Most succulents reproduce by seeds, stem cuttings, leaf, part of the stem, and children. It is advisable to propagate succulents, like all other plants, in the spring, but many are well rooted during the summer.
Cuttings of some succulents can be placed in water, these are zamiakulkas, euphorbia mile, synadenium, eonium and some others. But most succulents are still not adapted to take root in water, they simply rot.
Cuttings cut or simply broken off from the mother plant are first dried during the day so that the cut dries and tightens. Then you can root the handle, sticking it immediately into the substrate, which should be completely dry, so, for example, many sediments are well rooted. It takes 2-3 weeks to root, i.e. after this period of time, the handle can be watered a little, but while the handle stands without watering, it can be occasionally sprayed.
If there is concern that the cuttings will not take root in the ground, you can try to root them above the water. To do this, the handle is not put directly into the water (they can rot), but fixed, suspended in a jar of water so that the bottom of the handle is a couple of centimeters from the water. In about a month, the roots will appear.
Root on the handle of zamiakulkas
Rooting of adenium in a test tube over water
Calanchoe peristome babes
Seed lithopsNot all succulents are rooted by the leaf or part of the leaf, for example, those in which the leaves are thin (euphorbia mile, pachypodium), are not rooted by the leaf, but only by the whole cuttings. Others, such as zamioculcas, stoats, stoneware, havortia, eonium, reproduce quite easily with a leaf. The leaf is also dried for several hours, and then not planted, but placed on a dry soil surface, or slightly pressed, no deeper than 0.5 cm. And leave in a bright place without watering, but periodically spray.
The soil for rooting cuttings or leaf is the same as for an adult plant, but can be rooted in/on clean sand.
Propagation of succulents by seeds is usually more painstaking, but much more exciting.
Seeds are sown in disinfected soil or sand, always under good lighting and heat. Important: maintaining a constant fairly high temperature (individually in each genus or species), usually on average 26-28 ° C, during the day. And also powerful lighting, as a rule, artificial - illumination with daylight lamps. At the same time lamps are equipped with reflectors and are arranged as close as possible to seedlings. Succulents grow rather slowly, so the organization of this process is similar to the creation of a flower incubator. Fans of succulents or cacti do not plant one seed at a time, but sow whole trays, a real nursery garden.
Seeds are sown in wide plates, in a mixture of well-rotted leaf earth and sand in equal quantities. Although you can sow in clean sand. But in any mixture, fine washed gravel (fraction 3-4 mm) is poured with the upper layer. Babies have needs for regular uniform, but not excessive moisture, but so that seedlings do not wash out of the ground, they are not watered, but sprayed. Gravel does not absorb or retain water, so seedlings do not rot.
To maintain constant heat and a certain humidity, seedlings are covered with glass or a cap, opening periodically to ventilate. It is best to buy a mini-greenhouse, or make it yourself using plastic containers from under cakes.
Seedlings are very susceptible to rot and other infections, often if one seedling gets sick, then almost all the sowing is sick. Therefore, toddlers require constant attention and careful care. Overdraft is also fatal for them. Usually, the first time after the emergence of seedlings, the substrate is maintained in a humidified state, after 2-3 months it is possible to allow the substrate to completely dry, but not more than a day.
Many succulents require great care and accuracy when growing from seeds. For example, lithops and other "living stones": the temperature is constantly 22-25 ° C, dive after the first "molt," pinching the tip of the root. When transplanting, you need to make sure that the central root does not break, does not bend, but is located vertically, the transplanted ones are not watered for 5-7 days.