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Learn How to Propagate Succulents in Winter with 6 Amazing Steps

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Succulents have thick, fleshy leaves that are well adapted to sustain them in hot climates. Though succulents are mostly found in warmer environments does not mean they cannot grow and thrive in the cold.

The best time to propagate succulents is during early spring. However, you don’t have to wait around for spring to come. Learn how to propagate succulents in winter with our helpful guide.

Propagation is how new plants are grown from the parent plant. Propagation can be done by cuttings, seeds, and splitting other parts of plants.

Propagation of succulents is a fairly simple process, and healthy new plants can be achieved in any season if taken care of properly. We are here to share our wisdom on how to propagate succulents in winter and how to care for them.

How to Propagate Succulents in Winter
Succulent propagation – via Wikimedia

What Does it Mean to Propagate Succulents?

Propagating succulents refers to growing many new plants from a single parent plant. Succulents are most commonly propagated through three methods which are as follows: leaf cuttings, stem cuttings, offsets, or pups.

Although the most suitable season for propagating your succulents is during the early spring, it certainly doesn’t mean you cannot propagate during the winter season. The propagation method is relatively similar for any season except for a few extra measures. All you need to do is provide a little extra warmth and light in the winter season and protect from extreme cold.

Step-by-Step Guide on How to Propagate Succulents in Winter

Propagating your succulents is a fairly easy process. With our easy step-by-step instructions and excellent care tips, you can learn how to propagate succulents in winter.

Items You Will Need

Fertilome Cactus and Succulents Mix 4 Quart Bag
  • Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss, Horticural Perlite, Sand, Calcitic Limestone, Dolomitic Limestone, Starter Nutrient Charge and Wetting Agent
  • Convenient 4 quart bag for hobby use
Clonex HGC726007 Rooting Gel, 1 quart
  • EPA Registered, approved for use on all food crops
  • Alcohol free rooting gel that remains in contact around the stem sealing cut tissue
  • Supplies hormones needed to promote root cell development
  • Made In The USA
GE Grow LED Light Fixture for Plants Seeds and Greens with Balanced Light Spectrum, 24in (1 Pack)
  • Grow your plants throughout the year: these LED grow lights for indoor plants (full spectrum) provide the perfect high-quality, plant light that will allow your indoor garden to bloom and flourish year round.
  • The perfect grow lights for your home: show off your indoor garden without harsh or unsightly lighting. GE's indoor LED grow light bulbs provides a pleasing, natural light temperature that integrates well with any decorative aesthetic.
  • Long-lasting, low energy and low heat plant light bulb: the GE plant lights for indoor plants (full spectrum) feature advanced LED technology that uses only 40 watts of energy with low heat generation.
  • GE Grow Light with balanced light spectrum for seeds and greens: the GE Grow bulbs for indoor plants appear white to the eye but have a red/blue light spectrum that is perfect for tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, leafy greens and herbs.
  • Grow light bulbs for indoor plants: now you can grow any variety of plants in your home. The GE Grow lights were carefully designed to give your plants the most light with a high output PPF of 72 micromoles per second.

Step 1

Gather all the materials required to start your project. You will need basic materials such as pots, shears, potting mix, and rooting hormone. Grow lights are optional.

Use them only if you don’t get enough sunlight and warmth during the cold winter months. Once you have prepped everything, it’s time to begin with, propagation.

Step 2

You need to take some cuttings from your desired succulents that you intend to propagate. You can use two parts for propagation through cuttings: stem and leaves. Before taking the cuttings, sterilize your bypass shears and make sure they are clean and sharp. A blunt blade can damage the plant and give a much untidy cut that is also difficult to heal.

Now choose some healthy leaves or stem to take the cuttings. In comparison, cutting the stem, cut just above the leaf. If you intend to use leaves for propagation, hold a leaf individually and make a nice, clean-cut at an angle right where the leaf meets the body.

Pro Tip: Do not cut too many leaves from a single plant, or it will die.

Use healthy and mature leaves for propagation. Avoid using any leaves with wrinkles or blemishes. Using shears or a knife to cut the leaves is discouraged as the leaves are closely packed together.

It may damage other leaves while cutting one leaf. A much easier and safer approach to this problem is simply plucking the leaves by hand.

Don’t be too harsh and vigorous. Just wiggle the leaf gently up and down until it breaks free. Do not leave any part of the leaf behind on the stem when removing a leaf.

Step 3

Once the cuttings have been prepared, it is time to dip them in the rooting hormone. Using a rooting hormone is completely optional; however, it will boost the growth of your cuttings and give them a strong head start in the winter season. Dip in the rooting hormone on the sides from which the leaves are cut.

Step 4

Before placing the cuttings in the potting mix, let them rest until callus is formed. When a succulent is cut, it releases liquid stuff that covers and heals the wound. This fluid will dry up and help heal the wound from the cutting point. Allowing the succulent to form callus is essential as it will prevent rotting.

After cutting your leaves, let them rest anywhere like a windowsill for a few hours or a day. Once the callus is formed, the cuttings are ready to be planted.

Step 5

Leave the callused cuttings for a couple of days, and you will notice that the callused ends are forming new roots or leaves. Plant small roots or leaves in the soil when you see them growing.

You can plant your cuttings in individual pots or plant the whole batch in a large container. When the cuttings are large enough, You can replant them from the container to other pots or gardens.

Be very gentle while planting the cuttings, as the roots are very delicate. Use an appropriate potting mix for succulents. A potting mix with high soil content, perlite, peat moss, and a little mud makes an excellent choice for succulents. Such potting mix provides excellent drainage so the succulents will not rot.

How to Propagate Succulents in Winter 2
Succulent propagation – via Flickr

Step 6

Now that your cuttings are planted and well set, spray them with water. Use minimum water and do not let the soil stay wet. Provide the baby succulents a warm environment and protect them from the cold of the winter months.

To create ideal conditions and provide substantial light and heat, you can use LED grow light. It will ensure the healthy growth of your new succulents.

Keep taking care of your propagations like you normally would, and you will be rewarded with new baby succulents in 4 to 6 weeks.

Care Tips for Propagating Succulents in Winter

To ensure your succulents stay healthy and happy during the winter season, we have enlisted some excellent care tips.

  • Keep your baby succulents indoors and keep them warm. Even if the mature succulents can bear the winter cold, the babies are very delicate and need extra care.
  • Baby succulents require plentiful light to grow big and healthy. If you do not receive enough sunlight during the winter months, we suggest buying grow light.
  • Baby succulents do not have elaborate root networks; hence, nothing holds them in place. While watering, be very gentle as you can easily dislodge and dislocate the plants. The best way to water them is by using a water mister.
  • Fertilization is unnecessary during the growth and propagation phase, even in winter. Succulents go dormant during the winter months, so there is no need for fertilizer. You can fertilize your succulents during the spring and summer seasons as this is the time when succulents are growing at a really fast rate.

Conclusion

Succulents grow the best during the summer months, but it doesn’t mean you can’t propagate them in winters. The process is very similar; all you need is to take extra care to help them sustain themselves in the winter cold. We have made a 6 steps guide on how to propagate succulents in winter.

Keep your succulent babies away from the winter cold, provide sufficient heat and light, and watch them grow! Let us know how your propagations turned out in the comments below!