Spread the wealth!
Most succulents can be divided and will easily grow from cuttings. Even a leaf placed on top of the soil will form a plant.
• It’s best to take cuttings while the plant is in its growth phase – when new leaves are forming, but not necessarily flowers.
• Succulents such as Sedums and Crassulas that grow close to the soil will make roots where the stems touch the ground. Simply pull off a piece and plant it elsewhere.
• To increase Cotelydons and Echeverias, break off a leaf where it is attached to the plant and place it on top of the soil; the underside of the leaf must touch the soil. This leaf will form new roots. Keep it moist but not too wet or it will rot.
• Any succulent that has formed ‘baby plants’ can be easily divided. Wait until the new plantlets have roots of their own, then remove the mother plant from the pot and carefully break off the new plants from the mother plant. The small rooted plantlets should be treated the same way as an adult plant. Plants without sufficient roots, or no roots, should first be placed in the shade until new growth is evident.
• Larger succulents such as aloes are almost as easy to grow from cuttings. For aloes that are making offsets at the root zone, simply break off and transplant these smaller plants. For aloes that have longer branches above ground, cut off the branch from the mother plant, allow the wound to dry out for a few days and then plant the cutting in a shady spot. Aloe cuttings like this should not be watered for the first few weeks. >>
If you love succulents, you can never have enough!