PROPAGATE SUCCULENTS: WAY TO MULTIPLY YOUR SUCCULENT

Propagate Succulents – “The more, the merrier”. This statement also goes well with succulents because the more succulent that you have, the more beautiful your garden will be.

What are you going to do to have more succulents without spending so much money?

Well, the cost-efficient way of multiplying your collection is to propagate succulents. Having an abundant number of attractive succulents at home is one of the goals of many plant enthusiasts out there who are fascinated with the beauty that succulents possess.

With that, if you are a fan of this houseplant, you should now start to propagate succulents and grow a collection of it in a simple and cost-efficient way.

WAYS TO PROPAGATE SUCCULENTS

Here are some ways to multiply your succulents in your garden:

Propagate Succulents from Leaves

The most common way to propagate succulents is from the leaves themselves. With that, here is the step-by-step process to propagate succulents from its leaves. You may also check this topic Successful Leaf Propagation of Aeonium Kiwi.

Choosing, Detaching and Drying the Leaf

1. Find the healthiest and plump-looking leaf that you are going to use for propagation. It is best to pick the large leaves from the lower part of the succulent plant because they tend to grow roots fast.
2. Gently grip a leaf and twist it to detach it from the mother plant. Always ensure not to damage the leaves.

Growing the Roots

1. Once you already removed the leaf from the mother plant, layout it on a paper towel and put it on a spot where there is indirect sunlight. 
2. Leave and observe the leaf for three to seven days until the end heals, and there is a callous formed in it.
3. Prepare a well-draining soil in a pot or tray, place the leaf on it but make sure that the callous faces upward. More so, set the pot or tray on a location where the leaves can absorb lots of indirect sunlight.
4. Sprinkle or mist water every day so that new roots will develop. Always remember not to overwater it.
5. When the leaf already developed roots, cover them with soil so that they will not dry out.

Transplanting

1. Sooner or later, the baby succulent will have established roots and new leaves. With that, you can now detach the mother leaf from it. Gently remove the mother leaf not to harm the fresh roots of the baby succulent.
2. Prepare a 5 cm pot that has drainage holes and fill it with a succulent potting mix.
3. Transplant the baby succulent on the pot by making a hole on the soil using your index finger.
4. Water the succulent plant when the soil already dried out, so avoid frequent watering.
5. Place the succulent plant in a spot where there is plenty of direct sunlight.

Propagate Succulents through Division

Succulents tend to produce ‘pups’ or offsets that look like their mini version, and you can propagate them by division, but make sure that the pups already developed some roots before doing it. So, here is the procedure on how to effectively propagate succulents by dividing the offset from its mother plant:

1. Ensure that the pups are matured and have fully grown roots.
2. Take off the topsoil until the roots are visible.
3. With care, gently pull the offset together its roots. 
4. Gently remove the remaining soil from the roots, but ensure not to damage the roots or the plant.
5. Replant the pups into a separate pot filled with well-draining soil.
6. Afterward, water it lightly to keep the soil moist.

Propagate Succulents through Stem Cutting

Aside from leaves, you can also use the stem to propagate succulents, so here are the must-knows in doing this method:

1. Cut the stem of the succulent using a scissor.
2. Let the cut end of the stem dry and scab for a few days. Always remember to place it in a spot with indirect sunlight.
3. Once the cut ends dries and have scabbed, it is now time to help it produce its roots. Here are some ways to develop the roots of the stem cutting to propagate succulents:

• The first one is to plant it directly on a pot. Always ensure to use a container with drainage holes at the bottom and is filled with well-draining soil. But before planting the cut end of the stem into the soil mix, remove the leaves in the lower part and make sure that the leaves left in the branch will not touch the soil.
• The other way is by laying it on the soil; you can do this, especially when the stem won’t stand up when directly planted on the soil mix. Lay the stem cutting on the soil mix but ensure that the cut end will not touch the soil. It needs an ample amount of water to keep the moisture of the soil mix. 

4. When the stem cutting used to propagate succulents has developed roots, you can replant it into another pot, mainly when you only laid it on the soil.

5. Afterward, place the baby succulent on the spot with bright and indirect sunlight.

6. When caring for a rooted succulent, it needs less frequent watering, which means water the plant when the soil has dried. 

Propagate Succulents with Seeds

Just like the other plants, succulents can also grow from seed. But, to propagate succulents from seeds is a different story from the other plants. The progress may be slow; that is why you need to double your effort and patience. Here are the must-knows about multiplying your succulent collection from seeds:

1. Choosing the best seeds– this is the first step, but the most important one, some varieties of succulent tend to have the smallest seeds, often mistaken as dust or dirt. For that reason, make sure to choose and buy good-quality seeds from a reputable seller.
2. Ready the supplies that you will need– to propagate succulents from seed, you need to prepare the following: 

• the authentic seeds of a succulent
• a plant dome- it serves as the seedlings’ protection as they start to germinate 
• a shallow tray or container with drainage holes at the bottom
• well-draining soil

1. Preparation of the substrate– the substrate has a vital role in the growth of your seeds. With that said, succulent seeds tend to grow well in a substrate compose of sands and fast-draining potting soil. You can sterilize your own-made substrate by putting it in a microwave for not more than 10 minutes to remove the soil’s pathogens.
2. Put the substrate mix into the tray– thoroughly wash the tray to remove any dirt or old soil; afterward, fill it with the substrate mix. After you fill the tray segments, water the soil mix and wait until all of the excess water goes out through the drainage holes. Making the soil wet is essential so that the seeds of the succulent will stick to the substrate.
3. Plant the succulent seeds– once there is no more water coming out from the drainage holes, you can now plant the seeds, gently spread the seeds on the soil’s surface, and make sure that the seeds stuck to the soil mix because there is a tendency that it will be blown by the wind when planting it because it is tiny. Put one or two succulent seeds in each section of the tray if the one you use has compartments. Always remember, do not cover the seeds with soil.
4. Cover the tray– place the dome or a shower cap on the tray; it will protect the seeds and give them a certain amount of humidity that they need.
5. Choose the right location– place the tray in a brightly lit and warm area.
6. Observe the seeds– always observe them day by day; once they started to bud, you can remove the plant dome or the shower cap and give the seedlings enough water to keep the soil’s moisture.
7. Replanting– Once you ensured that your succulent matures, you may transplant it into a separate pot with drainage holes.

Propagate Succulents: Helpful Tips

• There is no need to use fertilizers to propagate succulents, but if you want to use fertilizers, always remember that overfertilizing the succulent plant can burn it. One of the samples is this Aeonium Kiwi Care Guide and Propagation Tips.
• One of the recommended mixtures is a handful of sand and well-draining soil for the soil mix used when propagating succulents.
• Before you plan to propagate succulents, it is best to water your plant lightly for several days to ensure that it is hydrated.

Expanding your knowledge on propagating succulents helps you know how a succulent grows and survives. To propagate succulents may be a cost-efficient way, yet it takes a lot of effort and patience. The progress may be slow, but once you fully grow your succulent collection through propagation, the sacrifices you have made will be worthwhile.