How to Propagate Succulents Fast That Really Works! ( 3 Propagation Methods)

So you are probably wondering how to propagate succulents fast.  I understand the frustration and excitement to see a new plant grow.

I have been growing succulents for a couple of years so let me share you some tips on how to propagate your succulents fast and different succulent propagation methods to try. 

The fastest way to propagate succulents is through stem cuttings.  The plant will already have a strong start to grow their new root system if it’s a fresh cutting from the mother plant. Another case is when you cut the top bit of the succulent because it has been stretched so much (etiolation), this stem will also produce a lot of new plant babies (pups). It will also give the plant a great chance of producing more offset and grow fast because it has an established root system.

Always make sure that the stem cuttings is a decent size according to the typical size of the plant.

Based on my experience, I always want to make sure that the succulent will have plenty of leaves in its stem and has a lot of nodes where the leaf is connected to the stem. These stem nodes will then produce the roots once you planted the succulent in dirt and the leaves will then become the water source of the succulent to sustain its life until it develops its root system.

Read more: Helpful Gardening Tips for Beginners from 8 Plantitas and Plantitos in the UK

Let me share with you the other succulent propagation methods that I do in my succulent garden. This is to share other possible options on how to propagate succulents that could potentially work for you. You can also read the blog post that I wrote about the easiest succulents to propagate.

How to propagate succulents fast that really works!

Seed Propagation

Seed propagation is the longest and time consuming amongst all the methods. You can easily source succulents seeds whether buying seeds online or collecting seed pods from your own succulent collection. 

In collecting your own seeds, harvest the seed pods from the flower stalks of your succulents.  You can typically tell this by checking the dried flower stalks.  Once the seed pods are collected, you need a white sheet of paper, then roll and squeeze out the seeds from the pods.

In propagating from seeds, you need a sterile seed friendly succulent soil mix (soil, fine sand and grit), seed propagator, good bright shaded and a well-ventilated spot for your seed batch.

Fill up your small pot of the soil mix that you prepared and soak it with water. Sprinkle the seeds on the top of it and place them inside the propagation box.  Place the propagation box on a bright and well-ventilated area but not on direct sunlight as this can potentially cook your seedlings.  

The germination will usually take up to two weeks. Then when the soil mix run dry just water them from the bottom of the pots. Let the water wick its way to its roots. Let them stay in the propagation box until they are ready to be transferred to another separate pot to give them more room to grow.

Leaf Propagation

 It is wonderful to watch a succulent plant grow from a leaf.  The leaf propagation is slightly quicker on how to propagate succulent fast compared to seeds. 

The key to a successful succulent leaf propagation is making a clean removal of the leaf from the stem, keeping the leaf node intact. The leaf node will eventually push out roots and a new plant will grow. 

Leaf propagation is my second favourite way of propagating succulents. Before I harvest my leaves for propagation, I make sure that the plant has been watered a few days ago to ensure that it has enough energy to produce an offspring quickly and effectively. 

After harvesting the healthy leaves, place them on top of the gritty succulent soil mix.  Place them in a bright shaded area to avoid getting burned and dehydrated from the sun. 

Once the roots have emerged after a few weeks, You can start spraying some succulent fertiliser solution.  This is to help the new leaflings to grow quicker. Once the new succulent plant is established, you can pot them up in their own container. This leaf propagation process will usually take around 4 to 6 months or even longer depending on the plant and its dormancy period.

Stem Propagation

 Stem propagation is the fastest way to propagate succulents. Before I take any stem cutting on my succulents, I make sure that they are well hydrated and have watered them before the cutting session. Make sure that your scissors are clean before making the cut and try to clean it in between cutting plants.  This is to ensure that you won’t cross-contaminate the cutting with any possible fungi or bacteria in between plants. 

Let the stem/plant cutting dry for two to three days and sometimes even a week before planting them to the soil. This is to ensure that the open wound from the cut will dry up and seal to avoid possible infection in the plant. 

Stem propagation is also handy for the succulents that stretched out or also called etiolated due to the lack of sufficient light. By chopping of the top part of the plant, this activates the nodes along the stem to push and grow a new plant!

Who wouldn’t want more plants, right?

Now when the plant that you chopped from the main stem has been healed and dried, it’s time to pot it up in a gritty soil mix and place it in a bright shaded area to encourage and wait for the roots to develop.  As for the remainder of the stem, you can just leave it in its original pot or pot it up in a gritty soil mix and wait for the new pups to develop and treat it as a normal succulent plant.  Give is sufficient light, water and fertiliser.  In no time, you will see a few more healthy succulent plants.

I hope that these helped you to decide and learn how to propagate the succulent fast! Try them all and see which way works for you well!

Happy planting and enjoy the colours of succulents.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Ryazan Tristram

Succulent and houseplant collector

I’m Ryazan, confessed succulent-holic and proud plantita (plant mom) based in Birmingham, UK. Proud succulent hoarder for a couple of years now and my collection keeps growing! Let me help you to turn your home into a succulent and houseplant oasis that you will love!