Taking an active, healthy leaf from a mature succulent plant and utilizing it to establish a new plant is known as “propagating with leaf cuttings.” Because the leaves of succulents with fleshy, plump leaves, like echeveria, are simple to snap off cleanly, this method of propagation works well with them.
While some leaves may simply pop off with a little tug, others could necessitate the use of a sharp knife. Take a healthy leaf from the plant’s base with clean hands or a sterile knife, making sure to remove the full, undamaged leaf.
After being removed, allow the leaf to recover for about four days in a warm, well-lit place so that the wound can callus over. When the leaf has calloused, prepare a fresh planter with soil, fill it with water, and set the callused leaf on top of the soil for multiplication.
When the earth is dry, spritz your leaves with a spray bottle. Keep them warm, in a room with lots of light, but out of direct sunlight. They must be kept warm and moist.
Little roots and leaves will start to emerge after around three weeks! A succulent may need a few months to grow large enough to be replanted (photos above are after about 8 weeks). When the leaf eventually gets brown and falls off, you’ll know it’s time. This indicates that the succulent no longer requires the leaf because it has consumed all of its nutrients.
Can a succulent’s leaves be planted?
In the spring and summer, when leaves and stems are ready for active growth, it is simplest to propagate succulent leaves and cuttings. Most common succulents can be multiplied successfully from individual leaves or stem fragments.
- For succulents with fleshy leaves, like jade plants or echeveria and sempervivum rosettes, leaf propagation works well. The leaf must remain intact for the root to take. To loosen the leaf, gently bounce it back and forth while holding it between your forefinger and thumb. After that, carefully separate the leaf from the parent plant, keeping the base in tact.
- Succulents with distinct stems, including stacked crassulas and spreading or erect sedums, respond well to stem cuttings. Cutting succulents is analogous to propagating soft-stemmed plants. To cut stem tips, use a sharp knife, or take an entire stem to make many starts. Each cutting should be 2 to 3 inches long and have multiple leaves. Only the top two leaves should be kept.
Can you simply bury a succulent leaf in the ground?
Fill a shallow tray with succulent soil (I like to add in some perlite or pumice) and lay the callused leaves on top to propagate your succulent leaves directly in or on soil.
They can also be planted in the ground with the calloused end down. Simply put, this wouldn’t allow you to observe the roots develop.
Water infrequently or not at all until roots begin to grow. The leaves will almost always rot if there is too much water at this time.
I spray a small amount of water just in front of the leaves after placing them on top of the soil. Just enough moisture to make the roots feel comfortable.
When roots or young succulents begin to emerge, spray the leaf cuttings to hydrate the roots. Avoid getting the actual leaves wet. To prevent the roots from drying out, repeat this procedure every few days or so.
Succulent cuttings should be kept in strong light, but until the new plants are more established, direct sun should be avoided.
Transfer them now into their individual pots. Make sure not to overly damage the roots. Keep the young succulents above the dirt and merely cover the roots with soil.
Avoid plucking up the leaves repeatedly to inspect their roots! Although it’s tempting, try to restrain yourself. The young roots can be damaged and stressed out if they are disturbed. The roots will frequently wilt and shrivel up as a result.
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.
How long does it take for the roots of succulent leaves?
It is strongly advised to propagate your cuttings in water in a glass jar or another transparent container because doing so will allow you to see the growth of your plant and will also allow light to pass through.
Arrange it.
Once the cutting callus has healed, add water to the jar and place the object inside. While some opt to immerse it in water, we recommend that the stem and leaves remain dry to reduce the risk of rotting.
We advise covering the jar with plastic wrap and making a hole in it so you may insert the stem if the succulent cutting is too small. By doing this, you’ll be able to balance your cutting on the jar’s rim and make sure that only the stem’s bottom touches the liquid.  
After submerging the cutting, put the jar in a sunny spot or window and be patient while waiting for new roots to grow.
Grow period.
The time it takes for roots to emerge can typically range from 2 to 6 weeks, depending on your habitat and climate. It is advised that you periodically check the jar to make sure the water hasn’t dried up in order to avoid delays.
Gather Your Succulents To Plant
For this video, we’ll be planting a variety of succulent species using both cuttings and discarded leaves. Amass the materials you want to plant. You can either utilize fallen leaves or cut cuttings from an established plant. If you can’t locate cuttings anywhere else, you can usually find them online and at most florists. Although these are also available on Amazon, I got mine from a vendor on Etsy.
Prepare your succulents for planting.
The most crucial step in this method is preparing your succulents. Make sure you have enough stem to plant in the ground so it can support the plant. Any excess leaves at the stem’s base should be removed. It’s good to leave approximately an inch of the stem exposed for larger cuttings, and you can use less for smaller cuttings.
After that, examine the base of your cutting. The plants ought to have a “callous” on them, which denotes that the plant’s base has dried out. You should wait a few days before planting freshly cut succulents because this forms a few days after the succulent is cut. By letting the cut end dry more quickly on a paper towel or paper bag, you can hasten this process.
Succulents are wonderful because you can also plant their leaves, so hold onto the ones you pulled off the stem. Verify your succulents for any bad components. Any area of the plant that is dark contains rot, which can spread to other areas and ultimately destroy the plant. Simply cutting it will allow you to get rid of the rotten parts.
Mix your soil.
If you aren’t using a pre-made succulent soil mix, you’ll need to prepare your soil so that it will drain effectively and support the growth of your succulent plants. To make the soil drain well, I combine one part potting soil with one part sand. In order to help larger plants become more firmly rooted in the ground, I also prefer to have a supply of tiny rocks nearby.
To fill a pot or tray, pour your soil mixture. I’m repurposing an old baking pan that I can’t bake in as a planting tray.
Plant!
We’ve reached the enjoyable part now! Make a little, inch-deep hole in the ground. After inserting your cutting, fill up the depression with soil.
Make careful to space your cuttings, if you’re planting more than one, roughly 2-3″ apart.
Ensure that your plants receive adequate water. Although succulents don’t often require much water, you may need to water them every 2-4 days while they are developing their roots, depending on how dry the soil becomes. It’s normal for the leaves to initially appear a little dried out because the plant is using its reserves of stored energy to develop new roots. New growth should begin to appear in around four weeks. Change to weekly watering or watering only when the soil is dry once the plants have set their roots and have started to grow.
Admire and Show Off Your Work!
Well done! Show off your incredible craftsmanship and green thumb to all of your friends! These plants will be prepared for repotting if you desire once they have developed roots and begun to grow, which should take around 3 to 6 weeks. They make wonderful Christmas gifts for friends and coworkers when planted in a tiny Mason jar or vibrant pot!
When should I plant succulents in soil to reproduce?
The majority of succulents require several months to reach “normal size,” but some can take up to a year. In other words, while this technique isn’t particularly quick, it is effective.
Put soil over the roots as soon as you notice them. They’ll stay cool and have access to water in this way. Continue watering to keep the soil moist.
With the mother leaf, nothing needs to be done. The mother leaf will start to wither and die as the baby succulent grows. The mother leaf will naturally fall off and split from the baby leaf in this situation, which is completely normal.
When this occurs, keep giving the young succulent plenty of water. After that, you can transfer it to another pot or put it in a different arrangement after it has a strong root system and is developing on its own.
Here, you can see how I plant my offspring from propagation:
Although they are technically capable of being repotted at any time, I advise waiting until the newborn is at least an inch in diameter. The newborn should have a strong root system as well.
Make sure to provide adequate water for the baby to continue growing once it has moved into its new habitat.
Succulents—can they endure in water forever?
You will need to decide how to start your new plant first. We discover that employing an offshoot, as opposed to cutting, often generates a stronger plant. It ultimately depends on your preference, however the latter is also totally feasible. You can now start growing a succulent in water.
The cutting or branch must be given time to callus as the first and most crucial phase. For a few days, keep it in a tray without food. If you don’t do this, it will collect too much moisture, which could lead to rotting.
Next, lay the cutting or branch on the rim of a water container in a location with plenty of sunlight. It is necessary for the calloused end to be barely visible above the waterline. You will observe the roots penetrating it in a few days.
That’s all there is to it! As long as you give the succulent an appropriate container, it can continue to live in the water until the roots have formed.
A succulent that has adapted to living in water will most likely perish if transplanted into soil since water roots and soil roots are significantly different from one another. You are free to experiment to your heart’s content and discover what works best for you because succulents are easy to propagate.