To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.
-Aubrey Hepburn
Probably the coolest thing about succulents is their ability to easily multiply through propagation. In my gardens, no succulent parts go to waste: all fallen leaves and broken stems are saved for propagation to become new plants. Yes, leaves become new plants. Pretty neat, right? Not only are succulents self-sufficient with their water-storing powers, they’re also a worthy investment! Win win!
Before I begin, two things I would like to make clear. One, there are many ways to propagate succulents. What you will read on this section are ways that have worked for me and therefore can vouch for. And two, it’s important to know what kind of propagation technique works best for your specific plant. Some work with leaves, while others are strictly from cuttings.
How to propagate from leaves
First thing first: make sure that the leaves are still intact after separating from the stem. This means that the entire part of the leaf that meets the stem must not be torn or missing. If the leaf fell on its own like my Burro’s Tail usually does when something, oh I don’t know — maybe a frisbee, a ball, or even a pretend sword — hits it, the leaf is usually good for propagation. If you are taking the leaf yourself with the intent to propagate, start with the lower ones and don’t just pull it outward — hold it firmly then twist. If you do it this way, you are more likely to get a clean leaf for a successful propagation.
That’s the hardest part. Whew. Now, what to do with those leaves? On a tray (or whatever container you decide to use), put 1-2 inches of potting soil. For this purpose, I usually recycle the trays that some of my pots came with.
Next is to place the leaves on top. You can line up them up nicely (who has time for that?), or just throw them as you wish. Whatever you do, make sure that they sit nicely on top of the soil. Then place the tray indoors with ample light source, or outside in a covered area. Every several days or so, check on the soil to ensure that the soil is moist. Keyword here is moist: not dry, not soaking wet. Moist. If it doesn’t look or feel moist, use a spray bottle to “mist” the top layer. After a few weeks (see next photo), you will notice roots sprouting out of the leaves. Pat yourself on the back, my friend. You’re half way there!
But wait…there’s more!
Wait a few more days to a couple more weeks and you’ll see the new plant! To me, this is the most satisfying part of the whole process! But don’t pull them out for transplanting just yet (I just did for this photo to show you the roots). I usually wait a few more days to ensure that the roots are deep into the soil, and the plant is actually on its own. You can tell when it’s ready to be transplanted: the new plant will eventually break off with the parent leaf becoming its own plant. On the photo below, the parent leaf is slowly withering. A couple of days after this photo was taken, the new plant broke off with the parent leaf became it’s own plant.
Voila! It’s pretty simple, right? Now you can jump for joy! Congratulations!
How to propagate from cuttings
If you think propagating from leaves is easy, this one is even easier. You’ll need two main things: a sharp knife or scissors and patience.
1. Identify which cutting to propagate.
2. Clean debris (i.e., soil, dry leaves) around the baby plant to have a clear view of where to cut.
3. Use a sharp knife or pair of scissor dipped in alcohol to cut the baby plant.
4. To avoid rotting of the mother plant, make sure that the stem where you just made the cut isn’t under the soil.
5. Clean whatever debris that got on the baby plant’s stem.
6. Put them upside down to expedite (a little) forming of callous. Once the stems are calloused, stick them in their new home. They should form roots within the next two weeks.
That. Is. It.
I found this cutting behind all of my aeonium chocolate rose plants. I suspected it was there for 4 months, neglected, before being discovered. Thankfully, succulents are very forgiving. See the roots coming out of the stem!
