Succulent Propagation
One of the greatest things about succulents (and there are many) is how they propagate. I didn't know what propagation meant at first, but basically it is when you spread or breed your succulent to make more baby succulents! If you want to learn how to do this, read on! If you want to learn more about how to optimize your technique, click here for the Ultimate Propagation Comparison.There are a few popular ways to propagate succulents: 1) Leaves 2) Cuttings
Check online to see if your specimen is compatible with these methods. Sometimes it will be marked Propagation Prohibited to protect the rights of the company that created them. Sometimes, like with Jade plants, it is possible to propagate them through Leaf Propagation, but they take forever, and it may be better to simply take a cutting.
Below: Successful soil propagation by contrivecreations. (Thanks for letting me use this photo! Go check out her insta for great photos like these!)
PROPAGATION IN A NUTSHELL:
Leaf Propagation:
- You want to gently remove a leaf. Wiggling from side to side or up and down can do the trick. The chemicals involved in making new babies and new roots are located at the end of the leaf, so if you snap the leaf without getting that end, you won't be able to make babies. Note: Some people use rooting hormone or honey to dip the leaf in before it callouses over. I have never done so and don't find it necessary at all to help nature do what it does best. Learn more about rooting hormone and what it does here.
- Put it somewhere where the end can callous over. I place mine in a takeout contained or lid where it can get some sunlight (near a window) but won't be burned to a crisp (outside in direct sunlight). Don't be alarmed if the unwounded end is damaged, because as long as the important bit is fine, it may be able work. Unfortunately, sometimes the leaves rot and then you should throw it out in case it makes nearby leaves rot too.
- Around a week to six weeks (sorry for the range, it depends on the plant) you should see a lot of red pigment forming near the base of the leaf. This is a good sign! If this happens, you should see little red tentacle-y roots poking out or a baby succulent begin to form (maybe just a baby leaf).
- Once the baby forms, transport it to a soil/rock container. I have heard different things online, but the magical formula that works for me is this: a shallow takeout container, lined with slightly damp soil, and topped with a layer of small pebbles or pumice or bonsai quartz rocks. I put the leaves lying horizontally on top, like a three layer dip. Twice a week I wet the soil with a spray/drip bottle. It's ok if the leaves get wet, but I tend to avoid this because they may rot. :(
- When they have grown up a bit, you could transfer them to their own little pots. The mother leaf will fall off on its own. Usually, you'll see it begin to whither as its nutrients is sucked out and used as baby plant food. If for some reason, you need to take the mother leaf off before it does so naturally, be very careful because the roots underneath may be attached more to the mom leaf than to the baby plant. Ideally, you want the roots to go with the baby plant so it can be supported!
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| Graptopetalum paraguayense |
Cuttings:
Take a sharp pair of scissors/blade. Cut it, leaving two leafs on the main stem at least! (The main stem will grow babies off the side in the future you could eventually separate to make new baby plants. If you take all the leaves off the main stem, there is a high chance the mother plant will die. Trust me, I've killed a few.) Wait a week for the new cutting to callous over. Stick it in soil and voila! The baby plant should flourish. Sometimes I see some sacrificial leaves being sucked in and killed to fuel the new cutting before it sends out new roots from the stem into the soil. Don't panic! I feel like it always gets worse before it gets better, but I've successfully cut five of my plants this way and they all made it! The mother stem is even sending off new babies!
