A detailed guide to the correct method of succulent leaf propagation, easily achieving a bursting pot effect

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Images: Le'an

Leaf propagation is a common artificial propagation method for succulents. The chance of leaf propagation producing shoots is high, and because it is asexual reproduction, its traits are inherited from the mother plant, allowing the uniformity of the plant to be maintained. When do you need to use leaf propagation? Of course, when you want more succulents. So here comes the question: have you got the correct technique for succulent leaf propagation?

1

Selecting leaves and removing leaves

The leaves should be mature, healthy and fully developed, with no insect damage; yellowing leaves must not be chosen. Of course, newly grown tender leaves will not work either.

To pull off a leaf, pinch it with your hand and then twist it in a circle; the leaf will naturally fall off intact.

2

Leaf propagation of succulents

Many beginners mistakenly think that leaf propagation means inserting the base of the leaf straight into the soil. This idea is completely wrong.

True leaf propagation means placing the leaf flat on the soil, with the curled-up part facing upward, imitating as closely as possible the way leaves fall in the wild.

3

Waiting for sprouting

Next comes the slow wait. The time for leaves to sprout is affected by many factors, so some take longer and some shorter.

During this period, what we need to do is:

(1) Absolutely do not water heavily; watering once every two or three days is enough, and the unit is "drops". Succulents do not need too much water, otherwise the leaves may turn yellow or develop black rot.

(2) Try not to expose them to direct sunlight; place them on a balcony or another well-ventilated spot with indirect light.

When leaves sprout, they may grow roots first or leaves first. Many people, for the sake of the new shoots' appearance, rush to remove the mother leaf. This is wrong. The mother leaf provides nutrients to the new shoots, and new shoots without a mother leaf often grow very slowly. When the mother leaf's nutrients are completely absorbed by the new shoots, it will dry up and turn yellow; at this point we can pull off the mother leaf.

Finally, when the leaf-propagated seedlings have grown to a certain extent, remember to repot them!

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