Yes to plant #1, it's crassula ovata, the Jade plant and the most commonly written about succ here on the forum I should guess. If you search for it in the box at the top there are hundreds of posts giving sound advise. I don't know the others so I can't really say about their care as I mainly grow types of jades.

Gill

thank you greenclaws! I had a feeling the jade plant would be the winner but it's always nice to have a second opinion :)

I gave away dozens of baby Jades this year after chopping up my etiolated plants. I have been growing them for years indoors in low light, not realizing that they indeed need lots more.

They will grow in low or medium light, but will be a very different plant! This is what happened over two years in an east window (I'd call it medium light, as it's a bright window but only gets morning direct sun).

I chopped it all up and now have two very nice compact plants from the stumps.

My MIL has some cuttings growing in low light in a pot with no drainage, and she is content with the long trailing plant she has. My coworkers have some as well and most are doing well indoors. I just made sure to tell them "lots of light and let dry completely between waterings".

I would hate for that beautiful Jade plant that you have so carefully grown from a leaf, to be condemned to sit in someone's dark living room. Sentenced to die a slow, agonizing death, especially if they plant it in a pot with no drainage. It needs, adn deserves, tons of sunlight.

They all will need pretty good light. Depending on where you are (and where are the giftees?), they need to spend cold months indoors. Supplemental light will help, otherwise they will all end up etiolated.

The plants with powdery coating on the leaves needs to be handled as little as possible or it will rub off (it won't kill the plant, but it won't look the way it should).

thank you all you have been a huge help!!

one correction** I meant to write that my jade plant was grown from a clipping not from a leaf but I appreciate your comment Manuel. I will be sure to give my giftees instructions on how to care for my babies.

Would you mind sharing how you propogate the leaves? Also, what is your potting mix for the plantlets composed of? They all look very healthy and nice.

of course! thank you, this is actually my first round of propogation. The most important step is to make sure you remove the entire leaf and that it doesn't break off of the stem. once removed let the leaves dry out and form a callouse. after they callouse, usually takes a few days, lay them on dirt and mist them with water every day or every other day. make sure they are sitting in indirect sunlight in a warm spot. I leave mine outside on a closed porch. it will take awhile but eventually they will start forming roots and a new plant. don't remove them from the original leaf until it falls off on its own.

once roots form with a plant, I start to water them more frequently but not as often as mature plants. I lost a few of my plantlet's to overwatering and not enough sun.

my soil mix is 2 parts succulent soil and 1 part perlite. I add a thin layer of rocks to the bottom of the pot and also on the top over the roots. the top rocks help the soil from blowing away in the wind and also helps to support the plant as it grows.

I hope this helps!!

Liz

May I ask what is the reason for the rocks on the bottom?

Rocks in the bottom don't help drainage if that was your thinking (sorry).

These plants seem rather small to be given as gifts (they'll likely fail w/ folks who don't know succulents). They'll likely will be kept in too dark a space or watered too much.

If mine, I'd wait another 6 months at least before even thinking of giving them away.

Also misting succulents is something some of us disagree about. It's likely to help them rot when they have no roots.

They're succulents (meaning they hold water in reserve, in their fat, fleshy leaves) so they don't actually need watering until you see new growth.

Just so you know, but otherwise, looks like you've done well, enjoy!

Liz, thank you for the detailed instructions. They do help a great deal. I, too, mist my succulent cuttings, and that seems to work best for me. This last time I tried rooting without misting and I lost a few to dryness.

IME, the cuttings sitting on rocks, gravel, or perlite can withstand a light misting because they will not remain sitting in water. The cuttings I've rooted in soil alone don't need the misting and would be more prone to rotting because they'd be sitting in damp soil.

I wish that people would take that into account when it comes to misting or not misting. If people have success misting and others have success not misting, then the issue must be related more to the medium the cutting is in, and whether or not the cutting has properly healed.

But, then, the air here in the desert is very dry, so that might make a difference.

I think yours look lovely, so what you did must work.

thanks again!

Lauren, I also live in a very dry climate, and I do mist/spray when I'm propagating. I'm propagating in many different mediums (some soil with perlite, some gritty mix, etc) and all need spritzing at least every 2 days or the tender roots dessicate.

I'm learning the ins-and-outs of gritty mix, and I also spray some of my plants as well (usually the top of the soil - generally not the plants themselves). I'll need to adjust my mix, again, as even with 1/4 each perlite, bark, grit and oil-dry (like turface) is 100% dry in 48 hours in a terra cotta pot if I don't spray.

Hi, bunkfree :. Thanks for sharing that-- I really feel that misting is necessary, but I've tried to hold back because so many people said it was definite no-no. As a result, exactly what you said would happen happened. I pulled up some rooting jade stems today and the little roots had desiccated because I'd not misted.

I do fine that with soil, I can mist less. Or perhaps I should have been misting those more as well, in hindsight.

I am a 511/ gritty mix newbie, too, going through the ups and downs and learning to adjust. I put a full grown jade in 511 mix as an experiment, and so far, it's not dead. I use oil dry turface as well, but I'm not super comfortable with watering it yet. I really wonder how rooting a cutting in it would work.

best of luck with your gritty mix learning, and thanks for the confirmation. I'll mist more now!

I am one of the ppl that don't mist the plants...There is plenty of moisture in the leaf that usually lasts until plantlet and/or roots start growing. I have done it at the beginning, but I get better results without.

Jades (Crassula ovata) seems to be indestructible, I am not even trying to root any leaves since I have too many. But it is harder to throw away a cutting after pruning...

Many people here are growing in very humid environments and struggle to get their soil to dry out completely ... I am sometimes tempted to go back to regular soil because everything dries completely out SO FAST in gritty that I'm watering (pot soaking, even) several times a week! If it weren't for visual confirmation of amazing root growth and plant condition using the gritty mix, I'd give it up ;)

I've even started using a "miniature" gritty mix comprised of the smallest particles sifted out (minus any teeny dust particles that go through the kitchen strainer), hoping for greater moisture retention. I may have to use sealant on my terra cotta pots, as they are sucking a lot out of the mix as well.

my main level humidity gauge, where I keep most of my plants:

I have got to get my humidifier fixed!

thank you Lauren, I am definitely pro misting

imontestella - I'm not claiming to be an expert I am new to propogating. I am just doing what I have had success with. the plants that haven't been given enough water always die on me I add rocks to the bottom to help reduce the amount of soil in each pot especially for smaller plants. And for that reason it does help with drainage

Liz, he rocks on the bottom actually do not help drainage. Well draining mix does. If you have water retaining soil, it will stay wet for too long rocks or not.

Rina, whether they help with drainage or not, I like to put rocks on the bottom, it works for me and my plants don't die

Liz- yes, when I see the roots of plants grown in gritty and 511, I know it is impossible to go back to soil completely. But the watering is taxing, for goodness sake. Consequently, I've found that a good number of small plants in gritty and 511 have migrated to the kitchen counter or bathroom-- closer to water and drainage. But I still have to haul a few to the bathtub or kitchen sink several times a week.

I have made a compromise, though: for heavy plants and hanging plants, I am using an orchid mix. The drainage is good, the roots aren't drowned, and I'm not watering every five minutes. I also increased the perlite in one of my gritty mixes and it seems to help retain moisture. I supposed turface does that, but I'm not exactly sure how to use it properly yet.

I got annoyed with an arrowhead plant and put it in regular soil. Next day, I took it out and put it back in 511 mix. I'm just not keen on regular potting soil anymore, and I am used to watering heavily now with the fast mixes.

I keep hoping that as the plants grow roots, they will need less watering. That seems to be case with one pothos / philo mix I made from cuttings. It's been in the gritty mix for awhile now, and I've noticed that I don't have to water it as much.

You know what I love? When the plant roots start to take hold and adjust to being in gritty or 511 mix, and then all of sudden, they go nuts with growth. It's as if they get super happy overnight after kind of sulking for about a week.

Rina: I am incapable of tossing plant cuttings! Such an annoying habit, though, because I have cuttings in little pots everywhere.

One day, I'm gonna make a cuttings pot that I can just stick cuttings into randomly. Maybe I'll do one for succulents and one for regular houseplants.

i just remembered something: when I lived in Savannah, where the humidity is ungodly, my succulents would root themselves after the leaves fell into the pot, whether I watered or not. The succulents were in my office, so they did not get watered much. But here in the desert, succulent leaves and cuttings callus overnight and dry out after about two days. I think the humidity factor may the key thing to misting or not misting. Here, I have succulents that need to be watered like regular houseplants, it's so dry.

Lauren, that is good advice for heavier plants. I have been having some trouble with a few of my succulents growing very quickly in the perlite/ soil mix and they start growing sideways leaning on the side of the pot. Maybe if I use a heavier soil for these plants it will help support their weight better.

I do love watching them hit their growth spurt after weeks of waiting. it is the main reason that I fell in love with succulents. that and their simple beauty.

I remember al saying that supports are best when they are leaning like that, and eventually they will be able to stand alone when the roots grab hold.

Don't do what I did: I had a heavy jade that I moved to gritty mix, and because it wouldn't stand up, I loaded on more mix to steady it. It was too much, and the base rotted eventually. The combo of my watering and a ton of gritty mix just did it in.

So for the other heavy jade, I just propped it with bamboo sticks and kept the mix amount at enough to cover the roots. It seems to be not dead yet, so . . . .

Lauren, that's also good advice. I think I will try that first. I believe the pot is large enough that the roots will eventually catch up to support its weight. I did try to add more rocks on top but

it only held the weight for a few days

Well Liz,

Then maybe you could just pls. emphasize that misting newly potted, rootless succulents cuttings is what YOU do, but refrain from recommending it to others.

For others, especially newbies who do things like water newly potted succulents ('cause they don't know not to), it will likely contribute to the demise of their plants.

The business of rocks in the bottom goes against currently accepted practice & is regarded by many as bad growing practice which we try hard to stay away from.

Liz if you root your plants in smaller pots, then excess mix is never an issue.

Bunkfree,

I don't get it, if you're going to put sealant on your terra cotta pots, what's the point of terra cotta pots? You'd be defeating the whole point of a porous pot. Just switch 'em to plastic pots & save the wasted time & effort.

You could also consider amending your mix or even (G_d forbid) going back to a more soil based mix as you mentioned. You could experiment by trying it on a pot or two.

Some of us think moisture meters are no good, & several have shown their readings to be all wrong. Best learn by learning the weight of your pots when wet vs. when dry.

Well Karen,

I did not recommend anything, I started this discussion by asking a question and stating that I am new to propogation, never once did I claim to be an expert or try to influence anyone. I simple explained my procedure and what I have found to work for me. I entered this forum to learn more about succulents and ask more experienced growers for help. Please read all of my comments before accusing me of anything.

Hi Liz. Your plant that's leaning looks etiolated, stretched, from not getting enough sun. Is it possible that it is leaning because it is straining for more sun?

FYI. When I pot up new plants in gritty mix I place stones on top to support those that need it. Eventually, when the roots take, I remove the stones.

Here's an example of some Echeveria harmsii that needed support.

Karen, I asked Liz how she propogated her cuttings. And there are plenty of things that people say you shouldn't do which obviously do work for others. As I mentioned, extreme dryness may play a part in misting among many other things.

further, I wish you could refrain from calling people newbies, especially since you don't know what their relationship to plants is. I am a newbie on some things and an old hand at others. It is condescending when you assume that because one is doing it differently they must be a "newbie."

liz can recommend whatever she likes, especially since it worked for her. It is up to readers to go through the advice and make an informed decision based on what they read.

I am not a newbie, and asked her to explain what she did because I want to take notes and keep learning. Please don't tell her what she should refrain from doing, especially since she offered up the advice only after I asked.

ive been reading this forum, and learning from this forum for two years, and I never created an account because of people who say definitive things like that. You create some kind of imaginary hierarchy when you divide people into groups and then suggest that those who do this or that are newbies. Your way is one way. And it may be, in the big scheme of things, the best way. But it is not the only way.

I suspect that people who are new to plants have enough sense to scroll through posts and weigh their decisions in advance based on the comments. I am not new to plants and still I try different things, even when what I've been doing works. So, it is best if people contribute freely without being censored by you and told it is "best"to do this, or something isn't "supposed" to be done.. Did you consider the fact that I live in a climate where an article of clothing can dry in under one hour, or your body actually changes to accommodate the extreme dryness? Did you consider the fact that the cutting actually can grow even if misted? I have two jades that I grew from cuttings that were heavily watered when they were just leaves because they were in a pot with a regular houseplant.

other ways do work.

Sigh. Karen/Lena/lmonstella... Whatever your name is ... I already mentioned I am going amend my mix.

I may seal some of my pots because

a) I want to

b) I already own them, and I like the look/heft of them over plastic

c) as part of my learning curve and experimentation it's not wasted time and effort IMHO (besides I don't know why you're so offended by it - not like I asked you to do it)

d) some of them are painted on the outside and I find the paint bubbling when they absorb water.

'G-d forbid' somebody around here other than the "Old Masters" offer any ideas or advice based on their own experience.

Renee, the biggest challenge I have faced is sunlight. I went away for a week and when I came back a few of my succulents had suffered from sun damage and now have brown spots. I read somewhere this is irreversible but hopefully my plants will grow out of the damage. I will try to move my leaning plant into more sunlight and see if it helps. Thank you for your advice.

Yeah, I have a Golden Sedum that burned badly early in the summer. It's okay, but I just cringe every time I look at it. I'll be happy when the old leaves are done and fall off.

Try to acclimate your plant to direct sun gradually over many days or even a week. That will avoid the sunburn.

Liz

If you are interested in my observations...

That plant is very etiolated. Plant should be strong enough to support itself - lack of light will make it grow weaker stems.

I don't know how much/how strong is the sunlight in CT, but succulents will do best in good sunlight. Some could use bit of protection around noontime when it seems to be the worse. I have been away for nearly 3 weeks this summer, leaving all succulents in full sun (my garden is south & west exposure, there are some trees but only on perimeter and they don't shade any plants). But the plants go outdoors as soon as weather permits and are acclimatized - in late spring, it doesn't take that long (I think it was about a week this year). Few (like haworthias) are in location where they get only some morning sun. It rained 3x and that's how they go watered. I didn't worry (much :) about rain since they are in very gritty mix, with excellent drainage (I am sure I would have problems if it rained non-stop for days...)

As for rocks on the bottom: I am not suggesting you can't use them, just saying that they do not help with drainage. I used to do it too - remember my mother using some shards...I believe that they were used to stop soil from being washed out of the pot. Now, it is being used in many arrangements (and recommended in many tutorials on net...:-( especially when using containers without drain hole. But it doesn't work in the long run - fine soil slowly fills up the space between the rocks. In containers without drainage hole, water has no place to go & sits at the bottom, in between he rocks. In a container with drainage hole, water will drain, but drainage is impaired.

Some ppl will place a larger rock/rocks at the bottom to keep pot more stable. I have some too - but on top of soil...

There are as many ways growing plants as there are ppl growing them. Some ways are better than other. Many say 'it works for me'... doesn't make it best for the plant, but all are free to do as they please. And ppl should not be offended if someone suggests 'the better way' (for the plant...)

Rina:. I said the same thing above-- the suggestion Karen makes might be the best way, but it is not the only way. What I take offense to is the tone and the unnecessary admonition a to "refrain" for advising others. I was very clear about that. And I spoke specifically to this situation, in which I asked someone how she did something and she graciously answered.

You will notice that I said nothing about rocks in bottom of the container. If the op wants to that, it is her business. I know, and many others know, that this can cause problems in the long run, but it can also be fine, as many, many people do this.

I take offense at someone inserting herself into a conversation to admonish someone and warn her to refrain from spreading this information. I also take offense at the complete lack of nuanced thought that drives people to insist that there is only one way to do something. I could say to Karen that her way of continuing to use peat based soils for succulents is not the best way for Plants, but I don't. I take offense to people designating themselves as experts and others as newbies when, in fact, her own planting practices are, to my mind, not even close to the best practices for raising healthy plants.

what you did was take time to explain to the op why certain issues may be problematic in the long run. That's reasonable.

Liz, I understand.

It is also very difficult to get the 'real feeling' for the message typed. Karen does have many good points, she has been growing many different plants and participates on other forums too (not saying that guarantees person like that knows everything, lol) - she doesn't mince the words, sayz things as she sees them, and it may read differently than it is meant. I have been told not to be so wordy and make my posts much shorter - and am sure that is correct to quite an extent.

I got the impression Karen was referring to the suggestion to mist new cuttings, not the rock placement in your pots.

I hope, Rina, that you don't take that advice. You have given me good advice on more than one occasion, and I appreciate your clear and thorough explanations.

Me too! And your patience!!! Lol

Thank you both...I tried, but is came across kind of 'short', almost abrupt - so I continue with my long-winded posts until many will complain...(btw, the person didn't complain and I didn't take it as such).

Rina, I have been away from this forum fo awhile now...a lot has happened, but I just wanted to clear things up and say that your comment did not offend me, your wording was fine and very professional. I was originally responding to another's rude answer which offended me personally. I am new to this forum and am not familiar with anyone or how they write.