Propagating succulents is a very common thing to do in the succulent world. While most succulent growers propagate succulents the regular way which is called soil propagation, there’s also water propagation for succulents.
A lot of succulent growers have mentioned that water propagation is more fun, easier, rewarding and more enjoyable than regular soil propagation.
By the end of this article you will know exactly all about succulent water propagation, and the steps on how to do it successfully.
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SUCCULENT WATER PROPAGATION FOR STEM CUTTINGS
Succulent water propagation is simply the process of rooting succulent cuttings using water instead of soil. Most succulent growers will call succulent water propagation crazy because the fact that succulents shouldn’t be getting too much water. Too much water for succulents will cause root rot, and most likely kill your succulent, this is why most growers think it's crazy.
There are plenty of success stories out there, and most growers who have done it successfully have said it is more fun, easier, rewarding, and more enjoyable than the regular soil propagation way. Some growers only do water propagation now because they see faster results than regular soil propagation.
WHY SUCCULENT CUTTINGS DO NOT ROT IN WATER
Succulent cuttings basically don’t rot in water simply because water will not cause your succulent cuttings to rot. The reason why your succulent cutting will not rot in water is because there is no soil to make it rot.
Succulents that sit in wet soil for many days will experience root rot and will rot and most likely kill your succulent. So why does wet soil make your succulent rot? Simply because when soil gets wet, it gets exposed to fungus and pathogens as well. The fungus and pathogens will attack your plants roots, and this is what causes root rot.
This is why succulent cuttings will not rot in water because there is no soil to give it any opportunity to rot!
STEPS FOR SUCCULENT WATER PROPAGATION
PREPARE YOUR CUTTINGS
For proper preparation for water propagation, you will need sharp scissors for cutting your succulent cuttings. You are going to want to cut 2-4 inches of the succulent cutting, while saving at least 1-2 leaves from the healthy part of the stem. Then you will carefully want to cut ¼ inches below the node.
You must not skip this part. After doing the steps just mentioned, it’s very very important to leave your cuttings that you just cut, on a tray, in a well-lit spot for about 2-3 days or until your cutting receives a callus.
CHOOSE YOUR CUP OR JAR AND ARRANGE YOUR CUTTINGS
Using a clear cup, or jar is the best for succulent water propagation. When you use a clear cup or jar it will help so you can see how the process is going, but also sunlight can reach pass through the cup or jar.
Once your succulent cutting forms a callus, go ahead and poor water into your clear cup or jar. Add your succulent cutting into the cup or jar filled with water. You can submerge it underwater all the way, but we recommend keeping the stem and leaves dry to avoid rotting.
If your succulent cutting is very small you can add some straws to the top of the jar, using those straws as a support system for your small succulent cutting.
After you have your succulent cutting in the cup or jar of water, make sure you put it in a sunny area that gets a good amount of sunlight, and wait patiently for roots to appear.
HOW LONG DO ROOTS TAKE TO APPEAR?
Around 2-3 weeks it may take for your succulent cuttings to root, it all depends on the climate and the environment for the cutting. As days go by make sure the cup or jar isn’t losing water, and if it is go ahead and add some more.
POTTING YOUR CUTTINGS
Once your cuttings have at least an inch of a root, then let it dry for about a day or two. It is important to let it dry because it has been in water for a while, you must let it dry before potting so root rot won’t occur.
After the root is dry, go ahead and pot your new succulent plant in well/fast draining succulent soil! It is important that your soil is well/fast draining, if it is not then it will not drain the water. Your succulent doesn’t want to sit in a wet puddle, it wants to take a quick drink and then stay dry.
WATER PROPAGATION FOR LEAVES
Using Leaves for succulent water propagation takes way longer than stem cuttings. However, this way has a higher success rate to propagate than cuttings. It’s a very cool technique because you will see and experience small little leaves begin to root! Its super cool!
PICK AND PREPARE A LEAF
Gently grab a leaf you’d like to propagate and gently moving it side by side until it comes off. You must make sure you gently do this, DO NOT pull the leaf directly off the stem. Move it side by side until it comes off gently. If you pull the leaf you might just leaf a chunk on the stem, and if this happens then that leaf will not propagate.
Make sure you pick the bottom leaves because the bottom ones are the healthiest out of all of them. Any leaf will do but it must look healthy! Do not choose a leaf that looks unhealthy, dry, or rotten!
LEAVE IT TO DRY
Just like after cutting your succulent cuttings, you must leave your leaves to dry as well. Lay them out on a tray for about 5-7 days so it can form a callus just like succulent cuttings.
It is very important to not skip the forming a callus part, your leaves need a callus so it can start to root!
If the leaf you chose is truly healthy then it will not die, if your leaf does die during the drying and callus forming stage, then simply your leaf wasn’t good enough for propagation.
CHOOSE YOUR CUP OR JAR AND ARRANGE THE LEAVES
Again, using a clear cup, or jar is the best for succulent water propagation. When you use a clear cup or jar it will help so you can see how the process is going, but also sunlight can reach pass through the cup or jar.
Once your succulent leaf forms a callus, go ahead and poor water into your clear cup or jar.
Use food wrapper to wrap it around the whole cap of the bottle. Poke holes on top of the plastic wrapper, and add your succulent leaves to the holes. It is important to not let the leaves touch the water, keep it about a ½ inch away from the water, and place it in an area that gets great sunlight.
HOW LONG DO THE LEAVES TAKE TO GROW?
It just might take about 2-6 weeks for growth to start. Make sure to check on your leaves here and there to make sure water does not dry out. Make sure to change the water out if it gets too brown or dark, so you can see if roots are forming. This will also help for better and faster growth for your leaves.
POTTING YOUR ROOTED LEAVES
Once your leaves have at least an inch of a root, then let it dry for about a day or two. It is important to let it dry because it has been in water for a while, you must let it dry before potting so root rot won’t occur.
After the root is dry, go ahead and pot your new succulent plant in well/fast draining succulent soil! It is important that your soil is well/fast draining, if it is not then it will not drain the water. Your succulent doesn’t want to sit in a wet puddle, it wants to take a quick drink and then stay dry.
For more information on potting succulents, check out our article that has great information!
Wow! That’s all! Now you know all about Succulent Water Propagation, and all the steps on how to properly do succulent water propagation!
Thank You!
Thank you for visiting our website and reading our article. We hope we brought value, and great information to you today. Our goal is to help fellow succulent lovers like you! Any questions or if you’d like more tips email us or comment below!
If you are interested in buying live succulents, soil, cuttings, etc. We have them available here on our website. Go to our homepage, or click the links in our articles for more information.
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Ramsey Succulents
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