Methods to Divide Succulents in 6 Straightforward Steps
13 mins read

Methods to Divide Succulents in 6 Straightforward Steps


Succulents are good, low-maintenance vegetation that I uncover to be a pleasure to propagate and share with my plant-loving buddies. On account of their uncomplicated wants, succulents make good newbie vegetation. They’re very best for any plant lover who doesn’t have a lot time to are inclined to high-maintenance vegetation.

The most typical and worthwhile method to propagate succulents is by the tactic of division. Whereas it’s potential to propagate from seeds, it takes for for for much longer to attain mature vegetation. Many succulents don’t have a brilliant germination price, so propagating this vogue could also be irritating and time-consuming.

Division will lead to sturdy vegetation that should solely take about one 12 months before they’re able to bloom themselves. There are utterly utterly completely different strategies of division, so it’s as quite a bit as a result of the gardener to seek out out which one works most fascinating for them. Dividing succulents could also be as powerful or easy as you select. 

The primary and extra tough strategy I’m going to go over is inclined to provide the strongest divisions however may set off quite a few stress to the daddy or mother plant. In case you have received a superb variety of offsets, that is the strategy by way of which to make certain that most of them thrive. The choice strategy is approach a lot much less hectic in your father or mother plant, however it might not produce as many advantageous divisions. 

Let’s dig in and cope with one of the best methods to divide your succulents so as that you could be enhance your specific particular person yard or go a few of your stunning vegetation alongside to family and buddies.

Shield a Healthful Plant

Close-up of a Hen and Chicks (Sempervivum) succulent plant with offsets in a large ceramic pot indoors. This succulent is recognized for its rosette-shaped arrangement of fleshy leaves. The "Hen" refers to the main rosette, which is larger and central, while the "Chicks" are smaller rosettes, or offsets, that cluster around the Hen. These offsets sprout from the base of the main plant and gradually form a dense, mat-like arrangement. The leaves are often pointed, fleshy, and come in green with reddish edges.Close-up of a Hen and Chicks (Sempervivum) succulent plant with offsets in a large ceramic pot indoors. This succulent is recognized for its rosette-shaped arrangement of fleshy leaves. The "Hen" refers to the main rosette, which is larger and central, while the "Chicks" are smaller rosettes, or offsets, that cluster around the Hen. These offsets sprout from the base of the main plant and gradually form a dense, mat-like arrangement. The leaves are often pointed, fleshy, and come in green with reddish edges.
Encourage succulent offsets by acceptable care, avoiding over-stressing, and understanding particular plant wants.

Succulent vegetation are slow-growing. In consequence, they will’t be divided as normally as some faster-growing vegetation. Most succulents produce offsets, creating a straightforward method to propagate so long as you wait for the appropriate time. 

Contained in the meantime, it is potential you will encourage your plant to provide offsets, or pups, as they’re usually often called. Healthful, well-cared-for vegetation can normally be divided yearly.

A healthful succulent is one which has good coloration. Many succulents let they’re careworn by turning a particular coloration, most ceaselessly pink or purple. Some plant homeowners induce this slight stress on account of the colour shift is fascinating.

A careworn succulent could also be stunning, but it surely certainly actually’s quite a bit a lot much less inclined to provide offsets it is potential you will divide. If the plant is struggling to look after its capabilities, it’s unlikely to breed. 

Determine your succulent and perform considerably analysis on that plant’s particular wants. Most need publicity circumstances between vivid, oblique light to partial picture voltaic. Some thrive most fascinating in full picture voltaic. Temperature is essential, as accurately. Some succulent vegetation love the warmth, whereas others need extra temperate native climate. Some want little or no water, whereas others must be watered recurrently. 

When you uncover that your plant is exhibiting indicators of being overstressed, it’s essential to alleviate a few of that stress. This will likely more and more launch your plant to redirect power from surviving to reproducing.

Decide Whether or not or not or not the Plant is Sturdy Ample to Divide

Close-up of Echeveria elegant succulent in a large ceramic pot indoors against a blurred background. Echeveria elegans, commonly known as the Mexican Snowball, is a stunning succulent prized for its rosette-shaped foliage. The main rosette features densely packed, powdery-blue leaves that are spoon-shaped and elegantly arranged. Surrounding the central Hen, numerous offsets emerge, forming a cluster. These offsets share the same charming characteristics as the main rosette, with their powder-blue hue, delicate leaf structure, and compact growth habit.Close-up of Echeveria elegant succulent in a large ceramic pot indoors against a blurred background. Echeveria elegans, commonly known as the Mexican Snowball, is a stunning succulent prized for its rosette-shaped foliage. The main rosette features densely packed, powdery-blue leaves that are spoon-shaped and elegantly arranged. Surrounding the central Hen, numerous offsets emerge, forming a cluster. These offsets share the same charming characteristics as the main rosette, with their powder-blue hue, delicate leaf structure, and compact growth habit.
Divide succulents when offsets resemble mature vegetation.

Earlier than getting began, it would be best to decide whether or not or not or not or not the plant is able to be divided. Put merely, a plant that has offsets is one which can be divided. Whereas a number of these vegetation could also be propagated by leaf cuttings, it takes for for for much longer to get a mature plant this vogue. 

With division, you have received purchased a small copy of the daddy or mother plant that has already developed roots. The offsets are able to divide after they appear to be a miniature model of the mature plant. 

Don’t concern that you just’re harming your plant by eradicating the offsets. It’s fairly the selection. The pups are a drain on it. Eradicating them will really launch the plant to make the most of dietary nutritional vitamins and water with out having to assist the pups. 

Take away the Plant From Its Container

lose-up of female hands holding succulent Echeveria Setosa Compacta with root ball over decorative pot. Echeveria Setosa Compacta is a delightful succulent known for its compact and densely clustered rosettes. The small, chubby leaves are covered in fine white hairs, giving them a fuzzy or velvety texture and a silvery-gray appearance. The rosettes form tight, symmetrical arrangements, and the leaves curve gracefully, creating a rounded and almost spherical shape. There are also other potted succulents on the white table.lose-up of female hands holding succulent Echeveria Setosa Compacta with root ball over decorative pot. Echeveria Setosa Compacta is a delightful succulent known for its compact and densely clustered rosettes. The small, chubby leaves are covered in fine white hairs, giving them a fuzzy or velvety texture and a silvery-gray appearance. The rosettes form tight, symmetrical arrangements, and the leaves curve gracefully, creating a rounded and almost spherical shape. There are also other potted succulents on the white table.
Rigorously take away the succulent from its container, avoiding stress and damage, considerably if root-bound.

Step one to worthwhile division is eradicating the plant from its container in a way that doesn’t set off extra damage than wished.

Flip the container on its aspect. If it’s plastic, give it barely squeeze in loads of utterly utterly completely different instructions to loosen the soil and make the plant slide out merely. If the container is a non-flexible provides, faucet the perimeters flippantly within the path of a difficult flooring to loosen the soil. 

Grasp a really highly effective, strongest a part of the plant on the underside and gently carry all the inspiration ball and soil out of the container. If the plant doesn’t slide out merely, gently work to loosen it extra. Don’t stress it, in any other case you will damage the fragile roots. 

Succulents aren’t considerably versatile vegetation, they usually have delicate roots. They’re sturdy and low-maintenance when comfortably established of their container however could also be sturdy to repot with out breaking off a bunch of leaves.

If the plant is root-bound and certainly not popping out of the container, take a skinny metallic instrument or knife and slide it gently down from the sting of the container in loads of spots to create some motion. If the pot has drainage holes, use a chopstick to supply the roots barely push from beneath. Then, flip the container on its aspect and take a look at as quickly as further.

Untangle the Roots

Close-up of a gardener's hands in black gloves untangling the roots of a succulent plant over a wooden tray with other potted succulents. Echeveria elegans has a rosette of fleshy spoon-shaped leaves, overlapping in a tight, symmetrical arrangement.Close-up of a gardener's hands in black gloves untangling the roots of a succulent plant over a wooden tray with other potted succulents. Echeveria elegans has a rosette of fleshy spoon-shaped leaves, overlapping in a tight, symmetrical arrangement.
After eradicating the plant, gently shake off the soil to take a look at and separate roots for division.

As rapidly as your plant is out of the container, use your arms to softly loosen and shake out as loads of the soil as potential so as that you could be see what’s going on on beneath there. You wish to see as loads of the roots as potential so as that you could be be sure that to take away solely what it is advisable to have the power to assist the divisions, leaving the principle plant ample to assist it as accurately. 

Some succulents, like aloe and agave, may produce pups with out roots already standard, however differing types can have roots already forming. Gently separate and untangle the roots linked to the pups from the bigger plant’s root system so that you simply simply don’t cut back into any of them an excessive amount of, and every division has some roots to start out with. 

Divide the Pups From the Mother or father

Close-up of female hands separating succulent offshoots from the Dudleya caespitosa mother plant over a wooden table. This perennial plant forms tight rosettes of fleshy, lance-shaped leaves that are chalky green to bluish-gray in color. The leaves are coated in a powdery substance.Close-up of female hands separating succulent offshoots from the Dudleya caespitosa mother plant over a wooden table. This perennial plant forms tight rosettes of fleshy, lance-shaped leaves that are chalky green to bluish-gray in color. The leaves are coated in a powdery substance.
Separate succulent pups by hand or use a slicing instrument.

For some succulents, eradicating the pups is as simple as pulling them aside by hand. Some vegetation want extra help contained in the form of a slicing instrument. Lower the pup away, slicing as near the daddy or mother as potential with out damaging it. 

You wish to go away the principle plant with ample roots for it to get correctly from the tactic whereas furthermore giving your divisions the an similar income. When unsure, err on the aspect of leaving roots linked to the daddy or mother, and your offsets should develop their very private roots over time.

Repot the Offsets

Close-up of a man's hands replanting a separated Haworthia plant into a small pot on a wooden table. There are also two more Haworthia offsets on the table with roots ready for planting. On the table there is an empty upside-down pot, a bowl of drainage pebbles, and a tray of potting mix.Close-up of a man's hands replanting a separated Haworthia plant into a small pot on a wooden table. There are also two more Haworthia offsets on the table with roots ready for planting. On the table there is an empty upside-down pot, a bowl of drainage pebbles, and a tray of potting mix.
Plant out your succulents, together with the daddy or mother, in well-draining containers with store-bought or do-it-yourself combine.

After you’ve divided your pups, it’s time to repot all of them, together with the daddy or mother. Select a container that has superb drainage, as succulents don’t like damp roots. Their delicate root strategies are susceptible to root rot. 

Succulents don’t must be planted deeply, so start by filling your container about ⅔ of the best way during which by way of which full with potting soil. Use a combine that’s made specifically for cacti and succulents, or create one by your self. Succulents want superb drainage, so normal potting soil holds an excessive amount of water and ends in circumstances that set off root rot. 

To make your specific particular person succulent soil, begin with an uncommon potting combine and add coarse supplies like sand, perlite, pumice, or vermiculite. Your ratio have to be two elements potting soil to 1 half coarse additive. 

Set your succulent divisions on extreme of the soil and cowl the roots utterly. Don’t enable the soil to cowl your plant’s leaves, as this might also set off elements with fungal rot. 

Repot the Mother or father Plant

Repotting a mother Haworthia succulent plant into a clay pot indoors. Haworthia is a diverse genus of succulent plants known for its captivating rosette-shaped formations. The rosettes consist of thick, triangular leaves that are arranged in a tight, organized spiral pattern. Each leaf is marked with prominent, raised white bands that resemble zebra stripes.Repotting a mother Haworthia succulent plant into a clay pot indoors. Haworthia is a diverse genus of succulent plants known for its captivating rosette-shaped formations. The rosettes consist of thick, triangular leaves that are arranged in a tight, organized spiral pattern. Each leaf is marked with prominent, raised white bands that resemble zebra stripes.
Clear the roots, slicing away broken tissue to forestall fungus and decay.

Repotting the mom plant is solely not much more powerful than potting the offsets, however it’s a good suggestion to check out the roots and usually clear up the plant before potting. With a clear, sharp instrument, cut back away any root tissue that appears broken. 

Rotting root tissue is darkish brown and mushy. It’s essential to take away this, because of the fungus will develop and impression utterly completely different elements of the muse system over time, and that can set off full plant lack of life. You may take away any broken or punctured leaves as accurately on account of those leaves are extra susceptible to fungus and micro organism. 

Alternate Technique

Close-up of woman's hands with scissors pruning Echeveria offsets to propagate succulents. On the table there are several white ceramic pots with young succulent plants of different types.Close-up of woman's hands with scissors pruning Echeveria offsets to propagate succulents. On the table there are several white ceramic pots with young succulent plants of different types.
Succulents could also be divided by slicing or pulling pups.

Whereas dividing on the roots may lead to a mature plant extra shortly, it is going to possibly furthermore set off extra stress to the mom plant. For better vegetation, that is normally a superior strategy that preserves their integrity. 

A easy technique of dividing succulents is to easily cut back the pups off or pull them aside with out disturbing the roots. Use a pointy knife or instrument to slice off an offset as near the daddy or mother plant as potential, leaving as a lot stem linked to the pup because it’s potential you will. This methodology works very accurately on aloe vegetation. 

After slicing your pups, dip the size again finish into some rooting hormone to encourage root enchancment. The cuttings should nonetheless develop roots with out the rooting hormone, however this may occasionally expedite the tactic and offer you a greater shot at sturdy vegetation from an early stage.

Lay these pups on a tray or in a basket in order that the size again finish is uncovered to the air, and permit it to dry and heal over that cut back finish before potting it. You’ll too put your slicing instantly proper right into a mannequin new container with soil and abstain from watering it for every week or two to permit that wound to heal over. Every strategy works, however it would be best to enable that cut back to selection a scab of kinds to maintain out dangerous pathogens. 

Remaining Ideas

Dividing succulents is a straightforward course of, but it surely certainly actually requires some finesse and gentleness to keep away from damaging their delicate roots and foliage. With some endurance and barely further care, it’s advisable to have healthful divisions in loads of quick months which might be accurately on their method to being mature vegetation. 



Present hyperlink

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *