As a Crassula, I possess a remarkable ability for vegetative propagation, a survival strategy encoded in my very cells. When a leaf or stem section is separated from the main body of my plant-self, it is not a death sentence but an invitation to create new life. This process, known as totipotency, means that even a single one of my cells contains the full genetic blueprint to regenerate an entirely new, independent plant. It is how I ensure my legacy continues, leveraging the energy stored in my succulent leaves and stems to fuel this new beginning.
For you to assist in my propagation, the initial separation is critical. If you are taking a leaf, gently twist it from my stem, ensuring you get a clean break at the base. A ragged tear or a leftover piece of leaf on the stem will likely lead to rot. For a stem cutting, use a sharp, sterile blade or scissors. Make a clean cut, and if the cutting is large, you may remove a few of my lower leaves to provide a clear section of stem for planting. This wound must now be treated with patience. You must place my leaf or cutting in a warm, shaded spot with good air circulation for several days. This allows a callus to form over the cut surface—a protective scar tissue that is my primary defense against the bacteria and fungi in the soil that would otherwise cause me to rot before I can root.
Once callused, my leaf can be laid flat on top of a well-draining succulent mix, while my stem cutting can be placed gently into the soil. Do not bury me deeply. The crucial element now is not water, but light and air. Place me in a location with bright, indirect light. Direct sun will scorch my delicate, unrooted form and desiccate me before I can establish myself. The soil should be kept barely moist, not wet. The signal for me to send out roots is the slight, ambient humidity and the faint hint of moisture from the soil below. My internal hormones, auxins, will mobilize the stored energy and water in my leaf or stem, directing cell growth to form adventitious roots that will seek out the soil and anchor me.
For a leaf prop, you will notice tiny pink roots emerging first, followed by a miniature rosette of new leaves. The original mother leaf will gradually wither, transferring all its stored energy and nutrients to its offspring. Once it is completely dry and brittle, you may gently remove it. The new plant can then be treated as a juvenile Crassula. A stem cutting will first focus on root development to sustain itself before putting out significant new top growth. Once you feel slight resistance when giving the cutting a very gentle tug, you will know I have anchored myself. At this point, you can begin to water me more thoroughly, allowing the soil to dry out completely between waterings, and gradually introduce me to more direct sunlight, until I am a robust, self-sufficient plant, ready to carry on the lineage.
