Most of the cacti and succulents are easy to propagate. They have plenty of leaves that will allow you to try out a huge batch at once with only less effort. However, there are some species that require special care and treatment.
Start at the Growing Season
You can start propagating at any time of the year, but most success will come if you start planting at the end of the dormant period of the plant, in most cases during the early spring.
Choose a Leaf To Cut
You will know when to leave the leaf untouched, and this usually happens if the type of succulent that you want to grow has the rosette look of tightly rounded leaves above the stem. For those types of succulents that will mostly grow outward instead of upward, chop the leaves from its outer edge.
Choose a Stem To Cut
Ensuring proper cutting is not difficult. You should choose a stem that grows actively near the outer edge or top of the plant and should be about 4-6 inches long. Cut beneath the stem joint directly or right beneath the area where the leaf or the bud will join with the stem.
Dip the End of Cutting In a Rooting Hormone
This step is optional. There are many commercial rooting hormones that can help to hasten the development of your succulent cutting. This method of treatment is highly recommended for older woody stem cuttings.
Let the Cuttings Dry
Place the cuttings to dry on a paper towel, and make sure there is no sunshine touching them. Check them regularly. Plant the stem cuttings after a day or two of drying. The leaf cuttings could undergo more visible change and will grow a callous out of a cut surface.
Prepare the Succulent Potting Mix
While the cuttings are drying, it’s time to fill a container with a cacti or succulent potting mix. If you want to make your own homemade potting mix, add about three parts of the potting soil, one part perlite and two parts sand.
Plant the Cutting
To plant it, bury the stem until such time that the lowest leaves will be just above the soil. but make sure, it doesn’t touches the soil.
Place the Plant In Warm and Airy Location And Keep the Soil Moist
Cacti and succulent plants do best best under indirect sunlight and areas having temperature of about 68ºF. As you probably know, succulents don’t need much water and will thrive well under dry conditions, but might rot if you leave them in soggy soil. Use a spray bottle or a smaller sized pitcher for adding water above the soil as soon as the plant dries out.
Also, when the plant starts developing, we advise you to reduce watering, and water every month.
Use Fertilizer the Right Way
Cacti and succulents need a balanced fertilizer. Apply it during the growing season once. Consider a fertilizer that has a recommended dosage of ½ or ¼ in order to prevent the succulents from becoming very leggy or tall.