How to Propagate Succulents with Honey

Are you are one of the succulent growers who are passionate about caring for succulents and you are planning to propagate your succulent plants? Have you heard of using honey as a succulent rooting aid? If your answer to the question is no, you came to the right place! Here at Eden Succulents, we will share with you the tips on how to propagate succulents with honey. If you want to know more information, make sure to read on below.

Honey has been used for thousands of years because of its healing properties, and ancient people use it because it has antimicrobial and anti-fungal properties. These properties are useful when propagating succulents because it can help prevent bacteria and fungi from growing on the succulent leaves and stems.

Gardeners usually dip the succulent pieces in honey to help encourage the roots to grow and for new leaves to grow on stems. You must only use pure raw honey, check it first before using it on your succulent pieces as some honey products have sugar added on it.

Avoid honey that has undergone pasteurization because it is likely that it has lost its antibacterial and anti-fungal properties. Read the product label; check the ingredient list before using it for propagating the succulents. Some gardeners use honey that is watered down, 2 tablespoons of honey is added in a warm cup of water, while others just dip the succulent pieces on plain honey and plant it on the soil.

Some succulent growers have done experiments using rooting hormones and honey for propagating succulents. One has experienced growing a baby succulent from the leaf by using honey, so it is worth a try. If you found a succulent that you want to propagate, you can ask your fellow succulent grower for a stem or leaf cuttings so you can grow your very own succulent and add it to your succulent collection.

Succulents can be propagated by using leaf or cuttings from a parent plant. If you want to propagate your succulents, there are many ways that you can do it. Some use water to propagate the succulents, but there is a possibility that the succulent may rot. On the other hand, the leaf may produce roots, but they are fragile and not healthy enough, which can cause the plant to die off.
Another option to propagate a succulent is by planting the leaf directly on the soil, but it can take a longer time for the succulent to develop roots, which is why plenty of individuals have tried using natural rooting hormones such as:

Cinnamon – This spice is not just used for cooking or baking, it is also known for its anti-fungal properties which can help prevent fungi growing on succulents and this can help enhance root growth. You can use water to allow the cinnamon to stick on the succulent that you are propagating.

Apple cider vinegar – It has a lot of uses and benefits. Most gardeners use it to kill weeds, but when used in moderate amounts and mixed with water, it can help the succulent to develop roots.

Honey – Honey has a lot of beneficial properties which makes it quite useful in many ways. It has antibacterial and anti-fungal properties which make it perfect for propagating succulents and succulents root faster when honey is used. Get your raw honey here.

If you are eager in trying to propagate your succulents using honey, here is the step by step process that you can follow:

1. Gather cuttings or leaves from the parent succulent that you want to propagate.

Leaf cuttings – Get some leaves from the succulent that you want to propagate, but do not take too many as it can cause the parent plant to become weak. You can pluck out a few leaves from the base of the plant. Do it gently so you will not uproot the parent plant. You can gently twist the leaves and it can be removed easily. Be careful when twisting the leaf as it can easily break, the leaf must be cleanly removed from the stem.

Stem cutting – If you have decided to use stem cuttings to propagate your succulent you can use garden shears or scissors to do a clean cut. Cut a piece of the stem just above a leaf node. You can use a stem that has grown beside the parent plant or you can cut off an offshoot that has grown near the plant.

2. Allow the leaf or stem cutting to dry.

After cutting a leaf or stem, you must allow it to dry off. If you directly place it on the soil with the wound of the cutting still fresh, it is prone to infection and may lead to rotting if directly planted on a pot.

You must allow the leaf or stem cutting to dry out. Leave it in an airy, open area with sunlight to allow it to dry. You may have to wait for a few days to weeks before the cutting dries out. If a cutting has developed callous formation on the wound of the cutting, it can help prevent infection caused by fungi or bacteria which can cause the plant to rot easily. While waiting for the plant to develop callous formation, you can prepare the potting mix; you can use a cactus/succulent soil mix.

3. Use honey to propagate the succulent.

Get the dried out leaf or stem cutting, dip it in honey, and allow a thin layer to coat it. After coating the end part of the succulent with honey, you can lay the stem or leaf cutting on the top of the soil in a pot or tray. Do not cover the succulent with soil.

To enhance the growth of the roots, you can lightly mist the soil with water, but make sure not to water it directly. Whenever the soil becomes dry, mist it again with water. Use a garden syringe to prevent overwatering. Avoid wetting the leaves or stem as it can cause it to rot. After a few weeks, small roots may pop out; just make sure to continue to water the soil whenever it gets dry. The length of rooting time may vary depending on the type of succulent you used, climate, and season. You can propagate the succulents during spring or summer, which is the normal growing season of succulents.

When the roots have developed, you must wait for a few weeks before repotting them, and then you can repot into a new container. Allow the parent leaf to become dry and do not remove it, just wait for it to fall off. Use a succulent potting mix and keep it in a shaded area with indirect sunlight for a few days to allow it to adjust to bright sunlight.

You can use synthetic rooting hormones and usually the root develops within 3 to 4 days, but when you use honey, the roots may develop within 7 to 14 days.

Here are some tips to keep in mind when propagating succulents:

1. Echeveria – This succulent is one of the most commonly grown by plant lovers because of its beautiful and thick rosette form. This plant is best to propagate because it produces offshoots or tiny plants. When growing this plant make sure to avoid overwatering them as it can cause them to rot.

2. Jade Plant – This succulent is easy to grow whether as an indoor or outdoor plant. They have thick woody stems and fleshy leaves that can be used during propagation. This plant looks like a small tree, which makes it an excellent indoor plant. Jade plants prefer warm climates and are not advisable to grow outdoors if the climate is too cold.

3. Sedum – This succulent has thick, fleshy leaves and stems, which makes it easy to propagate. The sedum succulent blooms star-shaped flowers. This plant is an excellent choice for rock gardens. When propagating this plant, you can use seeds, leaves, and stem cuttings. The leaf or stem cutting will grow roots within 2-3 weeks of propagating them.

Are you planning to propagate your succulent plants? Why not try propagating your succulents with honey? Here at Eden Succulents, you can find different topics and guides on how to care and grow succulents. If you need more information on how to propagate your succulents make sure to visit our website. We are looking forward to hearing from you!