Propagation tips

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Today I want to talk about propagation. You can use leaves most succulents in order to create a new baby plant. There are many ways to do this my preferred method is through water propagation. I use a mason jar filled almost all the way up with water. 

I use clear plastic wrap on the top and then poke holes in the plastic wrap to stick the succulent leaves in. Make sure leaves have a had a chance to callous before you stick them in the plastic wrap. If they haven't had a chance to callous for a few days they will rot.

 

Make sure the leaves do not touch the water. I place my water propagations under a blue grow light, but bright indirect light will work as well. Don't give them a direct sunlight though it will burn the leaves.

 I usually have roots and babies within 2-3 weeks. 

Some do take longer. The aeonium leaf I propagated took 2 months to get a baby on it. Once I have roots and babies I continue to water propagate for another 2 weeks to allow the babies to get a decent size before moving them to soil.

Once in soil I keep the soil around them moist, but not saturated for a couple weeks. This is a common practice since the babies get everything they need from the mother leaf, but I feel like it helps the roots establish in the soil better.

Another propagation method is to just lay the leaf on soil and wait. It will eventually get roots and babies. I have never done this method, but a lot of people have a lot of success with it. I have tried a similar method with burro tail leaves. I used a plastic pencil box and  laid down a layer of soil. Then I watered the soil. Next I placed the burro tails leaves that had a few days to callous on top of the soil. I placed them under a blue grow light and watered the soil every few days when it was completely dry. I do not saturate it just make it slightly moist. 

I have had a lot of success with this method. Once the burro tails have a good root system and the pups have grown a little I move them to a more permanent pot and continue to keep soil most for a month while the roots establish themselves. Then I slowly start watering less.

No matter what method you try propagating succulent from leaves takes a lot of patience. Do not give up if you don't see roots or babies forming after a couple weeks. As long as the leaf looks healthy there is still a chance. Most succulent propagations will take around 6 months to get to a decent size. The burro tails babies in the picture above are a month old. In the mean time make sure they get bright indirect light. Once the mother leaf falls off they can be moved to a location that receives direct light and watered like you water your other succulents. 

If you have any questions about propagating succulents leave a comment I would love to help you!