them in a dark, temperate, clean, dry place
• Use cactus soil to propagate and plant succulents
• For beginners, try propagating a type of succulent that will propagate easily first

Easy Succulents to Propagate

• Kalanchoe daigremontiana- “Mother of Thousands”
• Sedum morganianum- “Burro’s Tail”
• Sedum rubrotinctum- “Jelly Bean Succulent”
• Graptoveria- “Fred Ives”
• Graptopetalum paraguayense- “Ghost Plant”
• Graptosedum- “California Sunset”
• Crassula ovata- “Jade”
• Sempervivum Varieties

My Succulent Propagation Photos

Conclusion

Sources used

https://www.succulentsandsunshine.com/prolific-propagating-succulents/

https://www.succulentsandsunshine.com/how-to-propagate-succulents-from-leaves-and-cuttings/

https://leafandclay.co/blogs/blog/4-basic-ways-of-propagating-succulents

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