Echeveria Propagation



Echeveria 'Frosty' above, Graptoveria 'Fred Ives', below: 

 
I so respect and admire the true plant lovers, who nurture cactus in the Yukon or bananas in Alaska: indoors, with bottom heat, full-spectrum lights, de-humidifiers, miticides, and so on. These are people with real skill and love for growing things.


All I have is the right climate.

Here, the more Echeverias, the better. I remove the leaves from the flowering stems (they flower here) and lay them on a dish of cactus soil mix--the plain old packaged kind, not the special hand made mixes that real plant lovers make and experiment with and perfect for their own conditions over the course of decades.


In a few weeks, new baby Echeverias. They're like people--adorable as babies. Unlike most people, they're adorable when they grow up, too. Keep in mind that baby Echeverias need more water and considerable shade--they are not as tough as well-established plants.






 Besides propagation from leaves, if the main stem of the Echeveria becomes long and bare, you can cut the rosette off, let the wound dry for a week or so, and reroot the rosette. An expert recommends suspending the rosette just barely out of reach of a layer of growing mix. The rim of the pot can act as support. The rosette will send roots reaching down towards the mix. When you see a good amount of roots, it's ready to plant in the soil.

If your humidity is not too low, just leaving a cutting or broken stem in full, bright shade can prompt roots to sprout:
Fallen leaves will also form roots, in a protected shady spot:
  When beheading an Echeveria for re-rooting of the rosette, if the old bare stem is in good health, you need not discard it.  It is possible it may sprout brand new baby rosettes!
 These too can be cut off and rooted. Echeverias--the more, the better! Why? So you can make tapestries out of them. Here's a page with Echeveria tapestries. I don't have any of my own yet, but now you understand why I'm propagating so many.  Here's a post on a spectacular Succulent Tapestry.

Some other good design tips for succulents here.  Another post on Echeveria propagation here.

 Update July 31, 2014: 
One of my Graptoveria 'Fred Ives' has formed a crest.  A crest is an abnormal but attractive growth habit.  In 'Fred', it creates a flattened rosette.  It's an interesting and fun variation of the "normal" form:

I cut the stem and placed it in a pot of dry gritty mix, and the pot went into bright shade with no direct sunlight.  Five days later, roots!  Note the circled area in the photo.  That bit of emerging root sprouted from where a leaf had been.  I pulled some of the leaves off to expose more stem.

Now that it has roots, I'll water it just once, and wait a bit--a couple of weeks, perhaps, to give it time to grow more roots.  Then I'll start watering it regularly, once every one or two weeks. 

For easy growing, I recommend starting with Echeveria 'Imbricata', which is thought to be a natural hybrid, and Graptoveria 'Fred Ives', a hybrid of a Graptopetalum and an Echeveria.  Both are vigorous and not as fussy as some of the species Echeverias.

Comments

  1. Hi there

    Found this through a google search for "echeveria babies"! I didn't know what to call the small growth I have coming out of the side of a large echeveria.

    Anyway, thank you for the information! I need to take a look around. :)

    Trish
    greenfreak.net

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  2. Happy to have found your blog through my search for echeveria propagation. I have a few leaves lying on top of soil, and it's useful to know that it might take a few months for their little root-babies to form. Thanks for the great photos, too!

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  3. I wasn't sure if I COULD propagate them from leaves. I'm glad to know it's fairly simple! I will take the slightly-withered babies I've got and start some new plants. I don't have the right climate (well, not in the winter, cold dessert) but I am still hooked on these awesome plants!

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  4. Oh my what a great blog post! Super information for beginning succulent growers and even for those that just don't know how to propogate!

    I went outside in my garage today and found some some graptosedum that had fallen off the plant onto the garage floor. And they had baby plants on them! Laid them on some soil and off they will go!

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  5. I am one of the crazy people that grow these plants indoors during winter, in Minnesota! It's not as hard as is sounds. I keep my succulents in a south facing window and hardly water all winter. As for the bananas, they also do great near a south facing window with little care. :-) Lucky you to live in such a warm climate, I am envious!

    Amy

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    1. Kudos! My first year with succulents and I am growing them inside already (Washington State) . This includes new staghorn, and other ferns, and I am very excited to be with these plants. I feel there lives fill my need to "look after" someone!

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  6. @Candy, happy to be of use. Hope it helps.

    @Amy, you are a true gardener being able to grow desert plants in MN. That takes skill and talent! All I do is buy climate-appropriate plants and hope. :)

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  7. Love your post. I discovered quite by accident that succulents were so easy to propogate when a dog trompled down one leaving broken leaves all over the bed. It was late fall and the next spring...many little plants came up! I've been sharing them ever since.

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  8. It may be possible, yes. You could try laying a piece of stem on soil and see what happens.

    HOWEVER, think about this: a stem with existing roots trying to produce new rosettes, or a stem without roots trying to produce new rosettes. Won't the rooted stems have an easier time? You could also see how the stems do. If they produce new rosettes near the top, you could cut that part off, and see if the remaining stem also produces new rosettes, thereby shortening your stems gradually rather than all at once. Hope that helps. Good luck with your plant!

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  9. what kind of echeveria is that last one? lookin' all crazy..

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    1. That might be the hybrid 'Etna'. The bubbly texture is called carunculation and can vanish during drought as the plant uses up the moisture stored in its foliage.

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  10. Hi, I have got a huge collection of succulents, especially echeveria. I got a recent new addition, which sadly died quite quickly, I think they over watered it at the store, before I brought it home, wasn't quite sure what it actually was. It was like a dark green version of your first picture. I have a echeveria glauca and duchess of Nuremberg which are doing fine so far, still small. The one which died/withered/rotted away had an offshoot (not sure my terminology - it's grown off from the main plant.) I heard you could propagate more plants from cuttings, so, this offshoot dropped off, and I left it to callus over, because it had some roots. left it for a while, and a lil rosette has grown, at the top of the offshoot, not by the roots or base like in your pictures. is that still normal ? should I separate the rosette and plant it, or leave it to get abit bigger ? it's still no bigger than 1cm.
    Hope you can help - succulents and I are still trying to find some common soil -
    Thanks,
    Pamela

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    1. Hi! If your little offset is only 1 cm, don't touch it, just let it grow. Any growth you might get is good. Watch for mealybugs and spider mites. A LIGHT misting of water if it looks dry. Depending on your climate, a mix of pumice and coarse sand or grit with just a bit of peat (less than 10%) can be a good mix, but if your climate is damp be very careful not to over water. They are quite happy with damp but not with wet mix. Good luck!

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  11. Thanks so much. I was really bad and brought back a sweet, dark red rosette from San Francisco and want to grow it on. I also brought back a small stem from a giant jade plant hedge! Oh lucky Californians! :)

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  12. Hello, We have this plant at home (Echeverias), but not knowing we take care of it right, live in Brazil.
    What are your benefcíus.

    Please, who can help me, send information to: joaldocatai@hotmail.com
    Thank you..

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    1. Hello Joaldo! Here is a good introduction to Echeverias: http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/996/

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  13. Hello, I love this blog and your website. A couple questions, if I may. When propagating Echeveria, can you only get results using the leaves from the flowering stem and not from the branches? Also, when you lay the leaves on top of the dirt should the dirt be dry or moist? Thanks for your help.

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    1. Thank you, you are very kind!

      Any leaves in good condition will work--stem or branch or rosette. As to moisture--until you see roots, moisture is unnecessary. Shade (bright shade, not a closet) is more important--because if the leaves are in full hot sun they will dry out before they have a chance to grow roots. Hope that helps.

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  14. Great information! Hoping this is an easy question ( though I've googled for details and can't find them) I have a blue rose echeveria I finally bought and planted yesterday in my garden...yesterday. I live in California and we are expecting 100 degrees today/this week. Trying to do my homework to care and propagate these. Plant already has offset rosettes growing, would like to separate them and spread through garden. Lots of websites use the word, twist off or cut. Does it matter? Is there a better time of day or year to do this? How big should I let the " chick" get? Do I need to let it dry some before planting? Thanks a million.

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    1. I just cut with secateurs. Echeveria 'Imbricata' aka Blue Rose is the easiest Echeveria so you chose well. It is easiest to get started in mild temperatures. Leave the rosette to dry a day or two in full shade before putting it into soil. The larger the offset, the greater the chance of successful rooting. At least an inch in diameter is a good size.

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    2. Is it possible to propagate Echeveria 'Imbricata' from leaves?

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    3. Yes, it is easy to propagate Echeveria 'Imbricata' from leaves.

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  15. Oh, I know someone who will find this interesting. Sharing!

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  16. Great post! I was trying to decide what to do with a leggy Echeveria. Now I know to cut the top and suspend it so it will not rot. It's very deep, dark green and I cannot find another like it in searching.

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    1. Thanks, Shirley. Hope your special Echeveria is soon renewed and perfect again.

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  17. any tips for controlling mealy bugs on succulents? I live on an ancient coastal dune complex, so billions of ants. No controlling them alas.

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    1. I have the same problem here with ants, who "farm" the mealies and aphids. Any ant control you can do will help, but for mealies regular inspections and keeping a spray bottle of alcohol handy. Spray with isopropyl ("rubbing") alcohol as soon as seen and repeat to catch the eggs. The alcohol kills then evaporates, so it has no negative effect on the plants. I use it straight but some people prefer 50% alcohol / 50% water. Vodka works also, in a pinch.

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  18. How do I "cut" a big "baby" growth off of my current plant? I don't want to damage it and want to do it right, so the "baby" will live. I can send a picture if needed.

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    1. How big is the "baby"? Can you reach the stem of the "baby"? If you can, you can cut off the stem with clean, sharp knife. Be very careful not to hurt yourself, or the original plant. If there is not much of a stem, let the "baby" grow for a while and try again. Once cut, let the cut place on the stem dry out for a few days, then plant in dry cactus mix. Leave the cutting in bright indirect light. Check for roots forming about once each week. When you see some roots, you can start watering. Do not over water. Gradually, slowly, introduce the new plant to more light once it has a good root system.

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  19. Hi, your knowledge is appreciated llke gold to all of the newbies like me and my significant other! My name is Gavi and I need to find out if all Echeveria's need to be propagated, and how
    often? We live in San Diego, Ca and we have an upstairs Condo,therefore our dilema. My plant is beautiful and I would be devastated if I loose it!! Our Balcony isn't extremely large,but I've managed to fill it with all kinds of succulents & Cactuses. I also need your advice on whether its normal for its new growth of new petals should turn yellowish at all when new shoots come up? We've been watering it every week, it looks very healthy. Thank you for listening, Gavi

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    1. They don't really need to be propagated, you can leave the plant alone and enjoy it as it is.

      You live in what is pure heaven for C&S: San Diego, CA. There are many expert growers there and a great C&S club. See: SDCSS.net

      The only thing you should avoid as far as your plants are concerned is moving to Minnesota or Alaska. ;^)

      Plants must put effort and energy into producing a flower stem, so it's not unusual to see a little stress. The plant can recover.

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    2. I recently acquired (sneakily broke off) a leaf from a plant I have never seen before. It looks like an Echeveria bodybuilder on steroids. It is so huge that one leaf is larger than my hand. I am letting it callous in preparation for starting it. Have you any idea what kind it might be?

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    3. There are many Echeveria hybrids with very large leaves, so I can't tell you in particular which one it is. I have read many comments that the ones with large leaves are quite difficult to root, so good luck...

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  20. Hello there. Love the post on Ghost plants.
    I just recently acquired 3 leaves from the crazy plant of a friend. As far as keeping Succulents in the house over the winter, (I live in Saskatchewan Canada where winters can be as cold as -3o Celsius or more)
    I read other posts about just keeping them in a south facing window but what I want to know, is it a problem if the windows are special "UV filter" glass? I have several Kalanchoe Blossfeldiana, a new Christmas Cactus I grew from cuttings, 2 jade plants, 3 crown of thorns (mostly cuttings) and the aforementioned Ghost Plant cuttings.

    The last 2 winters I've been keeping plants, They lived under a Grow-light on a timer. I didn't get flowers from my Kalalnhoe (duh) and I'm wondering if A grow light is too bright for winter blooming. Thanks in advance for your time. :) Check out my own blog for my Kalanchoe Misadventures. XD

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    1. By looking at your blog, your plants seem well-cared for and healthy, so you obviously know what you are doing. From what I have read visible light is sufficient for plants, so UV filter glass should not be a problem. However I'm no expert in indoor growing.

      As to grow lights, with most tender succulents such as Graptopetalum, as much bright indirect light (isn't that what grow lights mimic?) as they can get makes them happy. My Graptos rarely bloom because I keep them in mostly shade and water them very little. They are spring bloomers here, not winter.

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    2. Thank you so much for the help! :) I'm really hoping to get my Kals to bloom this year so I'm going to try a box and the 1 south window in my house that no one will miss.

      (hehe, she read my blog and thinks my plants are well cared for... HA!) You should read some of the earlier posts about aphid treatment gone awry. I lost 4 out of 6 of my first Kals from too much treatment and I think my last 2 adults are gonna give up the ghosts too. :'( and before you ask, they're too badly damaged from what happened to make cuttings. Trust me, I tried several times already. They rot within a week in dirt after the 3 day callus period even with no water.

      Thanks again for the help.

      P.S. what about plain old house lights like 40 or 60 watt bulbs for House plants? Too dim, not enough UV? Any experience with plain old house lights?

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    3. Incandescent bulbs are not recommended for plants, because the heat they produce damages the plant tissue.

      Everyone kills plants, it's the people who learn from their mistakes who are the skilled growers. I think you are probably one of those. :)

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  21. So much useful information, I love echeveria and will use the tips to try increasing the few plants I have. Thanks.

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    1. Have fun with them! They are wonderful little plants.

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  22. I found some E. leaves which had fallen off a plant and were laying on a window still probably for a month. They were fully rooted out. tough plants under the right conditions.

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