Do you want to learn how to successfully propagate jade plants from stem cuttings? If you follow the simple tips in this article, you will have a beautiful jade plant in no time! Let me show you the simple steps you need to succeed.
HOW TO PROPAGATE JADE PLANTS FROM CUTTINGS
Here are the 5 easy steps to propagate your jade plant cuttings in water. I’m doing a demonstration with a jade cut “Gollum”, but you can use this exact method for any type of jade plant.
I will elaborate on each step with photos and important details.
- Step 1: Make your cup(S)
- Step 2: Let your cuttings get calloused
- Step 3: put it in the water until it takes root
- Step 4: Plant your cuttings
- Step 5: Create good growing conditions
I will also give you instructions on WHAT to do with your plant after it has started to grow, so that you can really develop a beautiful specimen.
STEP 1: MAKE your cup(S)
Using a sterilized secateurs or a sharp knife, cut off a stem of a healthy jade plant. Be careful not to make a huge cut, otherwise you will reduce the chances of success.
Aim for your cut to be no more than 4 or 5 inches long.
A cup of jade “Gollum” I made
Depending on your cuttings, you may want to remove the lower leaves from your cuttings so that part of your stem can be immersed in the water of your propagation vessel.
(And save those leaves! I’ll show you what you can do with it at the end of this article).
STEP 2: LET YOUR CUTTINGS GET CALLOUSED
This step is absolutely crucial for success. Once you have taken your cuttings and removed one of the lower leaves, allow your cuttings to become callused before placing them in the water.
What exactly does callus mean? It just means that you let the piece you are cutting air dry for a few days. The cut end dries up and becomes calloused, forming a dry crust. This will help to avoid rotting if you put it in water.
Jade plant, which I propagated from a single stem cut
STEP 3: put it IN the WATER until it takes ROOT
After about 3 or 4 days, place your cuttings in the water until they take root. You want the base of the cuttings where you removed the leaves to be under water, and the leaves to be above the water line.
Put it in a bright place, preferably right in front of a window, but not in the sun all day.
Depending on their conditions, they should form roots in a few days to a few weeks.
A rooted “Gollum” jade cut
Be sure to change your water at least once or twice a week to keep the water cool.
Once your roots are about 1/2 inch to 1 inch long, go ahead and put them back in the next step, step 5.
Do not leave your cuttings in the water for a long time, otherwise, the transition will be more difficult once you have planted in the potting soil! They simply use water to start the rooting process.
Note: If you want to stick your cuttings directly into the soil and skip the water spreading part, skip step 3 and proceed directly to step 4 (where you would keep the soil moist enough to promote rooting).
STEP 4: PLANT YOUR CUTTINGS
Next, choose a small pot with a drain hole. I would not recommend larger than a 4-inch glass.
For my succulents I like to use the following mixture (I buy on Amazon):
2 Parts of a cactus/succulent mixture
1 Part 1/4″ Pumice Stone
Mix well and put your plant back in a pot. Water it well and place your plant in its place of growth.
Let the upper thumb dry, and then water again.
It’s a very well-draining mix and works well for me. You may want to adapt your potting soil mixtures to your conditions and environment, but you can start with this mixture and see how you like it!
Terracotta pots are a good choice for succulents. Be aware that they dry out extremely quickly, especially if your plants are very sunny.
Even succulents can suffer from dehydration, so be sure to keep your jade too dry for too long, especially if it is just beginning to grow and establish itself.
STEP 5: CREATE GOOD GROWING CONDITIONS
Jade plants need a lot of bright light to become sturdy and compact. Make sure you don’t miss my blog post about caring for jade plants so that you can start your new plant well!
A healthy and growing jade ‘Gollum’, which I started from cuttings.
PROMOTING BRANCHING ON YOUR JADE PLANT
After all, when your plant grows, if you are not satisfied with the abundance of the plant, you can easily encourage your plant to produce several branches by pruning it.
Take a look at the same plant below and look at all the new branches that it produced after pruning.
PROMOTING BRANCHING ON YOUR JADE PLANT
After all, when your plant grows, if you are not satisfied with the abundance of the plant, you can easily encourage your plant to produce several branches by pruning it.
Take a look at the same plant below and look at all the new branches that it produced after pruning.
Did you also know that you can use A single leaf to produce new jade plants? Take a look at all the jade plant babies I have grown from simple leaves.
