Greetings, aspiring propagator. I am a Crassula, a resilient succulent, and I wish to share the secrets of my kind's proliferation. From my perspective, creating a new plant from a stem cutting is a deeply instinctual process of survival and growth. Here is my guide to helping me achieve this successfully.
When you choose a stem from me, please look for a healthy, firm piece about 3-4 inches long, preferably from a section that is not flowering, as my energy is focused on growth there. Using a sharp, clean tool is paramount; a ragged tear from a dirty blade invites pathogens that could overwhelm both me and my future offspring. After the cut, you must allow the wound to dry. This is not idle time. I am forming a protective layer of callous tissue over the wound, a crucial barrier that seals my internal tissues from rot and fungal infection. This may take a few days in a warm, dry, shaded spot. Patience here is the first key to our success.
My future roots are delicate and demand a specific environment to thrive. I abhor standing water, which suffocates my tissues and leads to rot. Therefore, I require a well-draining home. A mix specifically designed for cacti and succulents is ideal, often containing coarse sand, perlite, or pumice to ensure swift drainage and ample aeration. This gritty medium provides the perfect balance—it holds just enough moisture to encourage root growth but allows excess water to escape quickly, giving my new roots the oxygen they desperately need.
Once my cut end has calloused, you can place me gently on top of the prepared soil. Do not bury me deeply. At this stage, I have no roots to draw water from the soil, and being buried in damp medium could cause my base to rot. Instead, place me so the calloused end is just in contact with the surface. Now, the second test of patience begins. I will begin the slow, internal work of initiating root primordia. Provide me with bright, indirect light and only the lightest misting of water on the soil surface every few days, if the medium is completely dry. The goal is to provide a slight hint of humidity to encourage root growth downward, not to wet me.
After a few weeks, you may notice new, tiny leaves beginning to form at my stem tip. This is a sure sign that my hidden roots are developing and I am successfully drawing nutrients. To confirm, you can give a very gentle tug; a slight resistance means my roots have anchored. Once established, you can begin to treat me more like a mature plant. Water me deeply but infrequently, only when the soil is completely dry, and gradually acclimate me to stronger sunlight. I am now a self-sustaining individual, ready to grow into a full, beautiful Crassula like my parent.
