It’s time to divide your succulents after they have outgrown their containers or have produced a lot of new plants. Often, dividing your plants is simpler than repotting a large, multi-stemmed specimen. Each repotted component can grow and fill a new container thanks to division. During the growing season, plants develop more swiftly.
Dividing Sedum Plants
When you know how to do it, dividing succulents to create new succulents is easy. Some succulents, like Sedum, can be easily divided by pulling out a clump of the plants’ roots and burying it in the ground somewhere else. Use this method for the majority of the hardy Sedum ground-cover species referred to as Stonecrop.
It can be as easy as plucking a stem from an upright Sedum, such Sedum “Autumn Joy, and planting it in soil. Yes, it is that simple.
Succulent Propagation With Offsets
Succulents like Sempervivum are also quite simple to divide, and many will even take care of it for you by sending out smaller offset plants on runners. The circle of succulent life dictates that these offset plants can be taken out and planted somewhere, where they will develop into large, robust succulents and eventually produce their own offspring.
The term “Hens and Chicks” refers to the high number of baby plants or “chicks” that the rosette of numerous “hens” will produce. In this big Sempervivium, you can see the chicks forming beneath the plant.
Some of the larger ones have developed roots already, making them ideal for immediate transplantation into a pot of soil blend for cacti and succulents.
Cut the stem of these runners as close to the base as you can to remove them. The offshoot’s stem should be cut about an inch or two long, and the cut end should be allowed to dry for a few days in a cool, shaded area.
How to Transplant Succulent Offsets
Plant the succulent offshoots in cactus soil trays, which has a good drainage balance to support the growth of these tiny plants. In this post, you’ll find out more about cactus soil and how to make your own.
Until the offsets have developed some sturdy roots, water them seldom. When they reach the appropriate size, it’s time to move them to their new locations within the garden. I enjoy placing many succulent offsets in a lovely planter and watching them grow to wonderfully fill it in.
How are giant succulents divided?
It could be simpler to take the succulents out of the soil before separating them, depending on their species and size. Offsets from the mother plant can be cut safely while still in the ground, but with some plants, it may be simpler to remove them so you can view the root structure and where to make the cut. Again, now is the perfect time to repot, so if that is necessary, do it.
Offsets are usually rather simple to remove with many different kinds of plants, including Aloe or Sempervivum. Simply use your shears to cut them free from the mother plant’s base. Simply make sure you sterilize or clean your shears between plants to prevent the spread of bacteria or fungus. With clump-forming succulents like Sansevieria and many cacti, you may easily break the clumps apart with your hands. You don’t need to separate each plant individually; you may just cut the cluster into smaller pieces. Again, you should wash your hands well after handling each plant to stop the spread of disease.
What Types of Succulents Can Be Divided?
The quickest and simplest way to propagate plants is to divide succulents or basically any kind of plant. Simply cut off the plant’s individually rooted sections, then replant them where there is more root room and support. However, not all species of succulents respond well to this technique. Basically, succulents can be classified under three conditions or types:
- plants that grow in a manner akin to grass rather than an oak tree
- the plants that have pupated
- The young succulents that grow at the base are known as succulent pups or offsets.
- The young succulents that appear at the base are known as succulent offsets.
- two or more plants planted close together in the same container or root space
Let’s examine each of these situations in turn. The aforementioned succulent types all have a comparable growth pattern. Observe how each plant is actually composed of a number of tiny plants. Similar to how a field of grass is composed of numerous individually rooted blades, each consists of a cluster of sections of top growth that are independently rooted. Throughout their whole lives, plants with this grass-like growth pattern are ideally suited for division. Unlike stem cuttings or leaf-by-leaf propagation, succulent division merely entails breaking up succulent plants into smaller, rooted pieces.
Dividing Succulents From Offsets
Other succulent species develop more like an oak tree, with a single, unified set of roots supporting all of their top growth and branches. Succulents with this tree-like growth form may typically only be divided under specific conditions; nonetheless, they can normally be propagated by cuttings or by leaves. Numerous species of plants produce young seedlings, known as “pups” or “offsets,” at the mother plant’s base as it ages. These pups eventually develop independent roots from the mother plant over time. Then, the pups can be separated from the mother plant while retaining all of the root systems.
An excellent illustration of a succulent with a “tree-like growth pattern” is the echeveria up top. Pups from the mother can be split, but an individual echeveria rosette cannot.
Dividing Succulents Planted in Close Proximity
The third situation in which succulents should be divided is near planting proximity. At the nursery, succulents are frequently grown two or even three to a pot. This is standard procedure when selling plants. When there aren’t enough larger plants available, the vendor could pot up clusters of smaller plants to fit the advertised container size. These aeonium kiwis grow in a manner resembling a tree. A single aeonium cannot be split into two. But since these three tiny plants are all together in one container, we can safely divide the plants. Despite the fact that each plant has a unique root system and can be readily divided without causing any harm to any individual, their roots will have already started to entwine.
The same thing might be in your garden. If two little plants were planted to occupy a single giant plant’s visible space. Later, it will be simple to divide them.
Dividing Senecio Blue Chalksticks
Let’s examine dividing succulents with “grass-like growth patterns” in more detail. This Senecio serpens ‘Blue Chalksticks’ in its pot may initially appear to be a single plant. Without the pot, however, take a closer look. Do you see how it actually consists of a group of plants with separate roots? The tiny ones stand for fresh development. Even so, they have created their own root system. It will be simple to divide this succulent because of its growth pattern, which resembles grass. Look here if you’re unsure that you see this yet:
Simply rub the root ball of a newly purchased succulent to determine whether it may be readily separated. The roots won’t be harmed by this, regardless of the type of succulent. You will notice the plant pieces start to split on their own if it can be divided. After that, you might need to gently pry the plant parts apart by digging your fingers into the earth between the roots.
Succulents That Can Be Divided
Many succulents have a growth pattern that resembles grass, making them ideal for division. Aichryson, Anacampseros, Cotyledon, Crassula, Euphorbia (some), Faucaria, Fenestraria, Jovibarba, Kalanchoe, Orostachys (some), Peperomia, Rhipsalis, Rosularia, Sedum, Sempervivum, and Senecio are several succulents that are great for dividing as they grow. At the base of more mature plants, many additional varieties produce pups that can be separated from the parent plant.
I had to divide each of the succulents I chose to use before planting them in this birdhouse planter. Are you prepared to begin dividing your succulents to increase their numbers? I’m curious to find out. Please spare a few seconds to post a comment. Also, don’t hesitate to ask any questions!
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 remove a piece of a succulent and plant it again?
Because succulents are such hardy plants, you can actually plant a piece of one and it will develop into a new plant. It may sound like a horror film or the premise of an upcoming science fiction drama on Netflix, but it’s truly possible to regenerate something new from a severed limb. Even if one of its branches is cut off, they will still manage to survive.
Yes, you can prune or cut off a section of a succulent and plant it elsewhere. The clipped succulent piece will adapt to its new home and develop into a full-fledged succulent with the right growing circumstances.
If you want to learn more about pruning succulents, keep reading. It’s like getting numerous plants for the price of one if you get the technique down!
Do succulents prefer to be gathered in groups?
There are several traits shared by succulents, such as the ability to store water in their leaves or stems for when it’s not so rainy out.
Even though you can mix almost any succulent, some will be more simpler to keep in the same arrangement than others.
We may receive a commission when you buy something after clicking on one of our links, at no additional cost to you. This enables us to offer you free content.
I’ll list a few qualities to consider when pairing succulents below. Numerous of these traits are described on our individual succulent pages, and our Succulent Identification and Care cards also make it easy to see them.
You may also view my video in which I discuss three distinct succulent arrangements and their effectiveness:
Can succulent cuttings be planted directly in the ground?
What is there to love other than a succulent? Obviously, a full garden of succulents! Fortunately for us, it’s simple to propagate a variety of these resilient, vibrant plants at home. We can’t wait to see succulents growing all year long in containers around the house and garden; there are various easy ways to reproduce them.
Propagating by Division: Plants that have gotten too leggy perform best with this method, which produces new succulents from cuttings. Start by delicately removing any leaves that may be attached to the stem below the rosette; be sure to preserve the leaf’s base while you do so. After all the leaves have been eliminated, cut the rosette with shears, leaving a brief stem intact. The cuttings should be let to dry in an empty tray for a few days until the raw ends have calloused. The cuttings can then be rooted in either water or soil.
Soil: After the stems have calloused, set the cuttings on top of a shallow tray filled with well-draining cactus/succulent soil. From the base of the cuttings, roots and little plants will start to emerge in a few weeks. Once the roots start to show, water sparingly once a week; take care not to overwater. The parent leaf will eventually wither; carefully remove it while taking care not to harm the young roots. Your propagated succulents can be replanted once they have established roots. As soon as the plants are established, keep them out of direct sunlight.
Water: After the stem has calloused, place a cutting with the end barely visible above the water’s surface on the lip of a glass or jar filled with water. Pick a sunny location for your glass. The incision will eventually produce roots that extend toward the water. Once roots have sprouted, your new succulent can either be replanted in succulent potting soil or allowed to remain submerged in water as illustrated above.
Offsets are little plants that develop at the base of the main specimen, and many species of succulents, such as aloe, hens and chicks, and some cacti, will generate them. Check for root growth after an offset has developed for two to three weeks before carefully twisting, cutting, or using a sharp knife to separate it from the main stem. Be cautious to prevent destroying any already-formed roots. Follow the directions above for propagating in soil or water, letting the offsets dry, establish roots, and then repot when they have had time to callus any exposed regions. Removing offsets has the added benefit of enhancing the health of your current succulents and redirecting energy into the growth of the primary plant.
How are succulent babies created?
Succulents can also grow from solitary leaves. Succulent cultivars with fleshy, plump leaves that are simple to remove function well with this technique. Leaf propagation spares less of the “mother” plant and each leaf can create numerous little plants, even though it will take much longer to produce a full-sized plant. Getting a quality leaf cutting is crucial, much like with stem cuttings. Although they must split from the plant at the base of the stem, leaves can be wiggled off of a plant. Kremblas advises caution, saying, “Be sure to reach all the way down to where the leaf joins the stem, as a broken leaf will not propagate.” And make sure to select a leaf that is firm, plump, and limp-free.
Leaf cuttings should be allowed to callus and need partial sun to grow, just like stem cuttings. Leaf cuttings should be placed on top of a thin layer of succulent potting soil (not buried), and they should be misted with water to keep them wet. The leaf cuttings will start to grow little “pup” plants in about three weeks. The mother leaves will start to wilt and drop off after eight weeks, at which point your pups are ready to be planted.
Do succulent pups need to be taken out?
If you’re unsure of what to do with succulent puppies, you have options. If there is enough room, you can either leave them where they are and let them continue to grow there, or you can separate them and transplant them separately. However, wait until they are the size of a quarter before removing.
Pups should be removed with a precise cut using clean, sharp pruners or scissors. Normally, I would advise using a soft touch, but after seeing films from the professionals, I don’t think that is necessary—just another example of how resilient succulent plants may be.