How to Propagate Succulent Plants from Branches

Most succulents are easy to propagate. This plant also has a lot of leaves so you can experiment with growing it in batches at once with little effort. You can even grow succulents from a single leaf, although many plants also require proper pruning. Note that the aloe plant requires a different treatment for best results.

Table of Contents

Take the branches to plant

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Start doing it at the beginning of the growing season. You can also try to propagate succulents any time of the year. However, the chances of success are greatest if you start doing this near the end of the plant’s dormant season or at the beginning of the growing season. ^{[1] X Research Source} Usually this is early spring, but there are some succulents that start growing in the fall or winter. ^{[2] X Research Source}

If you already have branches, move on to the next section, planting branches. Even if you don’t take the steps below to cut branches, most succulents have a good chance of successfully propagating.

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Sterilize a sharp knife. Choose a razor or sharp knife that can cut off once. Reduce the risk of infection by heating the blade over a fire or wiping with alcohol.

Cutting the tree by hand or using scissors is not recommended, as the branches may be crushed or cut and cannot heal properly. ^{[3] X Research Source} If you are still trying to remove the leaves by hand, you need to make sure that the leaves removed from the stem are intact, the removal of leaves must be gentle, not forceful. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

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Decide whether to cut individual leaves or cut large chunks. Most succulents can grow into new plants from a leaf or part of a branch. However, some species such as Dudleya or Aeonium require a whole stem. ^{[5] X Research Source}^{[6] X Research Source} You can refer to the following steps for more information.

If you don’t know what variety or species the tree you’re going to plant is, you can try both methods. The mother plant is virtually unaffected if you follow the instructions below, an inexpensive test.
For some non-specific plants, especially aloe vera, it is best to propagate by plucking newly grown seedlings.

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Select leaves to cut. If the plant you want to propagate has “asterisk” or rounded leaves that grow close together at the top of the plant, leave the top intact and cut the leaves below, but do not cut directly from the base of the plant. ^{[7] X Research Source} For succulents that mostly grow outward rather than upward, cut off the leaves that grow on the edges. Cut the leaves at the point where they join the stem with a knife.

Unless you’re going to cut the whole tree, you can move on to the next branch.
See the Tips section below if your succulent is a large-leaved plant.

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Select the branch to cut. Most succulents aren’t difficult to grow, but you can still increase your chances of growing a healthy plant with the right cutting technique. Ideally, you should choose healthy growing branches, near the top of the tree or at the edges, with a length of about 10-15 cm. ^{[8] X Study Source} Cut just below the junction with the trunk, or below the junction of leaves and shoots with the main branch. ^{[9] X Research Source} Select a branch with at least two leaves (or a cluster of leaves) if possible. ^{[10] X Research Source}

Prepare and plant branches

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Cut off the leaves from the bottom of the branches. If using a twig, remove the bottom bunches of leaves. Use a sterilized knife to cut off the leaves that grow within 5-10 cm of the bottom of the branch. Do not touch the leaves that grow on top.

If the cut part has both buds and leaves, leave it as is. ^{[11] X Research Source}

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Dip cuttings of twigs in rooting hormone (optional). Commercially available rooting powders that can speed up the growth of shoots often include both antifungal and root rot protectors. This treatment is often recommended for branches that are starting to rot and for old, “wooden” branches, but it’s not really necessary. ^{[12] X Research Source}

Some gardeners report their success using cinnamon powder sprinkled on cuttings as a less expensive antifungal treatment.

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Place the branch in a shady spot to dry. Place the twig on a paper towel, out of direct sunlight, and regularly check the cut of the branch. The cuttings must be dry so that the new plant does not rot easily. The branches can be planted within a day or two of drying. ^{[13] X Research Source} The branches will have a more noticeable change, which is the formation of “calluses” on the cutting surface. This process takes about two to seven days. ^{[14] X Research Source}

If leaves shrink significantly during this time, you may need to plant earlier. The success rate will be lower, but the leaves can die if dried out.

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Prepare a succulent potting mix. While you wait for the cuttings to dry, prepare a well-drained cactus or succulent soil and pour it into a small planter. If you want to mix your own potting soil, you can mix 3 parts potting soil, 2 parts sand, and 1 part perlite. ^{[15] X Research Source}

Use store-bought coarse, salt-free sand where possible, as sand collected elsewhere may contain microorganisms or salts that are harmful to plants.

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Choose the right size pot to plant the branches. Succulents grow best in pots that are not too large for the plant. Pots with space for plants to grow about 2.5-5 cm are suitable when starting to grow.

The pot must have a drainage hole.

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Plant branches. You can plant the branches as usual, sticking the branches into the ground so that the bottom leaves just rise to the ground but do not touch the ground. ^{[16] X Research Source} Leaves buried in the ground are more likely to rot, so if you’re using leaves for planting, you should only let the leaf cross section touch the ground and use gravel for support for the leaf.

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Water occasionally. In general, succulents do not require a lot of watering. However, you still need to water the newly planted branches every 2-3 days while the plants are rooting. Once the root system is established, you can reduce the number of waterings to once a week, or when the soil is dry. ^{[17] X Research Source}

Don’t worry if the branches look dry at first. This means that the plant is using stored energy to grow new roots.
If all goes well, you should start to see new shoots in about 4 weeks.

Take care of seedlings

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Place the plant in a warm and well-ventilated location. Unlike mature plants, young succulents may not have enough water reserves to withstand direct sunlight. They grow best in indirect sunlight, in the temperature range of 20ºC and in a place with good air circulation. ^{[18] X Trusted Source Royal Horticultural Society Go to Source}

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Keep the soil slightly moist. Seedlings need regular watering to survive and develop roots. However, succulents are naturally adapted to arid climates and will often rot if left in a waterlogged environment. You can use a spray bottle or small watering can to water the surface of the soil when the soil is dry, about every 2-3 days. ^{[19] X Research Source} You also need to mist the leaves of the planted plant, as the leaves have not yet taken root.

If the tap water contains a lot of chlorine or if the branches show signs of rotting, try using distilled water. ^{[20] X Research Source}

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Reduce watering once the plants have grown. Plants grown with cuttings can develop a full root system in four weeks, and by this point you can reduce the number of waterings to about once a month. ^{[21] X Research Source} Foliage will grow more slowly, but you can also observe the small leaves and roots sticking out from the leaf cross section. Gradually reduce the amount of watering when the roots start to penetrate the ground, this takes about 6 weeks or so.

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Use caution when using fertilizers. Succulents are slow-growing plants and are not adapted to nutrient-rich soil. ^{[22] X Research Source} Use a balanced fertilizer (eg 10-10-10) only during the growing season and only when the seedlings are four weeks old and have taken root. Consider using a fertilizer at ½ to ¼ of the recommended dose to prevent the plant from growing too tall and “shrinkling” with small foliage, or burning the roots.

Advice

Some large-leaved succulents can even be grown from partial leaves: ^{[23] X Reliable Source Royal Horticultural Society Go to source}
- Species Streptocarpus : The leaves can be cut in half lengthwise, with the central stem removed and the cross section placed in a shallow trench.
- Sansevieria (tiger’s tongue) and Eucomis : Leaves can be cut horizontally into sections about 5 cm long and placed in the ground about 2 cm deep.
- Begonia (begonia) and Sinningia (zillion) species: The leaves can be cut into squares about 2.5 cm side by side with broad veins. Secure these leaf sections to the ground with sterilized pins.

Warning

If the tree has thorns or sharp points, you need to wear thick gloves or wrap your fingers before handling the tree.

Steps

Take the branches to plant

Prepare and plant branches

Take care of seedlings

Advice

Warning

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