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How To Grow Succulents? Best Tips To Grow Succulents
It is visible why succulents are currently one of the most popular plant groups. Their different shapes, colors, textures, and sizes add interest to any home decor. They look stunning by themselves or in combination with other succulents. Not to state how simple they are to grow and how they endure water shortages.
Succulents are one of the simplest plants to grow. Taking care of succulents is also one of the easiest plants to grow from stems and leaves. So use these growing succulent tips for a great outcome with these succulents you want to have.
What Are Succulents?
“Succulent” came from the Latin word “succus.” It means “to drink, juice, or sap.” Succulents survive up to their name by preserving a large amount of water in their stems and leaves. Making them drought-resistant plants. Due to their adaptability and resilience to abandonment, these tolerant desert dwellers make great houseplants. But certain varieties perform better indoors than the others.
But some of the succulents are not compatible with indoor plants. Deciding on succulents that would like shade or low light over direct sunlight will have a major impact on the success of your indoor succulent garden.
Succulents with vibrant colors do not do well indoors in particular. They need little direct sunlight and more light available indoors.
Propagation Techniques for Succulent
Propagating succulents means producing a new plant from the existing plant. So if you want another succulent, you don’t have to buy a new one. You can now have new succulent plants through these different ways of propagation. It can save money, and at the same time, you can enjoy it.
Dry succulent propagation
Dry propagation, or air propagation, is a simple method for growing succulents with minimal effort. You can use it on various rosette succulent genera, including Graptoveria and Echeveria.
This propagation technique reduces the risk of infection by mealybugs and root rot. Usually, this method has a higher success rate than other propagation techniques, making it ideal for succulent beginners.
Wait about three days after watering the succulent you want to propagate. It will cause the mother plant to produce nutritional and juicy leaves for your new baby plants. Also, this is ideal to choose a succulent with thick leaves. Dry propagation does not need watering the leaves.
The mother’s leaves must be plump and nutritious to provide adequate nutrition and water to the babies until they develop their root systems.
After three days, be careful in removing the leaves you’ll propagate from the mother plant. Twist it with a motion to pull the leaf off the plant without breaking it completely. Otherwise, it may not sprout. Also, pick healthy and mature leaves from the bottom, as baby, dry, or soft leaves have a lower chance of bearing pups.
Propagating succulents in water
Water propagation is the method of rooting succulent stems in water. It may go against common perceptions about succulents. People think succulent plants sitting in water will cause root rot. But we can propagate it in water. It is more convenient to use this method. Here is the step-by-step to successfully propagate your succulent in water.
Can I propagate succulents in soil?
Yes! But it will start first through propagating by division. This method, which involves sprouting new succulents from cuttings, performs best with plants that have become too busty. To start, carefully remove any leaves on the stem below the rosette by waddling them gently from side to side. At the same time, keeping the leaf base intact.
After removing all the leaves, pluck the leaf with shears, leaving a short stem attached. Allow the cuttings to dry in an empty pan for a few days until the raw ends have been calloused. The cuttings can be rooted in soil.
Then, layer the cuttings in a shallow pan with well-draining succulent soil. Roots and tiny plants will sprout from the cuttings’ bases within a few weeks. Water sparingly at first, then once a week; prevent over-watering. The parent leaf will eventually wither.
Carefully remove it without affecting the new roots. Before replanting your propagated succulents, allow them to take root. Avoid exposing them to direct sunlight until they have established themselves.
Do Succulent Leaves Grow Roots?
Yup! One of the reasons why planting succulents is simple and convenient. There are different ways how to propagate them. And usually, gardeners use the leaves to grow roots for new offspring.
1. Pick up a Leaf
When you see your succulent plant too leggy, don’t worry because it is the best time to pluck the leaves. To begin, take a fallen leaf from one of your succulents. Pick only full and plump leaves when looking for fallen leaves. If no leaves have fallen, carefully pluck one from the stem.
Succulents, especially Echeveria, are sensitive and should be handled with caution. Hold the stem and twist to eliminate the leaf. Poorly cut leaves might be unable to root.
2. Drying of leaves
Let your cutting or leaf dry for a few minutes before proceeding. Allow the leaf or cutting to scab for one to three days, depending on how much heat and light.
Before we can plant our leaves in soil, we must let the ends dry out and callous over. It is a crucial step! If you do not let the ends dry out and place them directly on the soil, they will absorb so much moisture and rot and die. It’s fine if the cutting shrivels up. When this happens, begin watering.
3. Root Development
Keep looking for any new root development in the coming two weeks. When you use leaf cutting to feed young succulent plants, they degrade.
Do not feel alarmed if you notice small roots growing from the stems of your succulents. It indicates that your plant is growing well. Not to mention that these tiny roots are also aerial. However, if you notice aerial roots emerging from your green, remember that they will require special care.
4. Planting
Look for an area in your garden or a well-draining container to plant your seedlings. Succulents are drought-tolerant plants. The potting soil should be porous and well-draining, with a lower organic matter percentage than traditional indoor soil mixes. Using a loose, grainy soil mixture with a lot of sand and perlite or pumice is best.
Succulents thrive in sunlight and well-drained soil. They become pale and decay when exposed to too much water or a lack of sunlight.
5. Irrigation and Growth
When determining how frequently to water succulents, remember that many are native to dry, desert climates where rainfall is rare. The succulent plants store the water in their roots, leaves, and stems. Deformation of leaves after an extended drought can sometimes indicate when to water a succulent. Before watering, make sure the soil to make sure it is completely dry.
Common Mistakes To Avoid When Propagating Succulents
Having succulent plants is more convenient and easier to handle. However, you still need to check out factors to survive your plant.
Not all efforts are successful
Getting numerous cuttings or leaves from the plant you want to reproduce is a good idea because some plants will not propagate. However, if half to seventy percent of them are successful in propagating, you’re doing great work. Don’t expect that all of your new pups will be successful.
Frequent Watering
Make sure the water runs out of the drainage holes when watering it. It urges roots to grow downward as nature intended. Light watering with droppers or spoons can cause roots to reach upward for water, which is not good for your succulent plant. These plants’ roots can spread laterally. Let the soil be completely dry first before watering.
Avoid getting the foliage wet. It can cause the succulent leaves to collapse. If you accidentally get them wet, gently rub the water with a paper towel.
Direct Sunlight
Start by giving succulents half a day of direct sunlight. Ideally, direct sunlight in the morning and bright or shaded shadows the rest of the day. Be aware that the amount and duration of sunlight vary depending on latitude and elevation, season, orientation and location in your yard.
Type of soil for succulents
Succulents needs well-draining soil with larger particles so water can quickly enter and drain away from the roots without tamping the soil. To ensure the ideal soil for succulents, use a testing kit and modify the soil to a pH of 6.0-6.5 before planting.
How to Germinate Succulent Seeds?
You can research the germination period for each succulent variety to avoid separating them from the growing soil too soon. Consider the germination time for the type of succulents you purchase when growing succulents from seeds. When growing succulents from seeds, monitor the sunlight and temperature. The mild temperatures of spring and fall provide ideal growing conditions.
9 Ways to properly germinate succulents
There are several ways to germinate succulents, so we listed some important things you must know.
1. Since succulent seeds are so small, they must germinate in a wind-protected location. Apply a layer of water to the soil to aid grain surface tension. Besides, try to equally spread the tiny seeds throughout the soil mixture, allowing space for them.
2. Use a toothpick to disperse them out gently. Place less than a few seeds for each cell of your tray. Cover your tray with a clear lid or wrappings.
3. To avoid overwatering, keep the mud damp but not soggy. Open the cover twice a day to keep the air flowing.
4. Please keep them in a well-lit area out of direct sunlight. Keep the temperature around 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
5. Depending on the type, temperature, and sunlight, plants can begin growing in three days or a few weeks.
6. Keep the soil and drainage system in place while your plants grow for the first week or two. Keep the plants hydrated as their roots begin to form.
7. Increase the amount of light by an hour or so every few days until they can tolerate the level of light in the area where you want to keep them permanently.
8. Eventually, put your succulent in the new pot, covering the roots with various soil mixes and re-filling the container halfway with the new mixture. Arrange the foundation by pressing it in gently with your hands.
9. Consider making sure your new pot is larger than the previous one, so your plants have enough space for growth.
Keep Your Succulents in Top Shape
Most mature succulents prefer full to moderate light exposure. Protect the young plant away from the sun’s harsh and powerful rays. Succulent colours improve greatly with more light. But excessive light can fade or burn the plants. Succulents are usually shaded by taller trees and shrubs, even in the desert. So it is fine.
As the succulent grows, transfer it to larger pots, combination planters, or garden homes. Provide succulents with coarse, loose soil and adequate drainage to keep them healthy and rot-free.
Conclusion
It’s time to get started once you’ve memorized the fundamentals of propagation techniques. As with any new skill, there will always be a learning experience when propagating succulents. Just like propagating succulents, it will not be easy at first. But once you exert effort, there will be a good outcome. Each person’s propagation experience will be distinctive. Your probability of success keeps improving as you try things with determination.
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