Hi all! So my boyfriend had gifted me a beautiful Valentine’s Day bouquet that came with a succulent! Upon arranging the bouquet, I noticed the succulent was on a stick. I pulled it off, and this is the bottom. There’s no roots. Can this pretty succulent be saved? Will it grow roots? I’d love any tips on how to make roots grow to let it survive 🙏💚
Almost probably, though it’s unfortunate that these flowers were likely refrigerated. That stem looks hollow which isn’t great. Doesn’t hurt to try though! I recommend just popping into good, well-draining succulent soil, adding it on Planta, and watering it regularly as if it was a normal, healthy plant. You could use rooting hormone, but since it’s a succulent, you don’t really need it. Give it as much light as possible. Eventually it should grow roots and you’ll notice it start growing. It might lose a few leaves before that happens, but a stem cutting is much easier to prop in my opinion than leaves.
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Yes, that pretty succulent can absolutely be saved! Succulents are so resilient! Here is what I figured out for you... -Remove any glue or floral wire from the stem. If the bottom of the stem looks bruised, damaged, or has glue on it, make a clean fresh cut (only if needed, it already looked callused). Let the cutting sit in a dry, shady spot for 2 or 3 days to let the cut end callus or scab over; (this prevents rot). -Remove some lower leaves, just twist off a few to create a half to 1 inch stem, this just makes it easier to plant. -Fill a small pot (with drainage) with a well-draining succulent or cactus potting mix, add extra perlite to help it stay dry. -Make a small hole in the dirt and put the stem into it, firm the soil around it so it stands upright. -Put the pot in a spot with bright, indirect sunlight. No direct sun, it will scorch the rootless plant. -Do not water immediately, keep the soil dry for the first week or two. -After the first week, you can mist the soil or water very sparingly once every 2–3 weeks. The goal is to keep the soil only barely damp, not wet, until roots form.
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Great advice! My biggest mistake when trying to save one of these myself was not removing all the glue/wire/crap they package it with. Hope this gardener has better luck 🪴
4 Me gusta Extra Tips -It can take anywhere from a few weeks to a couple of months for new roots to grow. -After 3–4 weeks, give the succulent a very gentle tug. If it resists, it has baby roots! -Don't panic if it looks shriveled! The plant is using its stored energy to grow roots so it might start to look wrinkled, but that's normal. -Avoid water propagation, placing the succulent directly into water often causes the stem to rot or produces weak roots that struggle to adjust to soil. -Once the plant has roots, you can begin watering it more regularly when the soil is completely dry.
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absolutely. succulents will survive anything. put it in some soil, wait for roots and then water.
1 me gustaThank you all for the advice! I put the stem end in a mix of perlite and coconut coir. The pot has drainage. Could I put it in front of a grow light? Or is that considered direct light? Any recommendations what bright indirect light would be?
A grow light is PERFECT! It's considered perfect bright indirect light
1 me gustaThank you!
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What an odd thing to put in a bouquet.. I’d leave that one out and put on some pumice/ inorganics .. Hopefully it will show roots eventually
0 Me gustaHi all! I just wanted to provide an update and thank you for your help! The plant has grown more leaves and even a baby on the side!
