How To Propagate Succulents In Water

Propagating succulents in water is when you use water as a medium for rooting a succulent’s cutting. This is unlike dry rooting where you use compost or potting mix as the rooting medium. Water as a rooting medium is effective and it doesn’t cause root rot because, unlike waterlogged soil, there are no fungi in the soil. The following are the steps you should take when propagating succulents in water.

#1. Select The Cutting To Use

The cutting you want to use for propagation has to be chosen carefully for the best results. It must be healthy, strong, and free of pest infestation. Also, look for a cutting that is a bit older. If it is too young, it may not be a viable cutting for propagation. The best cuttings are usually towards the base of the stem or branch of the mother plant.

#2. Detach the Cutting from the Mother Plant

Cut off the section you have selected for seed from the mother plant. It would help if you used a clean sterilized cutting tool. The size of the cutting should be determined by the size of the plant. Whichever size of the plant you want to propagate, always serve the cutting above the node, it is advisable to cut the cutting at a 45^o angle.

Related Read:

• Growing Succulent Seeds (Easy DIY, Definitions, …).
• How To Trim/ Prune Succulents Successfully (An Easy Guide From A Succulent Expert).

#3. Allow The Cutting to Callous

Keep the plant in a cool, well-lit place under shade for about three days. Keeping it there allows the injured section to be callous. Allowing the callous to form ensures the cutting doesn’t rot when you put it in water. Attempting to root it while still fresh will definitely cause it to rot so you should never omit this step.

#4. Select The Right Vessel

It is advisable to root your succulent in a transparent container. A transparent container allows you to monitor the progress of rooting. Also, a transparent bottle allows the sun’s rays to get into the container and help in the rooting. A container with a small mouth is ideal because you can prop up the cuttings using their leaves. Remember you need to keep the cutting from going too deep into the water.

#5. Put The Cutting into the Vessel

Put water into your container. The water level should be determined by the length of the cutting. Water should just touch the calloused part of the cutting so that you avoid having large portions of the cutting under water. Sometimes it is advisable to leave a tiny gap between the water and the cuttings. If the cuttings are too small, you can drill small holes on the vessel’s side, especially if it’s plastic, to allow the cuttings to stay in place.

#6. Observe

The waiting period is usually 2-6 weeks depending on the species and growth conditions. Observe after placing the vessel in a well-lit place. Add water if necessary and make any other changes—transplant to compost after rooting.

Final Words

Some people said that this propagation is somehow the same as succulent water therapy. Well, they might look the same but they serve different purposes.

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Enjoyed learning about Propagating Succulents? If so, you’ll enjoy our complete guide ‘An Overview Of How To Propagate Succulents: Introducing Different Methods‘. With this guide, you’ll find more detailed answers that’ll have tremendous success with propagating! With thousands of succulent lovers enjoying this guide, you don’t want to miss out on what works best to grow your succulents.

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