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Propagating succulents is a great way to share your favorites with friends or expand your own collection, and they’re perfect for beginners to start with.
Though there are a few different methods you can use, rooting stem or leaf cuttings is by far the most popular and fun way to do it.
Below I’ll tell you all you need to know about how to propagate your succulents, and the best time to do it. I’ll walk you through everything step by step, from taking and preparing your cuttings, all the way through potting them up.
Table of Contents
Succulent Propagation Methods
There are three basic ways that you can propagate succulents: 1. rooting cuttings, 2. by division, or 3. from seeds. The exact method to use depends on the type of plant that you have.
For example, you can easily root stems or leaves from jade plants, graptopetalum, or Christmas cactus. But for some species, like aloe vera, haworthia, or echeveria, it’s much easier to divide them.
Starting from seeds is also a fun experiment, and possible for most varieties. But it’s the slowest method and will take much longer to get sizable plants. In this guide, I will focus on how to propagate succulents from stem cuttings or leaves.
When To Propagate Succulents
The best time to propagate succulents is during the spring and summer months. Warm weather will make them root much faster.
In fact, it’s so easy that sometimes pieces will break off and start growing in the ground without any help from you. But, if you provide the right environment for them, you can do it during the winter too.
Propagating Succulents From Cuttings
There are two different types of cuttings you can use to propagate your succulents: either from the stem or individual leaves.
So be sure to keep your clippings when you’re pruning them, or if any of the branches are broken. Here are the pros and cons for each method:
- Stem cuttings– This is where you cut off an entire stem or branch and root it. It’s the easiest method, and will give you larger plants faster.
- Leaf cuttings– Many times you can use the individual leaves, but it’s usually more difficult. It also takes much longer to get mature plants, and it will not work for some varieties.
How To Take Cuttings
You can take succulent cuttings from anywhere along the stem, but it will be easier to propagate them if they’re at least 2-3 inches long.
Many times you can simply break off a section, and that will root just fine. But I recommend using a sharp and sterile pair of precision clippers or bonsai shears to remove them so they will get off to a healthy start.
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Properly Preparing Your Cuttings
After taking stem cuttings from your succulents, there are a few things you should do to prepare them for propagation.
If it’s covered by leaves, remove the lowest ones to expose a few inches of the stem. New roots will form from the leaf nodes, so you’ll definitely need at least a couple on there. Don’t remove all of the leaves though.
It’s also important to allow the wound to cure (dry out and callus over) for a few days to help prevent rotting. The thicker the stem, the longer you should let it cure.
Tips For Propagating Succulent Leaves
To be successful with propagating your succulents from leaves, it’s important to remove each one correctly. You must break the entire leaf off cleanly, or it will not root.
To do that, hold onto the tip, and gently wiggle or twist it until it comes off. If they break in half in the process, or any part is left on the plant, discard that one and try again.
They will shrivel pretty quickly after you remove them, especially if they’re small. So don’t wait too long to start them, or it might not work.
Once they have roots, a tiny plant will form at the base of the leaf. Then eventually the propagated leaf will shrivel up and die as the new baby succulent gets larger. So don’t freak out when that happens, it’s completely normal.
Related Post: How To Plant Succulents Indoors Or Outside
How To Propagate Succulents Step By Step
The best way to propagate succulent cuttings is to plant them in soil. This will give you the best success, and produce stronger, healthier roots. Follow these step by step instructions:
Supplies Needed:
- Prepared stem cuttings or leaves
- Fast-draining soil medium
- Hand trowel
- Rooting hormone
- Clean pot
- Precision pruners or Bonsai shears
See my detailed list of the best plant propagation supplies here.
Step 1: Apply rooting hormone – You can use rooting rooting hormone on succulents to speed up the process. Simply dust the stem or base of the leaf with it. This will help them develop roots much faster, and they’ll be stronger too. But you don’t have to use it if you don’t want to.
Step 2: Fill a container with medium – Fill a small pot with the potting mixture. For best results, I recommend using a very fast draining medium. General potting soil is too heavy, and can cause the cuttings to rot.
Related Post: How To Make Your Own Succulent Soil (With Recipe!)
Step 3: Plant the cuttings – For longer cuttings, make a hole in the medium with a pencil or your finger, and gently place the stem into it so the rooting hormone won’t rub off.
Then lightly pack the medium around the base of the stem so it stays in place, and to ensure the soil comes into good contact with it.
For individual leaves, you can simply lay them on top, or cover them with a very thin layer. Don’t bury them very deep though, just cover the bottom quarter of the leaf, or so.
Step 4: Place somewhere warm and bright – Put the pot in a warm spot with bright, indirect light. Outdoors, make sure they are protected from full sun and heavy rain. Keep the soil dry, but the air around them slightly humid – it it’s too wet they will rot. For leaves, the medium should be damp, or you can lightly mist them daily.
Step 5: Check for roots – The roots should start forming in a few weeks. You’ll know your succulent cuttings are propagated when you see new leaves growing on the top, and it doesn’t move when you lightly tug on it. For individual leaves, once the roots are about a 1/2″ long, you can bury them with a thin layer of medium if you want to, but don’t cover any part of the tiny baby plant.
Related Post: How To Water A Succulent Plant
How Long Does It Take To Root Succulents?
It takes anywhere from 2-6 weeks to propagate succulents, but the exact timing depends on the environment and the variety that you have. They will root faster if the air is humid than they will in totally dry conditions.
If you laid individual leaves on top of the medium, then you will be able to watch them as they sprout. A new baby plant will start forming at the base of the leaf shortly after the roots form, but sometimes it can happen before.
Related Post: How To Make An Indoor Succulent Garden
Why Aren’t My Succulent Cuttings Rooting?
If your succulent cuttings are not propagating, then there are a few things to check. They won’t root if it’s too wet, the air is extremely dry and hot, or if it’s too cold. Individual leaves won’t root if you broke them off the wrong way – the entire leaf must be intact for it to work.
For the best chance of success, put them in a bright, warm, and slightly humid location that’s out of direct sunlight, and keep the medium on the dry side. To speed things up, set the pot on aheat mat and usea grow light.
Potting Up Your Rooted Succulent Cuttings
Once they have thick and healthy roots, you can pot up your newly propagated succulent cuttings. But this is optional. If the container they’re in is large enough, you can just leave them be until they outgrow it.
When the time comes, choose a new pot that’s only one or two sizes larger, and make sure it has drainage holes in the bottom. Fill it with a quick draining mix, or a use gritty one, then plant your new babies at the same depth they were in the old container.
Related Post: How To Repot Succulent Plants
FAQs
What is the best way to propagate succulents?
The best way to propagate succulents is by rooting stem cuttings. You can also use individual leaves as well, but it will take much longer to get a decent sized plant.
Can you propagate succulents in water?
You could certainly try propagating your succulents in water. However, this method can be risky because they can quickly rot. If you want to try it, make sure to suspend the cutting above the waterline rather than submerging it.
Propagating succulents is easy, and it’s a great way to multiply your favorites and share them with friends and family. Once you get the hang of it, you’ll have plenty of new babies to go around.
Do you want to learn how to multiply all of your plants? Then my Plant Propagation eBook is for you! It will show all you need to know to get as many new plants as you want from your existing ones. Download your copy today!
More About Plant Propagation
- Plant Propagation: A Detailed Guide For Beginners
- How To Root Aloe Vera Cuttings
- Propagating String Of Pearls
- Propagating String Of Hearts (Rosary Vine)
- How To Propagate Plumeria
- Propagating ZZ Plants (Zamioculcas zamiifolia)
Share your tips for propagating succulents in the comments section below!
