Echeverias are members of the stonecrop family and are huge favorites in the houseplant world, mostly thanks to those stunning, symmetrical leaf rosettes. But did you know many varieties also put on a show with gorgeous, decorative flowers? If you’ve fallen in love with these exotic beauties, you’ll be happy to hear that propagating them is actually a breeze.
Here are the best ways to grow your Echeveria collection:
- Growing from seeds
- Taking leaf cuttings
- Dividing the rosettes
Growing Echeveria from Seed
You can usually find Echeveria seeds at your local garden center or through online plant shops. To get started, grab a seed tray and fill it with a 1:1 mix of seed-starting soil and sand—this provides the perfect drainage they crave. Give the soil a light misting to get it moist.
Next, sprinkle your seeds thinly over the surface. Since these are “surface germinators,” you don’t need to press them into the dirt or cover them up. To keep things humid, pop a clear plastic bag over the tray so the soil doesn’t dry out. Place the tray in a warm spot with plenty of bright, indirect light (just avoid harsh, direct sun for now) until you see those little sprouts appearing.
Propagating Echeveria via Leaf Cuttings
Most Echeveria varieties are incredibly easy to multiply using leaf cuttings. First, prep a planting tray with your potting mix and top it off with a thin layer of quartz sand. Then, carefully snap off a healthy, plump leaf from your mother plant—make sure you get a clean break!
Lay the leaf cutting flat on the moist substrate. Keep the tray in a warm, bright spot and make sure the soil stays just barely damp. Here’s the trick: once you see tiny roots forming at the base of the leaf (usually after two to three weeks), stop watering!
Pro Tip: Generally, your little “pup” will be big enough to move into its own individual pot after about six weeks.
Propagating Echeveria by Dividing Rosettes
If your Echeveria has started growing multiple heads or “offsets,” you’re in luck—this is the easiest method of all. You just need to separate a rosette that is at least about an inch (two centimeters) in diameter. The best time to do this is in May when the plant is in its prime growing phase.
Simply lift the plant out of its pot, shake off the excess soil, and gently pull the rosettes apart. Now you can pot up both sections separately, and they’ll continue to grow as independent plants.
Pro Tip: Freshly divided succulents can be a bit sensitive. Make sure they have plenty of protection from the elements, especially if things get chilly, until they are well-established.
