Q&A for How to Propagate Succulents from Leaves

If the roots are established in the soil, you have two options. You can gently shake the propagated leaf loose, taking care to keep the roots intact, or you can dig up a bit of the soil that the roots are in.

You shouldn't. Cacti don't need (or want) to be misted- they don't really like humidity. When you water your cactus, water the soil thoroughly. If you mist the soil, your plant will grow shallow, weak roots.

Depends on the succulent and on your climate. It is possible in many places. Do some research to find out which succulents are hardy in your area, and make sure you plant them in an area where they will receive the correct amounts of light and water.

No, absolutely not, unless you amend it by adding sand, perlite, or other drainage material. Your succulent will almost certainly die from overwatering if you use regular soil.

No. After they root, they will grow new leaves. The process just takes time.

No, don'[t dampen the soil or leaves for a while till the broken off part heals, or even wait till there are roots.

Sometimes this can happen and the plant won't root at all. You can wait to see if it will root and keep doing what you are currently doing.

They might be getting cold. Put them somewhere where its warmer. You may try to propagate still.

No, you might accidentally damage the roots if you try to bury them. Just leave them alone and they will find their way into the soil

Indirect sunlight would be best. Direct hot sun can damage them and they will not grow.

The glass slow-release globes are fine for succulents, though it's possible using them might overwater the plant.

Yes, but not too much, so it's best to put them out of direct sunlight.

It's normal for them to wrinkle up a bit as they are using up their naturally stored water. However, they shouldn't dry out completely.

Most succulents with large leaves can be successfully propagated from leaves. Succulents with smaller leaves are less likely to propagate from said leaves. Sempervivium and sedum are not as propagatable from the leaves as sedeveria, graptoveria, and some echeveria.

Succulents need some light to grow properly. Too much shade may make the plants weak and gangly, or they may just not root at all.

Your leaves need to be the opposite of brown and mushy! If they are, that means they are rotting. They should be firm & green.

There is no exact average time, as it varies for each individual leaf. It can take days to months - just be patient and keep the roots moist/covered.

Peperomia is a genus of plant, and there are some succulent species within this genus. You can propagate succulent peperomia the same way you would any other succulent: with leaves or cuttings, by division, or with offsets.

It depends. If you keep the stem in a area where a disease may be contracted to the stem, it may get infected and die; if you keep it sterilized, it will be fine.

White spirit is a clear liquid that you can dip seeds in (in this case succulents), and will dissolve into the seed, preventing rot of any sort. It also improves the growth of the seed.

No. Sometimes it will decrease the amount of time for a leaf to produce new roots/plantlets, but it is not necessary. Also, if you use a hormone that has a fungicide, it could help kill off any potential fungus. It's not absolutely necessary, though.

Nothing. Not every leaf will propagate. When I have leaves that shrivel more quickly than others, I do one of two things. Sometimes, I will go ahead and plant the shriveling leaf straight into the soil. Other times, I will at least mist the soil (and sometimes lightly, the leaf) directly in front of the cut end.

There will no longer be a slight wetness where the wound is; it will feel like the rest of the succulent leaf.

The part that was connected to the mother plant should be down, touching/resting on the soil, but not buried in the soil.

Yes, possibly. It may have gotten too cold. Make sure you are watering enough.

Any time is good, as long as it stays above 55 degrees at all times. The best time for planting outside would probably be during summer or warm weather.

Keep the roots lightly covered with soil and wait.

Yes. There's a slight chance it may not work as well, but I have put leaves directly into pots with other plants in them already and they all grew. If you do this, just make sure you aren't overwatering the other plant in the pot.

That depends on how hot and where you put them. If you set them in direct sun, you will probably fry the roots. Some people swear by the plastic cover, but from my experience, every leaf has rotted when I have done that. Sometimes, though, I will put a vented cover on (like a plastic bag, sealed, with slits on the top). Make sure there is good air flow. If the soil is relatively moist before you leave, I would keep them in the house (if it's cooler than outside) while you're going to be gone. I would think they would be fine.

If they are drying out, yes. Be careful not to water them too often and use only a little water every time.