Want your succulents to burst out of the pot? Learn to make this one cut and you'll have more than you can handle
When Huahua first started keeping succulents, she wished every day for them to burst out of the pot and produce a bunch of little baby succulents. But while everyone else's had already produced two litters, Huahua's stayed exactly the same. Later Huahua learned that, if you want succulents to grow fast and burst out of the pot with little pups, you have to do this!
Beheading
Growing Flowers Encyclopedia
The crudest and most effective way to turn a single-headed succulent into a multi-headed one is beheading: removing the succulent's apical dominance, which encourages it to sprout multiple small heads. Next, using Fuji Nishiki (a variegated succulent) as an example, Huahua will explain how to behead.
1. Find a sharp small knife and sterilise it. Keep the bottom two layers of leaves and cut off all the rest.
2. After about 20 days, small heads will grow from the cut part.
3. The cut-off head and the leaves can be re-propagated from cuttings.
Besides beheading to make succulents produce multiple heads, you can also use the beheading method when a succulent becomes leggy.
Beheading a leggy succulent
1. Cut off the entire head of the succulent, leaving the leggy stem at a length you're happy with, and cut it off.
2. After about 20 days, new shoots will grow from the leggy stem.
3. The cut-off head can be repotted.
Pinching out the growing tip
Growing Flowers Encyclopedia
Some flower lovers may not have the heart to be so ruthless with their succulents. These growers can choose a gentler method: pinching out the growing tip. Again, Huahua will use the black Aeonium 'Zwartkop' as an example to explain.
1. Remove the few leaves at the very centre of the succulent to remove apical dominance and stimulate the growth of small heads.
2. After about 15-20 days, the new small heads will grow out.
3. After pinching out the growing tip, some succulents will also grow new small heads at the base of the stem.
Leaf propagation
Growing Flowers Encyclopedia
Leaf propagation is also one of the easiest ways to get multiple heads. Huahua will use the peach egg (Graptopetalum amethystinum) as an example to explain how to propagate from leaves.
1. Let the freshly twisted-off succulent leaves dry in a cool, ventilated place for 3-5 days, then lay them flat on the soil surface. When watering, do not water onto the leaves.
2. After about 15 days, small heads will grow out, and after about 30 days, the small heads will have grown into bean sprouts!
Recommended succulents that produce multiple heads
Growing Flowers Encyclopedia
Friends who like succulents that burst out of the pot can, when they first start growing succulents, choose varieties that more easily grow multiple heads on their own.
1. Graptopetalum mendozae
2. Golden Sedum (Sedum japonicum 'Tokyo Sun')
3. Echeveria 'Perle von Nurnberg' (Yudie)
4. Sedum rubrotinctum
5. Graptosedum 'Bronze'
Has your succulent burst out of its pot?
How do you grow yours?
Feel free to chat with Huahua in the comments section~
?