Planning on propagating some new succulents from cuttings? You’ve come to the right place. Succulent propagation is a relatively simple process that can be done in a few different ways, and we have put together this guide to help you decide which way will work best for your new projects.
What is Succulent Propagation?
Succulents are plants that store water in their leaves or stems to survive long periods of drought and they tend to grow slowly - making them perfect for container gardens. If you have succulents at home it can be a great idea to propagate them by taking cuttings from an existing plant. This way you'll get another small version of your favorite succulent with little effort. If you want to get your own succulent plant then you can get it here.
What is the Best Propagation Method for Succulent?
There are different ways to propagate succulents plant however the best and the most effective propagation method for succulents is Dry Propagation. It is an ideal method as it does not require any skills or special tools. It can be done from things you have available at your home like scissors. In this guide, we will talk about the dry propagation technique.
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Dry Propagation Guide: So What Does Dry Propagation Entails?
Dry propagation entails removing some parts from one stem and allowing those parts/stems to dry out and form roots. It is the simplest method of propagation and it does not require any special tools or skills!
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Step-By-Step Process for Propagation of Succulents
If you are a beginner, the dry propagation method is ideal for you. Here is a complete step-by-step guide for you to propagate your succulents:
Step 1: Water the succulent you are planning to propagate and leave it alone for three days.
Step 2: After the three days, gently remove the leaves you plan on propagating from the mother plant. You can use a gentle twisting motion to pull the leaf, so it doesn’t break. Be sure to pick healthy and mature leaves from the bottom.
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Step 3: Place the leaves you picked on a tray to propagate. You can also use any cup or carton in your home, but keep it away from direct sunlight.
Step 4: Leave your pups alone for one or two months until their roots are fully matured.
Step 5: Only check the roots once a week to see their health.
These are the top five steps to propagate succulents. Growing them is a waiting game, and you must leave them for one or two months to let the leaves grow. Please don’t water them during this time or do anything else.
You can simply check the root’s health from time to time. Keep in mind that healthy succulent roots usually come in a pink or white hue. So, if your succulent has dark roots or you notice them shriveling, it means they are in a place with too much sunlight.
You must move them to a spot with less sun to ensure they thrive. That is your complete process of using dry propagation to grow your succulents in no time.
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So How Long Will it Take for My New Plant To Root?
Your new plant will take about a month or two to root. You can tell when the roots have formed because they'll be white and thin at this point - all you need is patience! Once your newly rooted succulent starts growing some leaves, it's time for them to go outside in spring/summer so that they get some sunlight every day until winter comes again next fall!
During summer days make sure these babies are out of any hot afternoon sun as temperatures above 95 degrees Fahrenheit (35 Celsius) may actually damage the stems of young plants causing them to wilt even if there's plenty of water available inside their tissues! Talking about the damage caused to the succulents, let’s take a look at the common problems you may face due to the propagation of succulents.
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Some Problems You May Encounter:
If at any point the cut pieces start rotting, do not worry! Just remove the rotten part from its stem and allow it to dry out in a shaded area for about one week. Once you see some new tissue starting to grow on the end of that dried-up piece-it means your plant will be just fine and healthy very soon with proper care!
Overwatering: If roots start growing directly beneath their leaves-that is actually the result of overwatering most likely due to excessive soil moisture or humidity so try reducing watering during this time. You may also want to use something like perlite inside potting mix which acts as an evaporative agent absorbing excess water/humidity while letting air reach roots more easily keeping them dry.
Underwatering: If leaves start looking crispy and shriveled, that is a sign that your plant is not getting enough water! Ensure dry soil in between deep weekly watering after the initial wetting when you first transplant into the potting mix - make sure to add perlite to any non-organic succulent/cactus potting mixes if drainage is an issue for you. In winter keep them outside where they'll get plenty of direct sunlight every day until night temperatures drop below 40 degrees Fahrenheit (around or less) at which point it's best to bring them indoors and let them go dormant by leaving their lights off and watering once every two weeks only while keeping cold but frost-free over winter months.
If you still don't know when to water your succulents, you can use the soil moisture meter to help you.
Click here to learn more about overwatering or underwatering succulents.
Cuttings Taken From the Mother Plant Should be Planted Immediately After Cutting
Place your cuttings in a shaded area to dry for some time before repot succulent babies into succulent soil with perlite added if you want good drainage (recommended). Place these babies outside during summer but bring them back inside once temperatures go above 95 degrees Fahrenheit (35 Celsius) and keep out of any hot afternoon sun as this may damage young stems causing them to wilt even when there's plenty of water available inside their tissues. Keep an eye on new leaves that start growing directly beneath older ones-this is likely caused by overwatering or excess humidity/moisture so reduce watering during this time. If leaves look crispy, shriveled, and are starting to fall off despite a good watering-you're likely under watering and need to increase watering slightly.
Here are other interesting propagation methods:
