I’m so new to Succulents. I need all the tips I can get! Can anyone tell me what I’m doing wrong? I feel like they’re just dying instead of trying to grow little baby plants. This is a picture from a few days ago. I watered the dirt a little yesterday because it was completely dried out. Is that what I’m supposed to do? -Ok, Last question 🙋♀️ What’s the best way to grow Succulents?
Make sure the container has good drainage - succulents don’t like wet feet. I put mine in clay pots. Are you trying to propagate using the leaves? I know they technically aren’t what I call leaves but you get my meaning.🙂
1 like Yes I’m trying to propagate them! Sorry, I just didn’t know what it was called!
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I’ve been growing some of my donkeys tail props and I noticed they initially do better when they’re covered with a lid (like a seed nursery tray) other wise they seem to dry out. Not sure if it’s the same for all succulent “leaves” but it may help
1 like I initially started that way but the ends kept rotting. That why I just layed them in a tray. But that seems to not be working either sadly😪
Dang sorry it didn’t work out… Only a couple of mine have gotten mushy and I think it was due to me over watering them. But I think a good way to balance it is to use “chunky” soil, which you can get by adding things like perlite and orchard bark to your regular potting mixes. This is my set up :)
I did a lot of leaf propagation when I was starting too. I failed a lot of times at the beginning when they say it is easy, I think it's kind of initiation ritual, lol. I did mine just like yours, doesn't matter if there is drainage or not at this time. Pick a healthy, hydrated leaf. Lay it out just like what you did and let it be for sometime until you see roots coming out of the mother leaf. Sometimes, roots comes out but no offset, and that's just how it is. If it's like that for a long time, throw the mother leaf away. When it starts to give offset with roots, I cover it a little with dirt just so it would start to go down. That's when I start to squirt the dirt with roots with water for 3-5 days, telling the roots where to go. I know it says mother leaf will sustain the offset. While it is true, it helped me getting the offset stronger. Leave the mother leaf until it is fully dried up and easily detached. I didn't repot until the baby is about an inch and somewhat established. They will have very shallow rooting. So if you think that the substrate is dry, squirt water it again, keeping it longer days to acclimate to "dry in between watering" style. FYI, this will take weeks to a couple of months. I do not "mist" my propagation. My experience was that mother leaf turned mushy. I let it just like that. Also, agreeing to last advice, I found it easier to keep them humid by putting them in a plastic. Water the substrate moiist and cover in plastic and let it be. No need for watering 3-5 days. Humidty will take its course. Roots comes out faster too. If you do that route, when they're ready to come out in the open, slowly open the back little by little to acclimate to normal temp so not to shock them. Once they are established and offsets are on their own, I squirt water where the roots are when they are dry. Remember, they have shallow rooting so top soil will dry out faster. That's when I water..
1 like Same process. Got my rainbow bursts in there. It takes 2 months for them to root. I'm using fluval stratum. I won't look at them for 2 months 😊
What kind of dirt do you use? I’ve been using basic organic potting soil my mom has. I know I should use like succulent dirt I just haven’t purchased any. Is there a replacement could use?
0 likes When I was starting with leaf propagation I was using cactus palm and citrus soil. Then later on I switched to Coco coir based FAT PLANTS (AMAZON) just because to eliminate fungus gnats and became my favorite because it is so light and airy. I add more perlite always always. Then later on... For about 2 years now, I do my propagation with fluval stratum, an aquarium substrate. It is reusable. That is what I'm using for my cactus prop on the picture. Now lately for about 4 months now since those pre-made mix brands are kind of pricey in the long run lol I am now playing with the regular potting mix I am just adding 60% perlite and or pumice to it. But then again the problem with the fungus gnats came back haha. IMO you can use any potting mix you want as long as you add perlite and Thomas to it to make it fluffy, airy and fast draining. There is a saying that goes... How much soil do you add to perlite? 😁
1 like Pumice not Thomas. Sorry I was talking to the phone lol
1 like Awesome, thank you so much!
1 like You're very welcome, hope that helps 🤞🤞🤞
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I just lay them on soil and leave them be till I see a little growth then I mist them once or twice a month. I try to make sure I face them up the same way they are on the mother plant so they grow correctly. I've never covered them and have no problem with them just growing on the soil. These are about a month old with growth. I put them on the soil about 7 weeks ago. I fine that when I try to add to much humidity of water they rot more so I just let them be. Hope this helps too.
So basically I should just let them be and let my dirt dry up and water every so often? Also do I not have to bury the ends of the “ leaves “ I see some people do, and others do not?
1 like I never bury mine I just try to make sure I place them face up. Otherwise the roots grow upside down and it makes it harder to plant. I take everything that falls off in the winter and just toss them in a tray/ box and then when I'm ready to start them I take them out of the tray/ box and place them in the tray of soil. They will grow just about anywhere. I haven't done anything with these yet and I do see some roots starting already so I will have to do something with them soon. I will probably just set them in little pots when I do the others. I fine the more I mess with them the more I kill them so I just let them do there own thing. Like PrettyLittleThings said they get most of there moisture from the mama leaf so they don't need me much till the leaf dries out. Hope I helped and if you need anything else I'm happy to help
Here's a picture of the roots too. I will be putting them in small pots this weekend hopefully
