How to Propagate Succulents

The term 'succulents' refers to a wide range of different plants, some closely related, others not. To be a succulent, a plant has to store water in its roots and leaves. Succulents are popular in Florida, both as indoor plants and in the outdoor environment. They are low maintenance, drought-tolerant, and come in a huge variety of colors and textures. Not only that, but many succulents are easy to propagate - meaning that you can use your existing plant to grow new ones, for free!

Overview of Propagation Methods

Depending on the type of plant, different propagation methods are most likely to be successful. Some species can even be propagated in more than one way! Many plants need to be propagated in water so they don't dehydrate. With succulents, this is not usually the case; instead, cuttings or pups need to be left to dry out, to avoid root rot.

There are three main methods of propagation for succulents:

• Leaf cuttings. This involves removing an entire leaf and using it to grow a baby plant. Several succulent leaves can be removed at once and you can expect many of them to form roots and grow baby plants.
• Stem cuttings. Using a sharp knife, the stem of a tall or 'leggy' succulent can be cut in two. The top portion will grow new roots and can then be planted. If you previously removed leaves from the bottom of the stem, baby plants may also begin to grow where the leaves were removed.
• Offsets or pups. Some varieties of succulent act as mother plants, growing pups, or baby succulents, which can be pinched off and planted separately to grow into new plants.

Step-by-Step Guide for Leaf Cutting Propagation

Many succulent plants can be successfully propagated from leaf cuttings. This method is usually effective for succulents with fleshy leaves, for example echeveria, sedum and Jade plant.

Follow these steps to grow baby succulents from leaf cuttings.

1. Carefully pinch off an entire leaf near the stem. Make sure it does not break - the leaf needs to be in one piece, including the nub where it joined to the stem. If a leaf falls naturally you can use that for propagation too.
2. Allow the cut ends of your leaves to dry by putting them on a paper towel and leaving them for two to three days. This step is an important part of leaf propagation as it helps to prevent root rot.
3. Lay your leaves on succulent soil. Place them in indirect sunlight. Use a spray bottle to lightly mist the mother leaves with water whenever the soil becomes dry. You will start to see baby plants in around 2-8 weeks.
4. After a few weeks, the original leaf will dry out and shrivel up. At this point you can remove it from the new plant and, very carefully, move the baby plant to its own pot. Be very gentle with the roots and make sure they are covered with soil.

Step-by-Step Guide for Stem Cutting Propagation

Most types of succulent can be propagated from stem cuttings. This works particularly well if a plant has become stringy or 'leggy'. It's also a successful technique for succulents like string of pearls, which have lots of stems.

1. Cut off a piece of stem from the original plant using sharp, clean scissors or a knife. The best place to cut is just above an existing leaf.
2. Remove the leaves from the bottom 1-2 inches of the succulent cutting. This uncovers the nodes, which will form the new roots. You can use the leaves you take off for leaf propagation!
3. Leave your succulent cuttings uncovered for a couple of days so they can dry out. This will prevent rot.
4. Now you can insert the stems 1-2 inches into dry succulent soil. Place them in indirect light, and do not water for the first two weeks. After this, you can mist them with water whenever the soil dries out, about once a week.

Step-by-Step Guide for Offsets or Pup Propagation

Many kinds of succulent have the amazing ability to produce baby plants all by themselves. These offspring are known as offsets or pups, and they tend to grow during spring or summer. Pups usually grow from the stem of the succulent, near the base of the soil. When a mother plant produces pups, it starts the propagation process all on its own! Here's what to do if you find offsets on one of your succulents.

1. Wait until the baby plant is big enough to remove. It should be at least an inch tall; some gardeners recommend waiting until it is around half the size of the mother plant. A pup will grow more quickly while still attached to the mother.
2. Use a clean, sharp knife or scissors to carefully cut the offset from the stem.
3. As with leaf and stem cuttings, the offset should be left on a plate or paper towel for a few days so the cut can callous over.
4. Now the new succulent plant can be placed in cacti and succulent potting soil. Give it plenty of room to grow, and place it in a location with plenty of bright but indirect sunlight.
5. Water according to the requirements of the plant. Most cacti and succulents require only a little water every one to two weeks.

Tips for Succulent Propagation

Here are some extra tips for successful propagation!

• Start with a healthy parent plant! Choose a succulent plant that is in good condition, and make sure it is adequately watered before you begin.
• When you take a cutting, use a clean, sharp tool to reduce stress on the plant.
• Give your cuttings plenty of time in the air for the cut to heal or callous before you plant them in soil.
• Make sure you use the right kind of soil. You need to use a succulent and cactus soil mix. If you don't have one, create your own by mixing together two parts potting compost with one part sand or grit.
• Check the watering requirements for your succulent plant. Many require infrequent watering, only once every 2-3 weeks.

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