An Overview Of How To Propagate Succulents: Introducing Different Methods

Succulents naturally come equipped with a fantastic ability to regrow from leaves or branches… and that means free plants! There are four primary methods of succulent propagation (with honey as a rooting aid). To successfully propagate a succulent, we must prepare all the essentials, knowing which method to perform, when, and more. This article will guide you through everything you need about succulent propagation.

First, here is our introduction video about succulent propagation:

What To Know Before You Start Propagating Succulents

#1. Some Succulents Are Easier To Propagate Than Others

There are so many species of succulents, and they all differ in difficulty when it comes to propagating. Three of the easiest succulents to succeed with are Kalanchoe daigremontiana (alligator plant), Sedum morganianum (burro’s tail), and Sedum rubrotinctum (the pork and beans succulent).

We recommend starting your propagation journey with these species if you’re a beginner! A lot of the time, the leaves of these succulents will fall on their own, and you can do the propagation process without accidentally cutting off too much of the leaf.

#2. Patience

Patience you must have my young “propagator.”

Yoda from Star Wars

Time to test your patience! How long does it take to propagate succulents? Succulent propagation can sometimes take up to four to eight weeks before the new leaf cuttings begin to root. Remember, great things don’t happen in a day. This process will be worth it.

When it is time for the ends of your clippings to dry out and harden, this alone can sometimes take up to a week, so make sure you don’t rush the process!

Remember that this can sometimes be a frustrating process. Not every single leaf will create a new plant. (Remember what Yoda said).

Don’t get discouraged if you don’t have a 100% success rate. I usually only have the 50-70% success rate for all the leaves I propagate.

Keep up with the process and try again! Practice makes perfect. Even the “experts” don’t succeed with the propagation process each time.

#3. A Strict Watering Schedule

After the leaf end has hardened, it’s time to water them! Every leaf hardens over at different times. This is important because if you water them when they haven’t fully hardened, too soon after cutting from the mother plant, they’ll sometimes turn mushy and yellowish.

When propagating, we spritz the leaves once a day here at Succulent City. A quick spray over the top of all the leaves should be enough, not too close to them. Some leaves are going to look different than others, which is normal.

If you want to learn more about when you should water your succulents check out our in-depth article here.

#4. Prevent The Clippings From Direct Sunlight

Succulents are desert plants; they all need to be in direct sunlight for most of the day. This is true, but not with succulent leaves during propagation.

I always put my leaves by a window that’s protected with some shade. Once the new plant has grown from the leaves, it can be placed in direct sunlight.

External Conditions For Successful Propagation

• Weather status: It is advisable to propagate succulents during warmer, humid seasons. These conditions can either be artificial or natural, indoors or outdoors.

• Lighting: Adequate lighting – preferably sunlight – shortens the time it takes for your succulent to produce pups.

• Moisture retention: Cover the container at night to help preserve the plant’s moisture during extreme weather.

Common Propagation Methods For Succulents

#1. Leave Propagation

If you’ve ever seen leaf propagation, you probably understand at least part of the fascination surrounding succulents. People love taking pictures of their leaf props – for a good reason! Nothing is more satisfying for a plant parent than seeing a whole new succulent grow from a leaf.

It may seem that you need a green thumb to pull off this fantastic feat, but nothing could be further from the truth. Propagating succulents from leaves is very easy. For short, all you have to do is pull the leaf off, wait for it to dry and calloused, and replant. For a detailed guide (with our free ebook), check here >>

#2. Cutting Propagation

Anyone with a modicum of gardening experience will have used this technique before. It’s a trick as old as plants themselves. You cut off a part of a succulent and stick it back into the dirt, and it just starts growing again. Succulents have an even easier time of this than other plants. You sometimes have to coax out new roots with herbs and veggies by putting the cutting in water first, but that is not so with succulents.

The procedure will start with cutting the succulent at a specific position. Ensure you sterilize all the necessary cutting gears before performing a clean cut. Allow the cutting to grow the root and then replant it in another pot. For the in-depth step-by-step guide, you can view the article for this method: How To Propagate Succulents From Cuttings!

#3. Propagate Succulents In Water

Can you propagate succulents in water? If you wonder if you can propagate succulents in water, the answer is yes. Yes, most succulents can be propagated in water. To summarize this process: first, you must choose a stem to cut and let the cuttings dry for a few days. Use a mason jar and fill it with purified drinking water. After 4 weeks, small roots are expected to grow. You may wait another 2 weeks until your cuttings are ready to be transplanted. We have a detailed guide with clear steps for this method. You can check it here!

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#4. Budding Propagation

It’s finally time for Aloe to shine! 🙂

Ever notice how some plants grow more of themselves? Sempervivum is famous for it, so they’re commonly called Hens and Chicks. Haworthia does it, too, as does Sansevieria. It’s widespread propagation and not at all unique to succulents. It’s how grass gets around, too.

The baby plants are called “buds,” “pups,” or “offshoots.” They usually grow from the mother plant’s base and share a connected root system.

Propagating plants that reproduce through budding is a double-edged sword – on the one hand, you don’t have to do anything at all, but on the other hand, you have to wait for the plant to propagate on its own.

Being at the whim of your plants isn’t so bad, though. Keep them happy and healthy; buds should constantly grow throughout their growing season. Removing and replanting them is very similar to the process of taking a cutting:

1. First, you have to wait until they’re big enough to remove. It varies from species to species, but once they’re at least an inch or two in diameter (or several inches tall for the sheer variety of succulents).
2. Find where the pup connects to the parent. It is probably either at the base of the primary stem or connected through a thick root called a “runner.” It’s okay to unpot the plant while you’re propagating it.
3. Using the same technique we used for cutting propagations, make a clean cut where the bud meets the mother plant. If they share roots, give a generous portion to the baby when separating them. The mother plant can make it more easily.
4. Move the bud directly into a new pot—no need to wait for callusing this time. Still, you shouldn’t water it for a few days while it heals.

Budding also propagates succulents like cacti, so you can use this method on them too!

Honey As A Rooting Aid

Thanks to their scant care and few needs, succulents attract a diverse group of growers. For many of them, growing succulents may be their first experience with growing any plant in general. Consequently, some tips and tricks have emerged that other gardeners may not be familiar with, such as using honey as a rooting aid for succulents (this is pure experience, there is no official certification of this method).

Honey has healing properties and is used as a rooting hormone for plants. Honey contains antiseptic and anti-fungal elements that can keep bacteria and fungi away from the succulent leaves and stems during propagation. Many growers claim that dipping the succulent propagation pieces in honey stimulates the roots and new leaves on the stems.

It’s recommended to use as pure & raw honey as possible. Due to pasteurization, many derived products are closer to syrup than honey. To avoid confusion or inconvenience, carefully read the list of ingredients before using any product to test this peculiar theory.

First, you must prepare the cuttings and the pot with their respective substrate. The cuttings we choose from the plant should be 6 to 12 inches long and cut at a slant angle of about 45°. After this, we must submerge each cut in the honey mixture and then paste them directly on the substrate prepared in our pots. Use the entire leaf of the plant. When propagating from cuttings, keep it right side up.

Related post: Goldfish Plant Propagation – How To Propagate A Goldfish Plant.

When planting our leaves or stems, we must submerge them adequately in, or on top of, our soil. It is best if it is sandy and moist but not wet. Place our cuttings in a location covered with abundant bright light, but they mustn’t be in direct sunlight. Keep them outside when temperatures are warm or indoors during colder temperatures. Taking care of our cuttings from temperature damage is essential, especially in winter and cold and humid areas.

Transplanting Your New Succulents

Now that the roots have developed, you must support the propagated succulents to form their tiny leaves. It’s time to transplant each new succulent baby to its container to grow independently. Ensure your new planter has drainage holes, be it a vase, pot, or wooden box, at the base. The holes will help prevent water logging that may lead to root rot. Nasty business that root-rot.

Note: Read more about root-rot and the danger of water logging in this informative article by Succulent City.

Choose a container wide enough to allow future root expansion. Fill it with pre-mixed cactus soil. Succulents do not require daily watering. Their natural habitat is an arid or semi-arid area. Therefore they are used to minimal rainfall by design. Just occasional watering once a week is required. Place your succulents in a place with adequate sunlight. Outdoor plants shouldn’t concern you much about sunlight, but indoor succulents will need a decent amount of light, preferably on the window sill.

Read more: Choosing the Right Pot for Succulents.

We hope you have some pointers on keeping your plant family healthy! If you did, please share on Facebook or PIN US on Pinterest with the social buttons below!

Have you enjoyed learning about Propagating Succulents? If so, you’ll enjoy our ebook, The Right Way to Propagating Succulents Successfully! With this ebook, you’ll find more detailed answers that’ll have tremendous success with propagating! With thousands of succulent lovers enjoying our ebooks, you don’t want to miss out on what works best to grow your succulents.

Do you have any propagation tips or tricks? Please share them with us in the comments below!

Thanks for reading! Don’t leave soon …

If you enjoyed reading our blog about succulent propagation, check out our other articles! Enhance your succulent knowledge about indoor succulent plants, edible succulents, or household items that are cheap & easy you can use as succulent planters.

Are you looking for more propagation guides? You may look at our new ebook: The Right Way to Propagating Succulents Successfully!