Propagating for the very first time…

by Kaylah Stroup
I think it’s pretty obvious I have a thing for plants, my instagram is full of them and I’m sneaking them into my 365 posts. When I was younger my mom would try in vain to get me to garden with her. She’d always quip “someday you’ll love flowers!” Lo and behold she was right.  Before moving to Cleveland, I lived in a small town in a quaint little home I decorated with an abundance of flowers. When I moved to Lakewood I lived in an apartment building with no outside space to call my own so the gardening ceased. There my interested in house plants really bloomed. (heh, get it?) Even though the house I’m living in now has a deck where I can have flowers when the weather warms up my house plant obsession is still going strong.

I’ve always been interested in propagating succulents but had just never put any time into learning how. I recently noticed one of my plants was looking pretty leggy so I decided to finally spend a little bit of time learning how to turn that one plant into many. It’s been just over two weeks since I laid them out to do their thing and guess what! They’re growing. Totally not that big of a deal at all, especially if propagating is something you do regularly. But this is my very first time trying and this is so darn encouraging. All the posts I read were so positive, and reassured me it was easy but the comments all left me feeling like maybe it wasn’t. I read a ton of posts, gathered up what seemed like good advice, and it all seems to be working.

Shown in the photo above are the cuttings, which are from the top of the plant the leaves were harvested from. One post I read basically said  that if it already looks like a plant then to plant it, and wait for it to grow roots. I’m incredibly impatient (and equally as curious) so I very carefully maneuvered one of the smallest out of the dirt to see if it was growing as planned. Surprise, surprise – it was! I mean, I may have caused some damage doing that but at least I know the others are probably doing the same!

I was pleased to read that no part of the plant goes to waste when you propagate. Even the stem will grow new babies. My stems were looking pretty rough so I wasn’t too hopeful but would you look at that! Growth!

These photos were taken six days ago, since then the babies have grown leaps and bounds. I’m so proud. I really love growing things and this just takes it to the next level! Fingers crossed they continue to grow and grow!
xoxo

Recommended reading if you’re looking to get started –
Propagating Succulents on Needles + Leaves
How to Propagate from Succulent Leaf Cuttings on Snapguide
How to Propagate Succulents from Leaves on Succulents + Sunshine
How-To: Propagating Succulents on Terrain

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22 comments

Laura - LaughterIsCatching.com April 9, 2015 - 1:15 pm

going to highlight my inner geek with this but I never liked gardening. and then i started growing things.I love seeing them progress, even if its just a little, and the teeny tiny buds are my absolute favourite.

Kaylah April 9, 2015 - 10:44 pm

Right?! It's SO satisfying!

Mindi Wooley April 9, 2015 - 1:35 pm

Awwww they're so cute!!! I'll be checking out those links later today 🙂

Kaylah April 9, 2015 - 10:45 pm

Aren't they adorable!? I'm so pumped!

SnarkyBat April 9, 2015 - 4:32 pm

Exciting! This is something I've also been meaning to learn to do. Glad to see it going so well for you and your succulents!

Kaylah April 9, 2015 - 10:45 pm

Yeah, I honestly can't believe how easy it is!

relright April 9, 2015 - 6:51 pm

I had previously said that I thought my succulent propogations were not going to put out roots but I looked the other day and they were! I'm so excited just like you about it. So no worries you're not alone

Kaylah April 9, 2015 - 10:45 pm

Isn't it so darn exciting to see those little teeny tiny roots?!

Sanne April 9, 2015 - 9:35 pm

This is so cool! I really need to learn this :).
I will pin your pictues!
xoxo

Kaylah April 9, 2015 - 10:46 pm

Thank you, Sanne! 🙂

Kate H April 9, 2015 - 10:55 pm

I literally just got my first house plants and I didn't even realise this was possible! Definitely something I'll be looking into in the future (providing I can keep them alive!)

Kaylah April 11, 2015 - 9:39 am

Isn't it amazing!?
Good luck with your first plant! 🙂

Dara Ganzo April 10, 2015 - 6:42 am

wow, it seem slike planting these little ones are therapeutic on its own! I graduated as a a BS Biology major, and I have to say it really needs patience and a lot of care for these ones to really grow and bloom. You have a green thumb!

Charlotte Boyd April 10, 2015 - 1:58 pm

Do you have any recommendations for kitty-safe indoor plants? Or are you critters uninterested in nibbling? (lucky if so!!)

Kaylah April 11, 2015 - 9:41 am

Nope, my kitties seriously could not care less about my plants. But definitely do look into it. Lots of plants are harmful to animals!

thedailymiacis April 10, 2015 - 5:56 pm

Funny, my parents both love to garden and always tried to make me love and I always complained with them. Know it's me that teach them somethings. Still my father it's like an offline google.

I've been trying to propagate my suculents that propagate from leaves, and I only had sucess with one leaf. Still today something just made my day: I've been trying to grow cactus from seeds, I failed the first and second try, but on my third I did it! I have already 3 tiny ladybug size growing 😀

Kaylah April 11, 2015 - 9:43 am

That's awesome! I've never tried to grow cactus from seeds because I figured it'd take such a long time. Maybe I'll have to give it a shot.

teresinha April 10, 2015 - 7:58 pm

i was a non flower lover until one of my teachers took edible flowers to class and gave us all seeds… it literally makes my day seeing them grow and change! also last year a friend gave me a baby pine tree and apart from my gameboy color, it was the best gift i ever received. good job on the propagating! those darling little things are looking nice and healthy!

Marine April 11, 2015 - 4:31 pm

Shawn has been playing around with propagation for the past few years… he geeks out about it hardcore and we have soooo many cuttings and baby plants all around the house. It is really fun to see new growth and roots form! Our maintenance guy at work recommended a book for me to get Shawn; it's called Creative Propagation. I haven't gotten it for him yet, but it might be worth you looking into!

Sarah Albertson April 12, 2015 - 1:12 am

This is so cool! I have been wanting to try this for a while, but I was so skeptical, like, it can't be that simple! My mom said the same thing to me about gardening, I never believed her when I was younger, but she was totally right, I am gardening fool now.

Daria @ Kittenhood April 14, 2015 - 12:32 pm

How lovely! I've always hated my parents' plants (they were storing the biggest ones in my room, leaving too little room for my "important" stuff), but after moving out and gaining some independence, I love to take care of my own!

Julia A April 29, 2015 - 11:04 pm

I didn't even know propagating was a thing. I accidentally propagated a succulent last month when some leaves fell of one (which may have been due to an overly adventurous kitty) and just chucked them back into the pot and they sprouted roots. I thought I was magic.

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