Learning How to Propagate
My love affair with succulents and air plants has officially entered the obsessive stage. I just doubled my beloved assortment yesterday at a wonderful shop in Atlanta called The Collective, a co-op that offers a medley of goods from local artists, craftspeople and entrepreneurs. They carry a sweet array of succulents from Southeast Succulents that completely captured my heart and had to come home with me.
After I returned with my new treasures, I noticed that a few of my existing plants had become quite leggy and has sprouted babies. It was time to get serious about succulents. I've read that propagating is a great way to easily multiply your plants and grow your collection without spending a lot of money. In case you're wondering what propagating is, it's simply creating a new plant from an existing one.
My main concern with attempting to propagate was my absolute lack of a green thumb. Both my Mom and Grandmother could pinch a leaf off a dying bush on the side of a road and turn it into a blooming, lush sight to behold, while succulents are pretty much the only plant I can keep alive for longer than a couple of months. So I figured I would share my first attempt at propagating, and if it works for me, then anyone can do it!
I repotted my existing plants while providing homes for my new array. If a leaf dropped off in the process, I set it aside and carefully twisted off any new growth or extra long pieces. I laid them out to dry for a day, an important step to make sure that the ends dry completely and callouses over. If planted while wet, it may rot and die. Then I created a temporary home for the bits and pieces inside a disposable Tupperware container. I filled the bottom with pebbles for drainage and then placed dampened Miracle-Gro Potting Mix for cactus, palm and citrus on top. Anything with a stem, I stuck into the dirt to develop roots and simply laid the leaves flat down on the dirt. The leaves will grow roots and automatically find their way into the dirt. Once roots have been established, I'll move them into their own individual pots to continue the growing process. If all works as planned, they'll make sweet little gifts this Fall!