Propagate Succulents from Leaves

Propagating succulents from leaves is an interesting method of growing new succulent plants from the leaves of an existing plant. This process involves removing a healthy leaf from the parent succulent plant and encouraging it to develop new succulent babies from the cut. With proper care and attention, the succulent babies will eventually sprout roots and grow into a mature succulent plant, the same variety as the mother succulent. 

Leaf propagation sounds inspiring and impressive for many succulent growers, and it is a good way for succulent collectors to expand their collections. For some biology teachers, guiding students to join this propagation is an excellent topic to lure their interest in nature.

Before propagating succulents from leaves, you should prepare a few things. First, you'll need a healthy parent succulent from which to take the leaves. It is best to choose varieties that naturally produce offsets or pups. Some examples of these types of succulents include Echeveria, Graptopetalum, and Sedum. Other varieties, such as Crassula and Kalanchoe, can also be propagated from leaves but may take longer to produce new plants. Remember always to choose healthy leaves and follow the proper steps for leaf propagation. Secondly, you'll need a well-draining potting mix and a shallow container for planting the leaves. With these items, you'll be ready to start propagating your succulent leaves and growing new plants.

To propagate succulents from leaves, follow these steps:

1. Choose a healthy parent plant with several healthy leaves to spare.

2. Grab the leaf and twist it gently from the parent plant.

3. Allow the cut ends of the leaves to callus over for two or three days to prevent rotting.

4. Prepare a well-draining potting mix in a small container or seed plug trays.

5. Place the callused ends of the leaves onto the potting mix, ensuring they are in contact with the succulent soil.

6. Water the soil lightly and place the container in bright but indirect sunlight.

7. Wait for new roots and leaves to grow, which can take several weeks to several months.

8. Once the new plants have developed their root systems, transplant them into individual pots or your garden. 

Succulent leaf dry propagation is another method of propagating succulents from leaves. Different from putting leaves directly into well-draining soil, this method is to allow the leaves to dry naturally and grow new babies from the cut with the air humidity. This technique can be more successful than water propagation as it reduces the risk of the leaves rotting before they can form roots. If you want to know more information, click here to learn succulent dry propagation.

There are other methods for succulent propagation besides leaf propagation. Some other popular methods include stem-cutting propagation, division propagation, seeds propagation, and water propagation. Stem-cutting propagation involves cutting a stem clipping from a healthy succulent plant and allowing it to dry out before planting it in well-draining soil. Division propagation involves dividing an established succulent plant into multiple smaller plants and planting them separately in their pots. Each propagation method has advantages and disadvantages, so it's meaningful to do some research and choose the best way for the specific succulent species.

If you are new to succulent plants, we highly recommend Graptopetalum 'Purple Delight' and other easy-to-care succulents to start your first propagation project. Or you can purchase fresh succulent cuttings to start your succulent journey.