Success with Propagating Succulents

I am addicted to plants, and especially succulents as they are so diverse, and usually very easy to take care of. At this time of year, with Mother's Day and the promise of warmer weather, there are adorable plants for sale everywhere. When I see them, I just want to have one of each! Although I am well aware that I have enough at home and at work, I just can’t help myself.

Check out these beauties I recently bought from IKEA.

Do my plants always survive? Haha definitely not, I am by no means an expert in horticulture or gardening. However, I am learning.

Since I love my little succulents, I want to share them with everyone. They are so easy to share, by putting them on display as décor at events, or giving them away as gifts. Last year, I successfully propagated some clippings from a large beautiful Jade plant that we have at home. With that success, I thought I’d give it another try with other species of succulents.

Large Jade plant at my front door.

After doing some research on propagation (my favourite is this video) I started to pick away at plants that weren’t looking so great, and taking fallen leaves from healthy plants. To my surprise, this has been working out really well! Very soon, I will have too many plants. The good news is, I will have lots to give away as hostess gifts at upcoming summer BBQs. I look forward to receiving an invite haha.

A super simple table centerpiece using succulents, from an event I held a couple of months ago.

The video that I followed is simple and easy to understand. In a nutshell, below are the steps I took. Scroll through the pictures of the process as well. Trust me, if I can do this, so can you!

Clippings

1. After cutting a piece off, let the ends dry out for about a week.

2. Plant the clipping in soil for cactus and succulents - this is very important, as this soil will keep the roots and stems from sitting in moisture, which can cause rot. The stones I put around mine, are just for aesthetics,

3. Spray your clipping(s) with a spray bottle three times a week until established. For mine, this took about three weeks however yours could be quicker or longer.

4. Then, water as usual. Personally, I put a little water on mine once a week.

Fallen leaves

1. Let the ends dry out for about a week.

2. Lay the leaves on top of soil for cactus and succulents - as above, this is very important. I just used the plastic lid of a takeout container (thank you Dana Shortt) to put a thin layer of soil into.

3. Spray the soil with a spray bottle three times a week until a new little roots sprout. This can take several weeks, be patient. I keep mine at my front door, so I see them every day, otherwise I’d probably forget about them.

4. Once you have a little roots, plant the leaf in soil for cactus and succulents.

5. Then, water as usual. Before you know it, you'll have a new little succulent!

As you can see, propagation takes time and doesn’t happen overnight. So, it makes for a fun little hobby if you don’t have much time. Then you can be as proud as I am, as your patience blooms into adorable new plants.

These beauties are the result of my first try at propagating Jade a year ago. After growing them from clippings in three individual containers, I recently brought them together so they have more space.

Soon this next round of clippings from the same large Jade, along with clippings and leaves from other plants will have the same destiny. However, they are more likely to end up in an adorable pot and given away as gifts.

If you give this a try, be sure to send us pics or tag us on Instagram, we would love to see them. Either way, be sure to take before pictures of your propagated succulents, so you can see how much your little beauties grow!

Written by Carolyn, after being inspired by a conversation with some work sisters.