Selecting a strand to cut must be done first. Cutting from long, mature stems is preferable. A further benefit of selecting mature stems is that they frequently have roots extending down their length, making them simpler to reproduce.
Pick plants with solid, full leaves rather than those that are withered, dry, or mushy. In case you lose one or two stem cuttings during propagating, it is better to take a few.
String of Pearls and String of Bananas have slender stems compared to other succulent plants, therefore drying time is quicker. Since the weather is so dry where I live, I generally get by with just letting it sit for a few hours. It should be sufficient if you let it one or two days to dry if you live in a more humid region. Waiting for the cut stems to dry will prevent fungus or bacteria from getting inside since you want the wound to close and heal before moving further with growth.
Add rooting hormone to the cuttings if desired. I usually pass over this. For faster rooting and to aid in preventing bacterial and fungal growth, some people like to dip their cuttings in rooting hormone.
These plants can be multiplied in three simple methods after receiving your stem cuttings.
First MethodStick Cuttings in Soil:
First, plant the cuttings in the ground. Remove at least two inches or more of the plant’s base. Take the cuttings, then plant the ends in the ground. You might take a couple of the pearls or beads off the stem to make them stickier and longer in the ground. To hasten the rooting process, insert the remaining portion of the stem into the ground.
Use a well-draining potting mix in step two. I prefer to use a mixture of perlite and cactus mix (1:1 solution). For improved drainage, you can also add coarse sand to this combination (1:1:1).
Step 3: Watch for the plant to take root and sprout new growth. You will start to see roots emerge around two weeks later. You might notice new growth emerging from the plant’s top in another two weeks or so.
Step 4: Avoid direct sunlight as you propagate and root the cuttings to avoid getting burned.
Step 5: Mist the soil if it feels dry or every few days. When the plants are firmly planted and established, stop misting and switch to routine watering. Depending on the humidity in your area, you can cut back on watering to once a week or less.
Second MethodLay on Soil:
In the first step, place the cuttings flat on the ground with the stem touching it. Anywhere the plant meets the dirt, roots will begin to emerge. By doing this, you can get a fuller top at first and later get the plants to trail. Use a potting mix that drains effectively. I prefer to use perlite and cactus soil together (1:1 solution). To increase drainage, you can also add coarse sand to the mixture (1:1:1).
Step 2: Try to position the stem so that the roots are penetrating the ground if the stem has roots already sprouting from it. The stems may need to be held in place using an object. Cut-in-half paper clips are my favorite. They help me keep the stems in place so that the roots stay in place as well.
Step 3: Mist the soil if it feels dry or every few days. When the plant is well rooted and more mature, cease misting it and start watering it instead. Depending on the humidity in your area, you can cut back on watering to once a week or less.
Step 4: After around two weeks, fresh roots will appear. Utilizing stem cuttings with established roots will hasten the process of establishing the plant in the new potting soil.
In this manner, place the stem cuttings flat on the ground. Make an effort to bury the existing roots in the ground.
Actually, if you have a larger or wider pot, you can combine the two techniques of propagation indicated above. In this manner, you begin with a complete top and a trailing plant simultaneously.
Here is a fun project I just completed utilizing both techniques. I arranged several stem cuttings on soil since I wanted a full top. However, I also wanted some of the strands to trail, so I buried part of the stems. This gives my finish a broader appearance with trailing stems.
I adore reusing objects that have been abandoned. Using the old Elmo toilet seat from my kids was such a wonderful idea. The yellow cup’s bottom was punctured by my spouse, and I used it as a planter. Perlite and cactus mix were used to fill it.
The “flush” still functions, and my kids enjoy flushing their mother’s plant down the toilet. And in case you’re curious, yes, it has been sanitized and disinfected.
Third MethodWater Propagation:
First step: Water growth. Put the very tip of the cuttings in water after taking them. What kind of water is used does not seem to make much difference. I prefer to use filtered water.
Step 3: You can transplant to a well-draining potting mix after around four weeks or when you notice a lot of new roots. I advise using a roughly 1:1 mixture of perlite and cactus mix.
Step 4: Mist the soil if it feels dry or every few days. Once the plant has become more established, stop spraying it and switch to routine watering. Reduce watering to no more than once per week, and even less in humid locations. When new growth starts to emerge from the top of the plant, you will know the plant is established.
The only method of propagation I haven’t really tried is through the little circular leaves or banana-shaped leaves. Some people, according to what I’ve heard, have spread these plants through leaves. Without a doubt, the entire process will take a lot longer than stem cutting propagation. If you wish to spread these plants through leaves, be prepared to wait for a lot longer. It will undoubtedly require a lot more patience and time, but everything is possible.
Every time I detect one of the tiny round leaves missing, I replace it in the pot. I’m not sure if they are rooting for them or not. I have never actually had to put the small banana leaves back in the pot because they are not as delicate and do not fall off as much or as easily.
These are the three simple techniques for growing plants such as String of Pearls and String of Bananas. Recently, I’ve been in a breeding frenzy. With all the growth my String of Bananas plant has had, the long trailing stems I have are begging to be multiplied. In order to grow plants, I have been collecting cuttings and planting them in various pots and containers.
This hanging basket contains both a String of Pearls and a String of Bananas, which is my most recent propagation attempt. As you can see, I applied the second technique, which calls for resting the stems flat on the ground. Even though they don’t seem great right now, they will soon be trailing down this hanging basket.
Use these strategies. My String of Pearls and String of Bananas have been propagated in this manner, and they are now flourishing over my yard in numerous pots. They will soon be scattered all over the place.
These are some of the String of Pearls and String of Bananas I’ve cultivated throughout the years in various pots. Why are you holding out? Get to propagating so you may share these lovely plants with others!
Where are String of Pearls and String of Bananas to be found? For suggestions on where to buy these and other succulent plants online, visit my resource page.
Interested in viewing further hanging cactus or succulents? Visit my post titled “Hanging Succulents.
About
You’ve come to the correct location if, like me, you enjoy succulents. This website is a repository for the succulent-growing knowledge I’ve accumulated over the years and am still learning. Although I am by no means an expert on succulents and cacti, this website was created as a result of years of hard work, love, and many mistakes and learning opportunities.
What You’ll Need:
- slicing shears
- gardening mitts (for handling spiny varieties)
- a little trowel
- potting soil for cacti and succulents
- jars with sufficient drainage holes
Remove Some Leaves or Behead
Take a few leaves at random from your succulent plant, gently twisting each one off the stem without breaking it.
These can be cut off the bottom of the stem, which will be discarded, when it begins to grow lanky.
To remove a specific leaf from a plant, such as a Christmas cactus, you might need to use scissors.
If you’re “beheading,” cut the stem of the plant head cleanly with your scissors or clippers about an inch below the lower leaves.
Plant
When roots start to form, either choose a site in your garden that is ideal for planting or fill well-draining containers of your choosing with potting material.
Sunshine and well-drained soil are ideal for succulent growth. They get paler in the absence of sunlight, and they decompose in excess moisture.
When the sun is less powerful, such as in the early morning or late afternoon, plant in a sunny location.
To lift the cuttings above the edge of your container or garden surface, pile dirt higher. To stabilize the roots, gently tamp the earth down; do not water.
Water and Feed
It’s time to buy a succulent/cactus food at this stage, such as Miracle-Gro Succulent Plant Food, which is sold on Amazon. administer as directed by the manufacturer.
Succulents can also be propagated via cuttings that are placed on top of potting soil and allowed to callus off so they can root themselves in the soil.
Can you put succulent cuttings directly into the ground?
Aeoniums can grow enormous and get “weary,” and the best course of action is to remove them and transplant some cuttings. Make sure the offcuts from pruning succulents like aeoniums are long enough to allow them to stand upright when replanted.
- Starting with the tips, trim the stem, leaving at least 15–20 centimeters of stem.
- After removing the parent plant, set the cuttings aside. These plants have relatively shallow roots, making it simple to pull them out of the ground.
- About 20 cm of a trench should be dug, into which the cuttings should be placed and then backfilled to support them.
- In the summer, the cuttings can be planted straight in the ground. For about a week, don’t water the cuttings to let the base dry up. Before planting them during the cooler months, let them sit out of the ground for a week.
- The cuttings will begin to take root in about a month, and then the tops of the cuttings will begin to grow.
Leaf cuttings can be used to multiply Pachyveria. By removing a lower leaf, you can tell if the plant will grow from leaf cuttings. It might be able to produce new plants if it comes off without damaging anything. The leaf won’t grow if it breaks, creating a “fleshy cut.”
- Prepare a tray with a combination of succulent and cactus.
- Starting at the base and working outward, carefully remove the leaves while holding the rosette by the stem. You may also plant this rosette as a cutting, so leave a few leaves on it.
- Make sure there is enough of airflow around the leaves as you arrange them on top of the soil. Make sure the dish-side up is towards the bud (where the leaf joined the stem), which should be left above the soil.
- The bud end will begin to develop a small rosette cluster in two to three weeks. As the roots will grow from this end, make sure to maintain it close to the ground.
- The buds can be removed from the tray and placed in a container or planted directly into the ground after they are big enough to pluck out (and have many leaves).
What is the quickest method for growing succulents?
So, you may be wondering how to quickly propagate succulents. I can relate to both the joy and frustration of watching a new plant develop.
Since I’ve been growing succulents for a few years, allow me to give you some advice on how to quickly propagate your succulents as well as some alternative techniques you can try.
Stem cuttings are the simplest and quickest method of propagating succulents. If the plant is a fresh cutting from the mother plant, it will already have a strong foundation from which to build its new root system. Another instance is when you cut off the succulent’s top portion because it has been stretched out significantly (etiolation), this stem will likewise give rise to numerous new plantlings (pups). Due to its existing root system, the plant will also have a great possibility of producing more offset and growing quickly.
Always check that the stem cuttings are a respectable size for the plant’s typical size.
According to my experience, I always want to make sure that the succulent has a lot of nodes where the leaves attach to the stem and a lot of leaves in its stem. Once the succulent is put in soil, these stem nodes will form roots, and the leaves will serve as the succulent’s water source until its root system matures.