Succulents: they’re the beautiful, versatile, oh-so-trendy plant that helps your home look straight-outta-Pinterest. But you don’t have to spend tons of cash collecting these sweet plants in every shape and color. With these methods, you can replant parts of your existing succulents to propagate and grow new ones. Let that garden grow!
1. Leaf Cutting
With succulents like jade, sedum and echeveria, you can simply remove and replant one of the leaves to produce a new plant. Start by gently pulling a leaf from the succulent in a twisting motion. Try to get the whole thing, including the little nub where it attaches to the stem. A perfect leaf will be shaped like a U on the end that was attached to the plant.
Set the leaves on a paper towel for a few days to allow the ends to dry out and scab over. When ready, stick the very end into a shallow bed of soil.
Pro Tip: When planting, be sure to use a potting mix specifically for cactus or succulents.
Place the new plant in indirect light. Mist the leaves with water a few times a week, or lightly water them at the soil level. Within a few weeks, roots will begin to grow, followed by baby plants.
Carefully remove the original leaf when it dries up and the baby plant is at least ½” tall. You can also re-pot your succulent (in a cute DIY planter) if desired, being careful not to disturb the roots too much.
2. Stem Cutting
Most succulents, like echevaria, can potentially grow too leggy from lack of sunlight. If this happens, you can cut the stems, remove the leaves and replant the bottom.
To do so, use very sharp, clean scissors or a knife to cut through the main stem or a branch of the succulent plant. Carefully remove its leaves and set it to dry for a few days. Plant the base of the stem in soil and water lightly. Baby plants will begin to grow out of the spaces where the leaves were removed in just a few weeks.
3. Branch or Offshoot Cutting
If your original plant is damaged or broken, some — like a full branch of a jade or other tree-like succulents — can be removed and replanted. It will sprout roots from the base and turn into its own plant.
Other succulents, such as aloe and echeveria, reproduce by sprouting small offshoots from the mother plant. These baby plants can also be carefully removed and replanted in their own space.
Whether you’re removing a branch or an offshoot, use a very sharp, clean pair of scissors or a knife. Cut branches right at the point where they meet the main stalk. Offshoots should be neatly sliced away from the main plant, taking care to avoid damaging the roots on either one.
Replant the cut-off pieces in soil right away and place in bright, indirect light. Lightly water them on a weekly basis and in a few weeks (or even months) it’ll show new growth. Patience is key!
Photos of each cutting would be helpful.
Photo examples of each color would be helpful.