Propagating Succulents In Water: 3 Full Guides For Planter
It is said to be a more fun, easier, and satisfying way to add to your collection of succulents than other methods, like planting seeds in soil.
We’ve written down everything you need to know about how to do it below.
WATER PROPAGATING WITH STEM CUTTINGS
Stem cuttings are a fun and easy way to add to your collection of succulents or to reuse decorative cuttings after an event or party. Some cuttings may not grow roots, but if you do the things below, your chances will be better.
SELECT A SUCCULENT TO PROPAGATE.
If you want to grow garden plants outside in the winter, you should take cuttings after the plant has finished blooming. If not, pick a plant that hasn’t fully bloomed yet.
PREPARE YOUR CUTTINGS.
Using sharp, clean scissors, cut a healthy piece of the stem 2 to 4 inches long with at least 1 or 2 leaves. Then, cut 14 inches just below the node.
You could take off some of the lower leaves to show the stem. After that, you must put your cuttings on an empty tray in a well-lit place for at least two to three days, or until a callus forms.
CHOOSE A VESSEL.
It is highly recommended that you put your cuttings in water in a glass jar or another clear jar. This will not only let you see how your plant grows, but it will also let sunlight in.
ARRANGE IT
If the succulent cutting is too small, cover the jar with plastic wrap and poke a hole in it so you can put the stem through it.
This way, you can balance your cutting on the edge of the jar and make sure that only the bottom of the stem goes into the water.
After putting the cutting in the water, put the jar in a bright area or window and be patient while new roots grow.
GROW PERIOD
Depending on the temperature and environment, it could take anywhere from 2 to 6 weeks for roots to grow. You should check the jar every so often to make sure that the water doesn’t dry up.
WATER PROPAGATION WITH LEAVES
Even though it takes a lot longer to grow succulents from leaves than from stem cuttings, this method is more likely to work. Also, one will be able to see how small leaves start to grow from the base of a single leaf and take root.
If you’re eager to get started but don’t know where to begin, we’ve laid out every way to successfully water-propagate your plants using leaves.
PICK AND PREPARE A LEAF TO PROPAGATE.
Hold a healthy, lush leaf gently between your thumb and fingers and move it from side to side. When a leaf is ready to grow more of its kind, it will snap away from the stem.
Small, immature leaves often don’t have enough nutrients to support the growth of new roots.
Also, if you are new to growing succulents from their leaves, choose Echeveria, Graptoveria, or Sedum jelly bean, which are easy to grow from their leaves.
LEAVE IT TO DRY.
Place a healthy leaf that you want to spread on a tray that isn’t being used. This usually takes at least 5–7 days, or until the roots start to grow and take in water.
If you skip this step, your chances of water propagating your leaf will be lower. This step will also tell you if the leaf is healthy enough to grow more of itself. If the leaf is healthy, it should not perish due to a lack of water.
But if your leaf dies while you’re waiting for it to callus, it was never a good way to spread the plant in the first place.
CHOOSE A VESSEL.
Choose a glass jar based on how big you want the leaf to grow. You can put water in a bottle with a narrow neck or cover a jar with plastic wrap and cut holes for the leaf tips so they stay in the water.
SET IT UP
When your leaves have hardened, you can put them in the prepared container. Half-fill the jar with water, and then wrap the food wrapper around the top of the bottle. Put the leaves through the holes in the plastic packaging.
Let the side with the curve fall flat. Don’t let the leaves get in the water. Put it in a window with filtered sunlight, about 1/2 to 1 inch below the surface of the water.
GROW PERIOD.
The growth cycle might not start for 2–6 weeks. It is very important to check on your leaves often so that the water doesn’t dry out.
POTTING YOUR NEW PLANT
When moving or transplanting succulents from water to soil, it’s best to wait until the cutting has at least an inch-long root or the mother leaf has started to dry out before letting it dry on a paper towel for a day or two.
Remember that water roots are much more fragile than soil roots, so be careful with them and move them into the soil slowly.
Once the roots have dried out, carefully dig your succulent into cactus soil that hasn’t been fertilized.
Then, put it in a place where it will only get bright, indirect light. At this point, your succulents are still weak, so direct sunlight is not a good idea.
From here on out, it’s best to water your succulent every day. A good bath every two weeks should be enough.
