---
title: "For propagating succulents, does the parent leaf fall off by itself…"
description: "For propagating succulents, does the parent leaf fall off by itself or are you supposed to pluck it off at some point? Thanks!"
url: "https://getplanta.com/community/GpJkJG2qS7KZ7LpSwQwhSg/wFeF58JhTI2CBY_2L0xLcg"
community: "Propagating & Sowing"
author: "Plant Lady Laura"
published: "2024-06-21T17:56:14.429683Z"
language: "en"
image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/ZeDsgde-dkp-MARh6MdSiqmAA19Hf1r4aJs8Gos-Pzc/CjqDibaTQdqGXEwItltOtQ.webp?size=large"
---

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# For propagating succulents, does the parent leaf fall off by itself…

_Posted by Plant Lady Laura on 2024-06-21_

For propagating succulents, does the parent leaf fall off by itself or are you supposed to pluck it off at some point? Thanks!

![Attachment 1 of 2](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/ZeDsgde-dkp-MARh6MdSiqmAA19Hf1r4aJs8Gos-Pzc/CjqDibaTQdqGXEwItltOtQ.webp?size=large)

![Attachment 2 of 2](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/ZeDsgde-dkp-MARh6MdSiqmAA19Hf1r4aJs8Gos-Pzc/h4xbpNDBT0a6LmEODWD_uA.webp?size=large)

## 9 comments

### max commented on 2024-06-21

in my experience i pick it up by the parent leaf and just barely touch the little baby and it falls right off

#### Plant Lady Laura replied on 2024-06-21

Thank you!! That’s a good point, if I barely touch it and it falls off, chances are it’s ready.

### Succulent❤️Mama commented on 2024-06-21

Good, better, and best…

Best: leave it on until it completely shrivels so it can absorb all the nutrition from the mother leaf. It helps it have the best chance for survival afterwards and I find it grows faster while still attached then on its own. I just repot with the mother leaf. It will shrivel up and fall off on its own eventually. I keep it on top of the soil and just burry the baby roots.

Better: Leave it on until you want to repot, then try to separate it or just cut the mother leaf 1/4” from the plantlet. It will shrivel up and die quickly after that. You could also bury it under the soil when you re-pot it. It should shrivel up quicker since it can’t photosynthesize anymore. No need to do these things, but you can if it annoys you.😊

Good: As long as your pup has a decent sized plantlet and roots, you can try wiggling off the leaf. It can break of roots if it’s not ready so be careful. Like Max said, it might just come off if you pull gently.

### Plant Lady Laura commented on 2024-06-21

Thank you! I was wondering about cutting part of it off so that it takes up less room when I repot them. Maybe I’ll wait it out a few more weeks and see how they do.

#### Succulent❤️Mama replied on 2024-06-21

I just let the mother leaf partially hang off the side of the pot if needed. Or let it over lap with another baby plant’s mother leaf. I’ll see if I have any currently like that I can show you😊

#### Succulent❤️Mama replied on 2024-06-21

The two donkey’s tail at the top have mother leaves that are shriveling up.

![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/y_krRxbnOnIl47_tU3sBzisysToGsAt6Bpht3PD4Szw/Sa4JvzdwQcSCay61IxhNRA.webp?size=large)

#### Succulent❤️Mama replied on 2024-06-21

Here’s one I planted with the leaf hanging off a bit.

![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/y_krRxbnOnIl47_tU3sBzisysToGsAt6Bpht3PD4Szw/C8w5RsKLQ6mcLwJ8lj42vA.webp?size=large)

### Kirsten commented on 2024-07-14

What container did you use for propagating?

#### Plant Lady Laura replied on 2024-07-21

I just used a plastic drainage tray with succulent soil in it

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