Propagating Succulents (Magical Mystery Way)

When I was researching succulents I kept reading how easy they were to take care of and how easy they were to propagate.While I’m sure they are much easier to propagate than a number of plants, doing so in the Bangalore climate has proved to be a bit of a challenge for me. It it totally doable though! In this post I’ll show you how I’ve learned to propagate succulents from leaves. These tips may not apply to every climate but this is what has worked for me and should be similar for other climates.

1. How to take a cutting

The species of succulent will determine what kind of cutting you can do. For example, the echeverias can be propagated with either via a leaf or a cutting. I’ve been using leafs for these so I’ll tell you how I’ve done that. Aeoniums only work with cuttings, so far as I know you can’t propagate with just a leaf.
So, for a leaf you simply pull the leaf off of the stem. I’ve found that it has to be a clean pull, meaning nothing gets left on the stem. If you get some of the stem that is fine too. I had a few that ripped off just before the stem and all of those died. So, try to get all the way to the stem. It helps if you can see the end of the leaf as you are pulling it off.
For the cuttings you’ll want sharp scissors or pruning shears. Depending on the type of succulent you can actually pull of a stem too. Basically though you just cut off a section of the plant that is healthy. For the green Aeonium I have, someone told me anywhere a new floret is growing is a great place to take a cutting.

2. Once you have leaf or cutting

Once you have your cutting or leaf you’ll want to let it dry out a little bit before you do anything else. Depending on the amount of heat and sunlight you give the cuttings this could be 1-3 days. If you don’t let the end of the cutting scab over (that is my super technical term for the end healing… I just think of it like that) it will absorb too much water and will die when you water it. If the cutting starts to shrivel up a little that is ok, but you want to start watering it before that happens to much.

3. Watering the cutting

While full grown succulents don’t need to be constantly watered, the cuttings do. That said, too much water will cause them to turn orangey-brown and die.
So, what I have found works best for the leaves is to set them on top of the soil (the end really won’t even be touching the soil at all) and water them when the soil is dry. I use a spray bottle to get the top of the soil wet. Some places recommend you put the cut end in the soil but the ones I did that way either rotted or just grew roots and never started a new plant.
On the other hand, the actual cuttings do need to go in the ground. Since they already look like a plant they just need to grow roots so into the ground they go! Same with the leaves though, you’ll want to water them when you see the soil is dry.

(this is how mine look when they are laid out to grow)
Once you have the watering pattern down roots and new leaves will start to grow in several weeks. I started my first batch indoors at the end of March (the 22nd to be exact). I noticed new leaves starting to grow on April 19th, so about 4 weeks. I’m starting to propagate a new batch of leaves and I’m curious to see if they will grow any faster in the warm weather. I’ll keep you updated!
Here is a little photo timeline of the first cuttings I did:



4 weeks


6 or 7 weeks
Just so you know, more than half of the first batch didn’t make it. There are also some that haven’t grown as much and some that just have a bunch of roots, no leaves. So they aren’t all the same and you will lose some!
At this point I’m not sure what to do with the succulent starts as they get bigger. While mine have grown quite a bit they still aren’t big enough that I feel like they should be watered like the big plants. They don’t really have much to put in the ground yet either. So, as I figure all that out I’ll let you know.

Tips and tricks on Succulent Care.

Indoor Growth for Succulents

First off, I will say that succulents tend to grow best outside. As cute as they are, they don’t make the best indoor house plants. But if you love them as much as I do, you’ll grow them anyway! There are a lot of other indoor house plants that may not be as picky as succulents, but succulents are tough enough that they still survive  and do fairly well inside. For those of you with cold winters, bringing your succulents inside before it snows will actually be a good thing for them. Most succulents are dormant during the winter. They need a period of cold to help them produce better blooms in the spring and summer.

6 Hours of Sunlight

When succulents are indoors it’s often hard for them to get enough sunlight. They generally about 6 hours a day. You’ll want to keep your plants as close to the window as you can, but be careful not to let them get sunburned if the light from the window gets too hot. If your succulents aren’t getting enough light they will start to stretch. If there isn’t anywhere that gets brighter light (or more hours of light), don’t worry! After it get’s too stretchy for your taste, just cut off the top and propagate it! The bonus is that you’ll also get more plants :)

Water Less

This is only true during the winter months of growing your succulents indoors. If you are growing succulents indoors during the summer, just water as normal, waiting for the soil to dry out before you water again. During the winter though, succulents don’t need very much water at all. Since they are dormant, they aren’t growing and they don’t use up as much water. I generally water my indoor succulents about every 2 weeks in the winter. Many people recommend even less, but I’ve found that having the heater in my house running tends to dry out the succulents pretty quickly. Just keep an eye on the soil. You’ll want to let it dry out completely and then give it about a week before you water again.
I get quite a few emails with people who think their succulents are dying because the leaves are wilting and shriveling up. Here is a little secret, just like all plants, eventually the lower leaves of succulents are going to shrivel up and die. You should only be concerned about dying leaves if the newest or uppermost leaves on your succulent are shriveling. If it’s just the ones near the bottom of the stem (closest to the soil), you don’t have anything to worry about!

Avoid Glass Containers

Glass containers generally aren’t a great long term potting solution for succulents, especially during the winter. Succulents do not like to be sitting in soggy soil so a glass jar (or terrarium) is not going to make your succulent happy. This seems to especially cause problems in the winter when succulents need even less water than normal. Often succulents will get bugs or diseases from having soil that is too wet. If you just love the glass container you have your succulents in, be so so careful with how much water you give it! I would measure out how much water you are pouring on and make sure you only put in enough water to just get the soil damp. The same thing goes for a container without a hole for water to drain out. Air flow is especially important for succulents in the winter to help keep the soil mostly dry and the plant breathing. If you can help it, I really recommend staying away from glass unless you know your succulent really well and are confident in your watering skills. My favorite pots to use indoors are terra cotta (as you can tell from the photos). They provide great air flow and allow the soil to dry out easily.

Temperature

If you grow your succulents indoors year round, they won’t notice much change in temperature unless they are right by the window. As a general rule, succulents like to be warm during the summer and cool during the winter. If you can, keep the temperature in the summer between 70 and 80 degrees. During the winter, you’ll want your succulents to be a little colder, between 50 and 60 degrees. Most succulents can tolerate higher and lower temperatures as well, but those are the ideals. Generally it is not a good idea to let the succulents get below freezing as this tends to cause damage to most succulents. I’ve found that having my plants by the window and keeping my house at a normal temperature for me seems to work just fine. They get a little warmer by the window in the summer and a little cooler in the winter.

How to Water Succulent Plants

What do you use to water your succulents?

I use two things to water my succulents right now, a sprayer and a watering can. I started out with a spray bottle but soon had too many plants and “upgraded” to a sprayer. I use the sprayer for my indoor plants and the leaves I’m propagating. I use the watering can for my outdoor pots because it makes watering much faster as the can puts off much more water.

How often and how much should I water the succulent leaves I’m propagating?

For the most part if you are propagating succulent leaves indoors you can water them every day. I just get the top of the soil wet. Like the roots of large plants, the leaves will absorb water from the air around them, so spraying the soil with a spray bottle has been enough in my experience.

How often and how much should I water the succulent plants I’m growing indoors?

It depends. I like to give my large succulents a deep soak when I water as I think this provides the most value to the plants. This way it takes at least two or three days for the soil to totally dry out. A light spray isn’t going to promote very good growth for succulents. They’ll survive for a while this way, but they’ll be healthier with a good soak every few days.

 

How often and how much should I water the succulent plants I’m growing outdoors?

Again, the amount you water your plants outdoors will also depend on your location and the humidity where you live. The hotter it is the more you’ll need to water and the more humid it is, the less you’ll need to water. I generally water my plants every 2-3 days during the heat of the summer.
Since it tends to be warmer outside than inside the water will evaporate faster so the plants will need to be watered a little more often. It is still important for the plants to dry out before you water again, so make sure you’re paying attention to how your plants are growing.

What does an overwatered succulent plant look like?

If you aren’t paying close attention to your plants it can be difficult to determine whether you are over or underwatering. I’ll try to impart as much knowledge as I can, but realize you’ll need to see what is working for you and what your plants are doing. Here are a couple things about overwatering that will hopefully be helpful to you.
The easiest way to identify overwatering is the stem of the plant will start to constrict and turn black. If this happens, the best thing to do is cut off the top, let the cutting dry out and then put it in some well draining soil and water every few days. Eventually it will start to root and keep growing. You need to make sure you cut off all the rot though or you’ll have problems.

Another symptom of an overwatered succulent is translucent leaves. Some of the plants I have overwatered start to look see through. This obviously doesn’t work to identify overwatering on a plant that is already transparent, but it can help you identify a problem with others.
The other symptom I’ve seen, and this one is tricky, is shriveling leaves. The reason it is tricky is an underwatered succulent will also sometimes get shriveled leaves. To know whether these leaves are telling the plant needs less water you’ll have to consider your watering schedule and whether or not you are letting the soil completely dry out between waterings. Think of these overwatered wrinkled leaves like your fingers after you’ve been in the pool for a while. They get all wrinkly and soft. The same thing happens with succulents. The leaves will feel really soft and mushy.

What does an underwatered plant look like?

I have noticed two symptoms of an underwatered succulent. The first is shriveled leaves from your plants drying out. These tend to look a little drier than overwatered wrinkled leaves although it can be hard to tell. Generally though, these leaves look like they are really dying and about ready to dry up. Keep in mind, this will happen to the bottom leaves of all plants even if you are watering them properly. So, when you are using leaves to determine if you are watering well, make sure you are looking at newer leaves.
Under watered succulents also stop growing because they aren’t getting the nourishment they need. If your succulent is in it’s growing season and you aren’t seeing new leaves start to form you may be underwatering. The other symptom of under watered succulents that I’ve noticed is black spots. These look similar to a sunburn and honestly, it could actually be sunburned and dried out. I’ve only had this happen on plants I’m growing outdoors.Now that you know what problems you may encounter with watering, hopefully you’ll know how to treat the succulents you have that may be looking a little unhealthy. A healthy succulent will have nice firm leaves. They’ll have a good strong color and may even “blush” if they are getting enough sunlight. Just remember that your environment will have a major impact on how much and how often you’ll need to water so don’t be afraid to experiment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Succulents - What are they?

What Are Succulents?

Succulents are plants that store water in their leaves. The leaves tend to be thick and fleshy. Succulents tend to thrive in dry climates and don’t like a lot of humidity. As with any other plant, proper watering will ensure the best growth and flowering. While they do need water to survive, they can endure extended periods of drought, relying on the stored water and nutrients in their leaves. If their roots are sitting in water for too long they will start to rot and die.
Most succulents prefer warm temperatures and are not able to withstand freezing.Some species of sedums and sempervivums are able to withstand temperatures below freezing, although they are still better off in warmer temperatures. Extremes in temperature as well as lack of water or sunlight can often result in a color change for succulents. Succulents tend to “blush” or turn a different color when given a shock, such as more sunlight than they are used to. Generally when succulents are lacking in sunlight they will be dull or green. When fully blushing they range in color from pinks, oranges, and purples to dark blacks and reds.
One of the amazing qualities of succulents is their ability to propagate easily. While some species propagate more easily than others, many can grow new plants from a leaf that has fallen off the plant. Some put of new pups as they get larger.