All plants can be propagated using these techniques, not just succulents. Stem cutting propagation is the simplest technique that works with the most succulent kinds. We’ll concentrate on this approach today. Leaf division and propagation have been discussed in previous posts.
Propagating Succulents from Stem Cuttings
Certain stem tissues of succulent plants have a sort of mystical quality. Some of the plant’s cells, namely those found where the stem and leaf meet, have extraordinary abilities. Depending on the needs of the plant, these cells can create various forms of growth. These cells develop roots if the need for water is the greatest. These cells create leaves if the plant needs to capture sunlight in order to convert it into nutrition. These immature cells constitute the “meristem.” Plants’ meristem tissue, pronounced mehr-i-stem, comprises identical plant tissue. Meristem cells in plants resemble stem cells in animals in certain ways.
What happens if a branch from a plant that is growing in nature breaks off and falls to the ground? When a succulent branch falls, it frequently sprouts roots from its meristem tissues that penetrate the earth to hydrate the surviving leaves. It eventually develops into a whole new, self-sustaining plant. The practice of propagating plants via stem cuttings makes use of this trait. It takes a piece of a plant’s stem that was producing leaves and convinces it to produce roots instead.
Taking Stem Cuttings for Succulent Propagation
One of my favorite succulents is Portulacaria afra, along with several of its variegated relatives. Additionally, they are excellent for showing off stem cutting propagation! Check out how many of the stems have their own little stems. This provides you with numerous chances to get stem cuttings to take root.
When taking your cuttings, make sure to use clean, sharp pruners. It aids in preventing bacterial contamination and unneeded stress for the cutting process. Any excellent, sharp pair of trimming scissors will do; but, my titanium coated ones are my absolute favorite.
Any one of these cuttings can be rooted. The meristem tissue and a whole, healthy leaf are all that are really required. But you’ll discover that cuttings between 2 and 4 inches long with two sets of nodes for rooting and two sets of leaves will root most quickly and easily. By removing the leaves from the stem, you can reveal a node or see one:
Are the two sets of nodes on this cutting visible to you? Every node is a location where new roots can grow. So you will have at least 4 roots locations with 2 sets of nodes (assuming each set has a node on each side of the stem, which is how this portulacaria grows). This new plant will have a sufficient amount of roots at four rooting locations to absorb moisture and secure the plant in place. It’s crucial to maintain the rooting zone’s proportionality with the area of your cutting that will become the next plant’s top growth. The cutting will continue to receive moisture and nutrients from the strong leaves as it starts to root.
Remember to root the end of your cuttings that was lower on the plant when it was growing as well. It is crucial to root the cutting from the point that was lower than the end that would keep its leaves since plants have a rigorous sense of up from down. This is simple to determine with a single stem. When a plant has developed several branches, you will refer to the end of the stem that is closest to the stem from which it originated as the main stem “down. The direction of the leaves typically indicates which portion of the stem should be pointed “to root, one must go down. As you collect your cuttings, observe if the plant you are getting cuttings from is unclear.
Lay the cuttings out in the proper orientation as you take them. Leaves you remove should be saved for leaf reproduction! After I cut my cuttings, I place them on a flat of quickly draining succulent soil out of the sun for a few days. This increases their risk of developing calluses, which lowers the possibility of rot in the future.
Insert the root end of the stem cuttings into the dry succulent soil after two to three days have passed. Give them some room, but don’t worry about crowding them because they won’t mature here. After placing them in the dry soil, bring them back to a location that is not in the direct sun but receives indirect light. After about two weeks, thoroughly spray the soil. Continue misting the well once a week going forward.
Most succulent cultivars can be multiplied successfully from stem cuttings. This aeonium kiwi branch can be divided into several cuttings, one for each rosette. Rooting many plants from which you want to obtain cuttings in the same flat is simple.
Another cultivar that grows well from stem cuttings is Crassula ovata. The nodes are still extremely visible despite having a very different appearance from that of the aeonium and portulacaria. At each node point are the lines encircling the stem. You can separate this branch into multiple stem cuttings.
You have now collected all of your cuts. They were left for two to three days on top of dry, sun-free succulent soil. After placing them in the ground, you let them dry for an additional two weeks. The earth was then thoroughly misted. For a while, keep thoroughly misting the soil once a week. Make sure to examine your cuttings carefully each time. You’ll notice that the leaves are starting to wrinkle and dry out a little bit. The succulent plant needs water because of this. This encourages the growth of roots when the succulent needs water. The leaves will eventually look better and swell out a little more. They can now take up water, which indicates that they have started to root. Yay! It’s so thrilling! When a cutting is gently pulled and there is resistance, it has roots. Here, a forked root is visible, and new, tiny roots are also growing. This little one needs to be planted and gradually exposed to more light.
How Long Does Succulent Propagation Take?
Most of the year, propagating succulents from stem cuttings can be done successfully. The length of time from cutting to rooting depends on the season, amount of daylight, temperature, type of succulent, etc. This process takes time. But it is trustworthy. Plan to get them if you know you will require a certain quantity of succulent plants at a specific period. However, propagating them is a terrific method to grow your collection. If you don’t mind getting cuttings instead of rooted plants, you can also find some great deals online. Succulent cuttings are available from certain top-notch suppliers, and they can be used in crafts or as a less expensive alternative to buying plants.
I have dabbled with plant propagation on numerous occasions over the past 25 years. Aspirin, willow bark water, rooting hormones, and nothing at all have all been utilized by me. The hormone powder is helpful for my particularly obstinate, woody plants. But from what I can gather, it just does not appear to matter for succulents. Why spend money on something you don’t really need?
The vast majority of succulent species, including Echeveria, Aeonium, Graptoveria, Crassula, Kalanchoe, Delosperma, Euophorbia, Portulacaria, Sedum, Senecio, Peperomia, and more, can be propagated from stem cuttings. Essentially, this method can be used to successfully propagate any succulent that is made up of a stem and leaves. What plant will you start with first now that you are knowledgeable about reproducing succulents from stem cuttings? I hope you can’t wait to get going. Please let me know if you have any questions; I’m happy to help!
P.S. Subscribe if you’d like my free course, “7 Steps to Succulent Success”! Thanks a lot!
P.P.S. Would you consider joining my Facebook group for cactus lovers? We discuss design, identification, propagation, and care of succulents. They’re a friendly bunch who would love to meet you!
Can you take the stem off a succulent and transplant it?
I make a lot of movies and posts about succulents because I have a lot of them in my yard. They are perennial gifts, so to speak. You can simply cut them to acquire more.
Because the vast majority of succulents spread in the same manner, I wanted to write one post that you could refer to whenever I write about a particular succulent. These are the two incredibly simple methods.
Let me demonstrate how to grow succulents:
I usually divide succulents using stem cuttings. Ensure the sharpness and cleanliness of your pruners. Simply trim the stems to the desired length, remove the bottom third of the leaves, and then wait 2 weeks to 4 months before planting them to heal off (the cut end of the stem will callus over).
I either plant them straight in the ground or in a pot with planting mix for succulents and cacti. I use one that is made nearby; it’s also good. Succulents require a loose mixture so that the water can drain completely and prevent rot.
I rarely use individual leaf cuttings to propagate succulents, but it’s still simple. Lay the leaf on top of the mixture after removing it from the stem, making sure to remove the entire leaf all the way to the stem. Off the cut end, there will be a new plantlet.
I suppose I could propagate succulents in my sleep because I do it so frequently! Although many succulents make excellent houseplants, mine all grow outside. If you have just one or two of these bizarre plants, you can easily grow more using these simple methods.
Aloe Vera must be multiplied by division, which involves removing the pups from the mother plant.
A succulent stem — can it develop roots?
Succulents can be propagated in water, but doing so goes against the ideal growing circumstances for these plants. Start your leaves and cuttings in shallow planting trays or tiny containers packed with potting soil for the best outcomes. Succulents can be grown in individual containers without having to transplant them right away.
Follow these easy steps once planting day arrives and your leaf or stem cuttings have callused:
1. Get your planting trays or containers ready. Use a coarse, quick-draining potting mix made for succulents and cacti and gently moisten it. 2 Make planting holes with a little stick.
2. Add a little RootBoost Rooting Hormone to a serving dish. When pouring, only utilize what you’ll need and discard the remainder.
3. Cut one piece at a time. Wet the cutting stem or leaf base before dipping it into the dish of rooting hormone. Completely round the stem or leaf base. Get rid of any extra rooting powder by shaking.
4. Carefully tuck leaves or stems into the rooting powder so it doesn’t fall out. The potting mix should then be carefully pressed around the cuttings.
- Insert the base at an angle just below the soil line to accommodate leaves. Put curled leaves in an upwards-curving position. (On that side, the new tiny plant grows.)
- Insert the bottom half of the stem into the potting mix so that it covers at least two bare nodes when taking stem cuttings.
5. Wait until roots start to form before watering. Once the dirt has dried, give it a good watering before repeating the process. The majority of succulent leaf and stem cuttings should root in two to three weeks, while rooting times might vary greatly. The fastest-rooting cuttings are those from stem tips.
6. After the roots have taken hold, transplant your new succulents from trays to tiny containers. Use the same kind of potting soil as you did previously. Be careful not to disrupt young, delicate roots.
Step 2:
Directly insert the branch or offshoot into the potting soil. Remove a few of the nearby leaves before pushing the branch deeply into the ground to support it as it develops roots for branches. If feasible, cut off a few of the outer leaves from offshoots before planting the base of the offshoot in the soil.
What should you do if a succulent develops a stem?
Once a succulent has grown out, it is impossible to return to the initial plant. However, you can “repair the plant by reviving it and cultivating a new one from the cuttings and leaves. Call propagation is this procedure.
It can be a little unsettling to propagate a plant that you’ve worked so hard to nurture and develop. The good news is that some of the easiest plants to reproduce are succulents. What you should know is as follows.
Assess the Plant
Before reproducing a succulent, it’s a good idea to be aware of its species. While some species can be multiplied from both cuttings and leaves, others can only be multiplied from cuttings.
Before attempting to propagate the plant, you need also make sure that it is healthy and receiving adequate water. The best leaves are those that are plump and healthy; any leaves that are overwatered or dry won’t have a high success rate for producing new growth.
Remove Some Leaves
Make sure you can clearly see the stem of your succulent before attempting to cut it down. You might already have a beautiful piece of the stem to deal with if the plant grows quickly or has leaves that are extremely widely spaced apart.
Start by removing any dead leaves if your stem isn’t particularly visible. Once you have a clean break, move a few leaves back and forth starting at the bottom of the plant. (If the leaves come off without tearing and in good condition, you can store them to use as seed later on to grow more plants.)
Cut Stem at Soil Level
Take a clean pair of sharp shears or scissors and cut the stem at soil level once you have a clear view of the stem. It can feel unsettling and wrong, but don’t be alarmed. Unbelievably, forcing new growth on the lower area of the succulent by removing the top.
The lower part of the clipped stem should be left in the ground. Before watering, let the wound dry up for about a week to avoid any decaying. When the soil is dry after that, water every several days. Baby plants will begin to erupt from the stem’s clipped top in a few weeks, replacing it.
Pot the Top Stem
What should you do with your plant now that the top has been removed? Don’t throw it away because it can be potted and grown into a separate plant.
You must give the wound enough time to dry out in order to prevent it from rotting from moisture, just as the bottom of the stem. After a few days, cut the stem’s side leaves, leaving the top rosette alone, and put it in the ground up to the bottom leaf. When the soil is dry, water a couple times per week.
When the stem eventually develops roots, you will have a complete second plant.
If you want to view the whole procedure, have a peek at this fantastic video.