Mixed succulent propagation and problems

7 years ago

last modified: 7 years ago

So I received somewhere around 40 different cuttings this past week (all calloused over after about a week in shipment from California to Miami) and decided to try both water and soil propagation to see which ends up working best.
It has been about a week since propagation began. I keep them in indirect light until about late 6pm when the sun is almost down but going through the sliding door to them on the shelves.
Every succulent has a little miracle-gro powder sprinkled on (not dipped) before propagating (soil and water).
I've come across a few different scenarios happening, both good and bad.
1) There is some kind of white slime at the base of a couple of the succulents, but it's also turned brown. My best guess after a bit of reading is overwatering + rot. I've read to wash the slime off under running water, quick dip in weak peroxide to kill anything bad, cut the base, and either callous over or just straight to dry soil. Not sure if this is anywhere near the right action to take.
2) One of the rosettes is confusing me heavily. It sprouted roots but the tips of some of the leaves completely dried out? The only browning on the bottom looks like the callousing just got soggy and the rest of the base looks normal to me. Should I continue water propagation or also move to soil?
3) Some of the succulents neither show signs of rot or root growth. Is water prop still safe for these or also move to soil?
Any and all advice is greatly appreciated. Just please don't tell me to just disregard water propagation entirely since it seems like it works for a couple of these little nuggets.

(Success?)

(2)

(2)

(3)

(3)

(1, the 'slime' is hard to see)

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Comments (4)

rina_Ontario,Canada 5a
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
I won't tell you ..."to just disregard water propagation entirely"... since you like it so much, I personally do not believe it is good for succulents. JMO! I propagated many stem cuttings, and always use same method: after callusing (often just few hrs), I stick them into gritty mix. I do not use any rooting hormone. I do not water for a while since they do not have any roots to take in water. If rootless stems sit in wet soil, they cold rot easy. Many succulents will grow roots without any medium too. Roots grown in water ("water roots") seem to be bit different and probably need to adapt to a coarser mix - I do not see any reason to put them thru this extra step. Most succulents root very reliably the way suggested, but there are always some that are more difficult.

ETA: HERE IS THE LINK to a thread (with 2nd thread linked to at the end) about beheading plants - that is cutting off top of etiolated plants and rooting it. The method used is exactly what would work for your cuttings...
cactusmcharris, interior BC Z4/5
7 years ago
Yes, many of your problems are directly traceable to rooting in water. In a word, don't. It's like growing them in pots with no drainage hole - just because you can doesn't validate growing them that way, especially since that's not how they grow in nature.
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Neil
7 years ago
Rooting succulents in water is never advisable. The plant will not have the vitality and longevity for the long run. It will then be prone to being distressed. Distressed plants are sought after by mold, fungus and insects. Try your best to mimic the natural growing environment your plants originate from and you will be rewarded with healthy and beautiful plants.

One of my many propagation trays. No water needed.

After 2 1/2 weeks all cuttings have rooted. No water.

---All the best.
Matt z5b - Greenhouse 10a
7 years ago
I use to propagate but I think it was a phase. No longer do any of it. Yes those are all good to go into soil and maybe stick them outside since you're in zone 10a, unless you're in Florida..