How to Propagate Succulents

Do you know how simple it is to propagate a succulent?! Holy moly, it is SO much easier than I ever imagined. It is just the type of thing this crazy plant lady geeks out about. When I was a kid my parents were convinced I would grow up to be a botanist, as I loved plants and flowers so much. I might not have chosen that path in college (a solid mistake, obviously!) but I still love learning about and playing with plants. With succulents being so popular these days, it only makes sense to share my propagation knowledge with you! Following these super simple succulent propagation tips, you can learn to propagate and grow your own cacti and aloe in no time! And we can all be wannabe botanists together!

You have a few options to choose from when it comes to propagating succulents. You can choose to propagate offsets, stem cuttings or leaf cuttings.

Offsets:

Succulents and cacti are known to have increased offsets, which are young rosettes that form near or on the base of the parent plant.

To propagate from an offset:

1. Use a sharp knife and cut off a straight edge from where the parent plant meets the offset.
2. Set the cut piece aside to let it dry out for about 2-3 days.
3. In a pot or container of your choice, mix equal parts potting soil and peat.
4. Put the cut base of the offset into the potted container and lightly water.
5. New growth will appear shortly! 

Stem Cuttings:

Many succulents are amazing as they can form new plants from the base of just one simple whole leaf! The best time to propagate from leaves is in the spring, as this is when plants are naturally in their active growth season.

1. Choose which succulent you want to propagate from.
2. Select “teenage” leaves, meaning younger but healthy and mature leaves.
3. Remove the leaf where the base connects to the stem, with a sharp knife.
4. Allow the leaf to dry out for 2-3 days.
5. In a pot or container of your choice, mix equal parts potting soil and peat.
6. Set the leaf on the top of the potting mix container and lightly dampen as needed.
7. Avoid over watering, as you do not want the plant to rot!
8. Allow plantlets to grow from the base of the leaf. Once they begin, allow 2-3 weeks for them to get established before planting them in the container.

Leaf Cuttings:

Leaf cutting propagation success is based on the type of cacti you select. To grow, choose a plant that has sturdy, flattened leaves that are similar to those of a stem. Schlumbergera and Epiphyllum cacti are great options for this as their leaves are reminiscent of stems.

1. Cut healthy, mature leaves off of parent plant.
2. Using a sharp knife, cut 2-4 inch sections of the leaf.
3. Prepare a small pot with succulent or cacti potting mix, filling the container to the top.
4. Insert the cut end of the leaf deep into the pot, enough so it is supported and stands on its own
5. Lightly water, as needed taking care not to overwater as it can rot the leaves.
6. Watch for new growth, as this is a sign that the leaf is establishing roots and will be successful.

Have you had success with different methods for propagating succulents? I’d love to hear them in the comments below! Happy growing!