Succulents are truly awesome plants! They’re nature’s own water tanks, and also super easy to grow more of. They’re what you call “xerophytes”.
This fancy word means they have shallow roots and love places where it’s dry. They’re real champs at storing water in their chubby, juicy leaves and stems.
Imagine them like little camels, but in the plant world! Isn’t that cool?
These plants are not just about survival, they’re also great at making more of themselves, which is why you can find them in so many homes and gardens.
What are Succulents?
Succulents are wonderful plants that come in a wide array of shapes, colors, and sizes. You can find them in different forms, from tiny ones huddled close to the ground to tall ones reaching for the sun.
They can survive in places with little water and look lovely popping out from between stones or in rock gardens. You can also grow them indoors in pots, but be sure to water them very little.
My favorite ones are the tiny ones. I enjoy planting them in cool pots to make a mix of desert plants. You’re sure to fall for these easy-to-care-for plants, and the best part is that you can grow as many as you want from just one plant!
Related Post: How To Grow Succulents
How to propagate Succulents?
Growing more succulents from one is easy. There are two simple ways to do it.
Dividing
Plantlet Removal
The first one is by taking the little plants that grow beside the big one and planting them on their own.
Root Separation
The second way is by gently pulling the big plant out of the ground and separating its roots. Then, plant each section on its own.
For indoor plants, it’s best to use special soil meant for succulents and cacti. Mix in a little bit of sand or perlite to help the soil drain water and give the plants nutrients.
After planting, wait a day before watering them. If you’re replanting them outside, avoid doing it in the hot sun.
Cutting
Another way to grow more succulents is by cutting a piece from a leaf or stem. After it dries, roots and new leaves will start to grow from it. Just remember to keep it dry.
There are two easy ways to do this.
Leaf Removal
The first one is by picking a few leaves, drying them out, and then letting them grow roots.
Beheading
The second one is by cutting the top part of a tall plant and letting it dry. Once it grows roots, plant it.
Related Post: 9 MUST HAVE SUCCULENT PLANTERS
Propagating Succulent Cuttings
- Take off Some Leaves or Cut the Top Carefully: Twist off a few leaves from your succulent plant. For plants with long stems, you can take off leaves from the bottom part of the stem. For plants like Christmas cactus, you might need scissors to remove a leaf.
- Let the Cuttings Dry: Put the cuttings in any container you have. You don’t need soil or water. After about five days, check to see if a hard layer has formed on the cut end. This layer, called a callus, protects the plant from germs.
- Wait for Roots to Grow: Watch the cuttings over the next few weeks. Roots will start to grow out of the callus. The cuttings will start to shrink as they use their stored water to grow new roots.
- Plant the Cuttings: When you see roots, you can plant the cuttings. Use pots that drain well and fill them with potting soil. You can also mix in some sand or perlite. Succulents need a lot of sunlight and well-draining soil to stay healthy. Plant them when the sun is not too strong, like in the early morning or late afternoon. Make a small hill of soil and plant the cutting on top.
- Water and Feed the Plants: The next day, water the plants a little and press the soil down again. As the plants get used to their new homes, they will start to grow faster. That’s when you should start feeding them with special food for succulents and cacti, like the one from Miracle-Gro available on Amazon.
There are other ways to grow new succulents, like putting cuttings on top of soil and waiting for them to grow roots. But remember, keep the soil dry until roots form.
The whole process of growing new succulents may take a few weeks. Try different ways and see which one works best for you. Keeping a gardening journal can be very helpful.