“She’s got legs, and she knows how to use them” from ZZ Top’s song lyrics don’t apply to the succulent plants that I had sitting in the shade for part of the summer. Without adequate lighting, the plants elongated and grew “leggy.” On top of that, I had a pair of cardinals pecking at some on my back patio. Some of them look like a bear chewed them up and spit them out. Yikes! This post will show you how easy it is to fix those legs and make those hen and chicks look fabulous. These 3 tips for succulent propagation will perk up your plants in no time!
I wasn’t kidding when I said they had grown taller and look gangly and unsightly.
Propagation Tip #1:
You can propagate just about any section of a succulent. With the new growth on the larger plant, I snap off all of the babies and place them in a shallow bowl of water for about two weeks or more to root them.
Once rooted, I gently tuck them into a seedling tray so that I can continue to keep watch.
Propagation Tip #2:
Any petals that break or fall off can be submerged into the soil as well. After a few weeks, a new baby will begin growing at the base. See the video to see a visual of what I am explaining.
Propagation Tip #3:
The top of the leggy succulent often has the pretty bud. I cut those off, let them rest in a shallow bowl of water to root for a few weeks. After the roots have a chance to sprout, I placed them back in the flower pot they were in before. The only difference is no leg!
Interesting facts about succulents:
Because succulents can grow in just about anything, have fun with where you plant them. Succulents thrive in arid climates. Consequently, they need less frequent watering. My sister grows a massive variety of them in an old feeding trough. I think it is a terrific way to repurpose that old piece of metal.
Another interesting fact about succulents is that they look terrific in a bridal bouquet or bridal crown. However, after the big day, you can remove the wire that keeps it held into the bouquet and put the succulent in soil or water. From there, it will grow roots. Just follow the propagation tips above. I think they make a lovely souvenir from the bride’s special day to have a plant she can keep long after the blooms have faded. This post for tips on succulents for your wedding or party is another great resource for ideas to incorporate more succulents into your life. Can you tell I love them?
Are you new to My Mayberry Lane? You may not know I have been a wedding florist for almost 20 years, so I have plenty of opportunities to make succulent bouquets. I am an expert in floral design, and I would love to teach you more about it, so check out some of my posts here.
If this post has sparked your interest in cultivating more knowledge of transplanting succulents, see this HGTV post. The website Succulents and Sunshine answers just about every question you could have about the care and keeping of succulents. This lady shares more than my 3 tips for succulent propagation.
Save these tips to your Pinterest board!
Love these plant growing tips? See this post on how to start seeds indoors!
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