Having a collection of succulents might be most gratifying when you propagate them. You can increase the number of a popular plant in your yard through propagation, swap plants with friends, and even preserve a dying plant. Here are our top ten picks for beginner-friendly succulents.
Sedum rubrotinctum (Pork and Beans or Jelly Beans)
Bright crimson in direct sunlight; green in shadow. This resilient Sedum quickly fills in container gardens and rock gardens. Remove the leaves and place yourself on a damp, well-draining surface.
Echeveria ‘Lola’
one of the most productive Echeveria leaf plants. Both newcomers and seasoned collectors adore the flawlessly round rosette and the pearly pink leaves. They germinate swiftly and successfully spread through leaves in large numbers.
Sedum nussbaumerianum
difficult in dry, warm areas with little water. Easy to grow from leaf or tip cuttings. Before planting in soil, wait for a scab to develop (this takes about a week). This species’ colors and leaf shapes vary widely.
Sempervivum arachnoideum (Cobweb Houseleek)
Fast-growing and yields more offsets than you could possibly use! Plant cuttings directly in damp soil after cutting propagation, and you’ll observe roots forming in approximately a week.
Graptopetalum paraguayense (Ghost Plant)
A stunning hanging rosette succulent that may change color depending on the environment to orange, bronze, pink, and purple. It is quite simple to spread by leaves; you might even notice one growing on its own.
Echeveria colorata
Initially slow, but well worth the wait. Echeveria colorata starts out by producing lovely leaf sprouts with scarlet tips. Before removing the mother leaf from the new plant, wait until it has totally died.
Echeveria lilacina (Ghost Echeveria)
We frequently see the succulent Echeveria lilacina multiplying by itself. By planting leaves gently in soil with their roots down and leaf up, you can prevent the fast curling that occurs with leaves.
Can you grow succulents of all kinds?
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.
What succulents cannot be multiplied?
Make sure the plant type is suitable for this method of propagation before attempting to propagate a leaf cutting. Leaf cuttings won’t always result in the growth of succulents.
Your leaf propagation may be failing because the plant is the incorrect species or kind, for example.
Succulents that won’t grow from their leaves include:
- most hens and chicks or Sempervivums
- most eoniums
- Agaves
- Haworthias
- Plants that grow succulents from their leaves, but it takes too long: Elephant bush, Portulacaria afra, comes in a number of forms and variants.
- Succulent plants that may grow new leaves, however I’ve never personally witnessed this: Senecio Radicans (String of Bananas), Senecio Peregrinus, and Senecio Rowleyanus (String of Dolphins).
Choosing succulents with thicker leaves is a great, if oversimplified, technique for choosing succulent plants that spread by leaf cuttings. For leaf propagation, these species are typically the best. It is typically best to cultivate succulent plants with thinner leaves using their stem cuttings.
The Weather Or Season May Impact Leaf Rooting
Varied kinds of succulents have different growing seasons and periods of dormancy, much like all other plants. When propagating, keep in mind that the seasons may have a big impact on how quickly they root and thrive. Pay attention to when the plant grows the fastest and when it grows more slowly.
Get leaf cuttings during the plant’s active growing season, which is typically in the spring and early summer months for most succulents but not all, for quicker or better results.
What types of succulents can be grown in water?
the following actions to increase your success:
- Allow the cutting ends of succulents to callus. This process, which can take a few days to a week, keeps the cutting from absorbing too much moisture and decaying.
- Use rainwater or distilled water. Use tap water only after letting it sit for 48 hours to allow the salts and contaminants to dissipate. Fluoride, which moves through the plant in the water and settles on leaf edges, is particularly hazardous to early cuttings. As a result, the leaf edges turn brown, and if you keep giving the plant fluoride water, the browning will spread.
- Just below the plant’s stem, keep the water level. Allow the calloused cutting to hover slightly over the water without touching when you’re ready to root it. As a result, roots are stimulated and encouraged to grow. Be patient and wait a few weeks for a root system to develop.
- Place there in an outdoor area with bright light or a grow lamp. Keep the project away from bright light.
Do all succulents reproduce similarly?
What kind of cuttings you can take from your succulent will depend on its genus and species. For instance, cuttings or leaves can be used to reproduce the majority of delicate Sedums and some Echeverias. Nevertheless, I utilize leaves for each.
Simply twist a leaf off the stem gently to remove it for propagation. Make certain that the draw is clean and leaves nothing on the stem. In fact, it’s okay to remove a small portion of the stem as well.
Make sure you get all the way down to the stem because every time I’ve broken off a leaf before the stem, it has always died. As you take the leaf off, it helps to have a clear view of the leaf’s base.
It’s a really cheap method to begin a collection of new plants, plus it’s a lot of fun to grow succulents from seed to baby plant to plant!
How to take a cutting for propagation
On the other side, you’ll need sharp scissors or pruning shears to make a cut (I use these and adore them!). Just above a leaf on the stalk, cut off a bit of the succulent.
The succulent’s top can be removed, or you can remove a fresh branch. Both will function!
Why is it unlawful to propagate some succulents?
With a plant patent, you have just purchased the right to utilize that plant. It is not permitted for you to spread it in any form.
You can’t actually take cuttings, trim your patented plant, or propagate it asexually, believe it or not.
However, boosting sexual reproduction, or pollination, would actually increase your earnings.
You see, when plants A and B sexually reproduce, they don’t create more of either plant. It produces plant C.
That is significant in the horticultural industry as well! You have consumed every single gala apple that has ever come from the “same” tree. The original gala tree supplied the branches that were used to graft gala apples onto other apple plants. Because it was pollinated by a blossom that wasn’t a gala apple, if you ever planted a seed from a gala apple it would grow into something similar but distinct from a gala.
All of that may seem convoluted, but the simple version is that pollination results in a completely new plant (which you could patent if you so desired!).
How is the Idea of Using Rooting Hormone with Leaf Propagation?
Succulents can survive on the nutrients in their leaves until new roots sprout, a plantlet grows, and the leaf withers. In other words, until the mom leaf has dried up, there is nothing you need to do. The plantlet receives all of its water and nutrients from the mom leaf.
Why Do Leaves Turn To Mush or Rot?
If you give your new plant more frequent waterings, the soil will remain wet, which could lead to the rot of the leaves. Not to mention, until the roots form, the leaves never absorb water. Add a layer of pumice to the soil and then add the leaves if you notice that they are decomposing before the roots have formed. It will keep leaves out of the soggy soil and provide moisture for roots to thrive. In addition, refrain from misting the leaves because doing so will cause them to decay.
What is the Right Lighting Setting for the Plant When Propagating?
If you are growing the plant outside, the leaves will prefer a spot that is both bright and dark and receives some indirect sunshine. Keep it close to a south-facing window indoors.
When do the Leaves not Send out Roots?
The growth of roots might be hampered in arid and highly dry climate zones. Your climate may be to blame if you propagated your succulent a month earlier but didn’t notice any roots growing. In that scenario, when propagating the plant, fill a tray with soil and add a layer of perlite or pumice. The pumice or perlite will hold the leaves up and away from the moist soil, preventing rotting.
Why do the Leaves Keep Moving Around?
Pin the leaves of your developing succulent if you reside in an area with moderate to high winds. It will stop them from slipping off and promote sound development. With a fine wire, you may pin the leaves. To secure the leaves until the roots take root, form a horseshoe shape with the 1.5-inch wire.
Why do the Roots Wither or Dry during Propagation?
Dead roots can result from repeatedly picking up the leaves of succulent plants. You should be extremely cautious when handling the plant because of its sensitive roots.
What to do When Your Roots are not Covered in Soil?
To cover the roots, scatter a small amount of earth over them. The roots won’t dry out as a result. Make sure the leaves don’t get wet when you water the plant because that could cause them to rot. Water the soil in front of the leaf side instead to promote root development and avoid rotting.
What is the Best Time to Remove the Mama Leaf?
The mom leaf provides the developing plant with all the energy and nutrients it requires, so let it alone until it dries out. It is quite unlikely that the puppies will survive on their own if you remove them too soon, especially if their roots are weak. Wait until the mother leaves are completely dried out, and the babies’ leaves will naturally fall off.
Can All Succulents’ Leaves be Propagated?
Not all succulents respond well to leaf propagation: Aeonium and Sempervivum struggle with it. Thick-leaved Sedum and Echeveria have better prospects for leaf propagation.
Overall, propagating leaves is not difficult and doesn’t call for a lot of knowledge or experience. Do not be scared to fail; with time and experience, you will get the necessary skills to succeed as a prop master.
Watch this little video to learn how to avoid four mistakes while cultivating succulents.
Which succulent is the most difficult to grow?
These are typically the most beautiful succulents available on the market. Despite the fact that we do have several, we don’t have any nice ones, nor would we want to.
Although Compton Carousels and Silver Prince are two of the most exquisite succulents, they are also some of the most challenging to maintain.
A beginner succulent grower combined with a price tag of $20 to $60 for a 2-inch or 4-inch succulent is a recipe for catastrophe. You would be better off literally burning your money.
Customers should be aware that not all hybrid succulents require complicated maintenance. However, some people are VERY sensitive to heat, light, and water.
We discover that not all hybrid succulents are low-maintenance, carefree plants as a result of cross-breeding.
But before purchasing one of these pricey beauties, be sure you understand what you’re getting into. The Compton Carousel appears to thrive in greenhouses. Possess you a greenhouse?
Before adding them into your home or garden collection, it’s crucial to know what temperatures they require, how much sun, how little sun, whether it needs to be filtered, indirect, or in glaring shade, among other things.
How can you root succulents the quickest?
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.