Succulent plants are a type of plant that is characterized by being able to accumulate large amounts of water, either in its leaves or stem. Their fleshy appearance makes them aesthetically very different from other plants, which is why they tend to be highly appreciated by many botanical enthusiasts, both in indoor gardens and in a vertical succulent garden, which is becoming increasingly fashionable.
In this article, we are going to teach you all the essentials about its different types, as well as what you need to know about how to reproduce succulent plants and grow them.
Types of succulents
Succulents are so diverse that they encompass a large number of different plant families, although the most common of them in gardening are cacti and crassulaceae .
Cactaceae or cactus plants
Commonly called cacti, these plants, mostly from America, are known around the world for their extraordinary resistance to drought and high temperatures. Its most distinctive feature is the areola, the structure from which its stems, spines and flowers are born. Some of the most used cacti are the following:
- Dolichothele
- Aporocactus
- Escobaria
- Cereus
- Aylostera
- Epiphylum
- Acanthocalycium
- Carnegiea
- Copiapoa
- Astrophytum
- Coryphantha
- Echinocactus
- Hylocereus
Crassulaceous plants
Crassulaceae are another family of succulent plants , most of them herbaceous, that can be found throughout the world. Crassulaceae plants store water in their succulent leaves , since, like cacti, they are typical of hot areas with very little water. They are widely used in gardening due to their resistance and the little care they require. A few common crassulaceae are:
- Echeveria black prince
- Echeveria pearl of nuremberg
- Echeveria elegans
- Kalanchoe tomentosa
- Kalanchoe humilis
- Kalanchoe thyrsiflora
- Monanthes
- Sedum
- Sempervivum
- Crassula Morgan Beauty
- Crassula multicava
- Crassula ovata
- Umbilicus
- Cotyledon orbiculata
- aloe vera
- Aloe squarrosa
- Aloe aristata
How to reproduce succulents
Propagating succulents is especially practical to get a good quantity of them from a few mother plants. Due to the great capacity of these plants to reproduce in this way we will be able to multiply them in a very short time.
Reproduce succulents by leaf cuttings
Most of them can be reproduced simply by planting a healthy leaf of the chosen succulent plant:
- Reproducing succulents by leaf with this method requires pulling or cutting them very carefully, always trying not to leave any remnants of the leaf on the mother plant. Remember to wear thick gardening gloves if you are working with plants with thorns.
- Let the sheet dry for about 72 hours.
- Then plant it superficially, that is, without burying it deep and leaving more of the leaf outside than underground.
Reproduce succulents by suckers
It is also possible to reproduce succulents by suckers. Many of these plants, like cacti, naturally produce suckers around the mother plant. Transplanting them is very easy:
- First, keep in mind that, in general, it is convenient to separate the suckers only once they have grown some roots that are a bit long.
- Separate the sucker from the mother plant with well-sharpened and disinfected pruning shears, or even with your hands if it comes off easily.
- Let the sucker dry for two to three days if it has suffered injuries when it is separated.
- Then plant it in the ground, covering its roots and base well.
Reproduce succulents by stem cuttings
Another possible method is multiplication by large cuttings, that is, from the stem:
- It is very similar to the method of reproduction by leaves, only in this case, it uses an entire stem of the mother plant and not just one leaf.
- Let the cutting dry for a few days before planting it.
- Plant the cutting in soil suitable for these types of plants and do not overload the soil when doing so.
If you are not sure which method is the most suitable for your succulent, the best thing you can do is look for specific information about the species with which you are going to work. Here below we leave you our video on the reproduction of succulents so that you can expand this information a little more and see what has been commented better.
How to care for succulents
When it comes to reproducing succulents, the most common is to do it by leaf or stem cuttings or suckers. You have already seen what the three main ways to do it are, but, although they are very resistant plants, it is important to take into account some things so that they enjoy good health.
The main enemies of succulent plants are excess moisture and fungi. For this reason, it is necessary to know a series of basic care of succulents :
Soil and drainage
It is necessary to use pots and soil with very good drainage. Likewise, these plants benefit from having a layer of gravel or stones that separates their leaves from the substrate. In addition, newly planted leaves or cuttings appreciate the use of fungicides to avoid possible attacks. Aloe is one of the succulents most susceptible to this type of damage.
Location, light and irrigation
Find a bright location for your plant, ideally facing south, and don’t overwater it. In winter once a month will be enough, and in summer it should not be watered more than once a week.
