4 Basic Methods for Propagating Succulents: Which One Do You Prefer?

Some people enjoy growing succulents simply because they are so easy to propagate. All you need is a single leaf or a section of stem to root a cutting. Of course, they can also be propagated by dividing offsets, or grown from seed. These are the 4 most basic methods for propagating succulents. Let's take a detailed look below.

1. Leaf Propagation

Propagating succulents directly from leaves is the easiest method. As long as the leaf is healthy and plump, it has a chance of growing into a new plant. Of course, some are extremely difficult to propagate this way, such as bear's paw (Cotyledon tomentosa), moon rabbit ear (Kalanchoe tomentosa), aloe and Haworthia cooperi.

1. Choose Healthy Leaves

To successfully propagate from leaves, you first need to choose a healthy succulent. Generally, select plump, thick, juicy leaves from the bottom of the plant. Avoid leaves that are faded or have wounds, and be careful when picking them to avoid damaging the leaf stem.

2. Twist Off the Leaves

Succulent leaves are attached at the point where they connect to the main stem. Simply pinch the leaf and twist it back and forth, carefully using your fingers to twist the leaf off the succulent. To avoid damaging the leaf stem, you can even use small scissors to trim it off.

3. Let the Wounds Dry

Lay the collected leaves flat on a dry paper towel until the wounds heal. Place them in a bright, well-ventilated spot, generally for about 3 to 4 days. During this time, do not expose them to sunlight or water them.

4. Rooting

To increase the chances of the leaves sprouting, you can dip the end of each leaf in a little rooting powder, then lay them flat on the soil surface with the top of the leaf facing up and the underside facing down. You can press the leaf stem slightly into the soil.

5. Aftercare

Propagating succulents from leaf cuttings requires a great deal of patience. Before the leaves sprout, keep them in a bright, well-ventilated spot, avoiding sunlight and watering. Keep the temperature between 18 and 25 degrees. It takes more than 1 month for seedlings to emerge. The seedlings can gradually be given light, and watered lightly around the edges.

Do not remove the mother leaf. The seedling needs to absorb nutrients from the mother leaf, and the mother leaf will slowly turn yellow and wither.

2. Propagating Succulents by Division

Many succulents produce lots of offsets, such as the common aloe, Sempervivum, Echeveria 'Mebina' and Graptopetalum paraguayense. As long as the offsets grow to a decent height, they can be divided and transplanted.

Offsets are generally divided when the soil is semi-dry and semi-moist. The best time is in spring or autumn. Avoid transplanting during the excessively hot summer or the excessively cold winter.

When transplanting, choose a sharp knife or scissors. You can wipe them with alcohol before cutting to avoid fungal infections.

For cutting, choose spring or autumn. Dig up the plant, cut off the offsets together with their roots, then place them in a ventilated, shaded spot to let the wounds dry, which generally takes 2 to 3 days. After that, prepare a loose, fertile, well-draining soil for transplanting.

3. Propagating Succulents by Stem Cuttings

Stem cuttings are suitable for succulents with many branches or very long stems, such as the common jade plant (Crassula ovata), Graptopetalum paraguayense and Portulacaria afra. The time is generally chosen in spring or autumn. Avoid taking cuttings during the hot summer.

First, select a healthy stem segment free of pests and diseases. Once you have decided which stem to cut, prepare a sharp knife and disinfect it before use. The cut branch should be about 9 cm long.

Do not rush to plant the cut stem in soil. You can remove the lower leaves to avoid nutrient consumption and to prevent the leaves from being buried in the soil. Then place the stem in a ventilated, shaded spot for 3 to 5 days.

Prepare a loose, fertile, well-draining sandy soil and a small container with good drainage. Then you can plant the stem with the dried wound. Wait 3 to 5 days before watering, and gradually introduce light after 1 week.

4. Propagating Succulents from Seed

Propagating succulents from seed is very slow, so growing succulents from seed is strongly discouraged. The seedlings are also hard to grow strong, are prone to fungal infections, and the plants tend to fall over. It is also easy to buy fake succulent seeds. Succulents flowering is fairly common, but the success rate of pollination is not very high either.

Before planting, soak the seeds in warm water for 1 hour. This helps break the seed dormancy and improves germination.

Then mix the seeds with river sand, and spread the mixture evenly over a leveled soil surface. Prepare a loose, well-draining sandy soil. After sowing the seeds, cover them with a layer of soil a few millimeters thick.

After that, cover the seeds with a lid to help retain warmth and moisture. During cultivation, mist with water every day to keep the soil moist and the air humid, and maintain a warm environment. The most suitable temperature is between 18 and 26 degrees.