If you want succulents without shopping or shipping fees, consider splitting succulent plants. When your plants have outgrown their pots or put out lots of babies, it’s time to divide your succulents. Often, it’s easier to divide your plants than to repot a large, multi-stemmed specimen.
Division allows each repotted part to grow and fill another container. Plants grow more quickly during their growing season. Some succulents are spring and summer growers, but many, like aeoniums, are winter growers. Check for each plant.
Read on to learn more about dividing a succulent plant.
When Can I Divide Succulents?
While repotting and dividing a succulent is best done in spring, you can do it any time of year. Choose a nice day, if possible, so you can do it outside. Divide succulents that have grown pups or sprouted new foliage. Don’t attempt to split a single plant.
How to Divide a Succulent
Sterilize tools with alcohol before starting division or repotting. You may do this with a bottle of alcohol and cotton balls or alcohol wipes. Clean the blades to make sure you aren’t spreading fungus or bacteria.
Gently remove the succulent plant from its container. You may need to loosen the soil on the sides if it is tight in the pot. Do so with a clean tool. Turn the pot upside down, if needed, with your hand over the top to gently ease the plant out. Don’t remove the plant by grabbing it and pulling upward. Tilt the pot and be gentle.
Set the unpotted plant right side up and remove as much soil as possible, gently teasing out the roots. If the plant does not easily pull apart, cut through the roots and separate sections, starting at the top. Do it easily, but don’t worry if a few roots break off. They will heal quickly in dry soil. Therefore, wait to water after succulent plant division, usually a week or longer.
Center your plant parts into a new pot and add fresh, well-draining soil. If the top of the plant does not reach the top of the pot, put soil in the bottom to bring the plant level higher. Succulents usually look best planted higher than the rim. If you’re filling the pot, some succulent types look best hanging over the sides, especially trailing, cascading types.
Again, wait a week or two to water your new plantings. This allows roots to heal before taking up water and rotting. Enjoy your new plants.
-
Elegant Exotics: 8 Beautiful Amaryllis Varieties That Will Brighten Any Holiday DisplayWhether red, pink, white or variegated, the right amaryllis varieties can enhance any living space, especially during the holidays. We round up eight of the most exquisite
-
Forage For Herbs: 7 Tasty And Safe Wild Herbs To Pick Close To Your Own BackyardIn addition to growing your own herbal staples, did you know there are several wild options out there that are safe and tasty – and free? Try foraging these 7 wild herbs
-
Variegated Succulents To Add To Your Plant CollectionRead about some of the pretty variegated species that add beauty and interest to your succulent collection.
-
How To Protect Succulents And Cacti From RainRain has the potential to cause damage to our cacti and succulents. However, when planted in proper soil, rainfall may perform as just a deep watering. Read on for more.
-
Succulents and Frost: How To Save A Succulent From Frost Or FreezeCan succulents withstand cold? Succulents and frost don't traditionally go together and can result in damage, but you may be able to save frozen succulents.
-
Pink Succulents Varieties To Try: How To Grow Perfect Pink Succulent PlantsPink succulents may display the color on leaf edges or with streaks or blotches mingled throughout the foliage. Here are our favorites.
-
10 No Fuss Cacti - What’s The Best Low Maintenance CactusIf you’re thinking of adding plants to your collection, consider no fuss cacti. Click here for an easy cacti list, even for beginners.
-
5 Best Succulents For A BathroomSome succulents can be great options for bathroom decoration. Read on for our top five bathroom succulent ideas.
-
What Is A Succulent Starter Kit - Best Succulent Starter KitsWhile garden kits are not the most inexpensive option for growing succulents, they do include everything you’ll need. Grow succulents from seed by using a succulent seed starter kit to learn the process and to check your results.
-
Dazzling Succulents - Succulents With Striking FlowersWhen you think of succulents you may just envision their unique leaves and stems. But succulents also produce bright and bold flowers in the right conditions. Read on to learn more.
