How to Split Succulents
By M.H. Dyer
How to Split Succulentsthumbnail Succulents require plenty of sunshine and well-drained soil.
Succulents have thick, fleshy leaves that store water, allowing the plants to thrive in rugged conditions where most plants have little chance of survival. Versatile, low-maintenance plants, succulents are available in a range of shapes and colors. Succulents benefit from division when the plants become crowded or outgrow their boundaries, and the divisions are used to propagate a new plant. For best results, divide succulents in spring or early summer.
Topic To Split Succulents:
- Planting Vegetables
- Planting Seed
To Split Succulents Difficulty:
- Moderate
To Split Succulents You’ll Need:
- Clean, sharp knife (optional)
- Potting mix
- Container with drainage hole
To Split Succulents Instructions:
- Lay the container on its side and slide the succulent carefully from the container. If the plant is stubborn, loosen the roots by thumping the side of the pot firmly but lightly with the heel of your hand.
- Pull the plant apart at its natural divisions — where the plant has grown offshoots, or “pups.” Be sure the offshoots have at least three or four healthy roots. If the plant is difficult to divide, use a clean, sharp knife to cut the offshoots from the main plant.
- Fill a container with a well-draining potting mix of approximately 20 percent commercial potting soil or compost and 80 percent pumice, perlite or coarse sand. You can also use a commercial mix for cactus and succulents. Set the container aside.
- Replant the parent plant in the original container. Place the offshoots in a well-ventilated spot for for two to three days, or until the cut area creates a callus.
- Plant the divided succulents in the container of prepared potting mix. Plant the succulent only deep enough to keep it upright, as planting too deep causes rot.
- Place the newly divided succulents in bright, indirect light.
- Water the succulents two days after planting. Water lightly so the potting mix is slightly moist. Water again when the soil is dry, which may be once a week or once a month, depending on the time of year, room temperature and the amount of sunlight available.
To Split Succulents Tips:
- In-ground succulents are divided according to the same principle — carefully dig up the plant, and then remove the offshoots. Replant the parent plant and set the offshoots aside to calllus. Plant them in a sunny, well-drained location. Alternatively, plant the divisions in a pot, and then move them to a permanent location after a few weeks, when the succulents show healthy new growth.
To Split Succulents Warnings:
- Always use containers with drainage holes, as succulents rot quickly in soggy soil.