How to Propagate Bear Paw Succulents
Or you could just buy more succulents. That's all I'm saying.
I love succulents because they’re cute, and I’m a little lazy when it comes to gardening. They tolerate drought, poor soil, and cold temperatures.
The Chicks & Hens (Sempervivum) Succulents Are Practically Foolproof
You can almost completely forget about them, accidentally stick them in the fridge (‘cause I’m nearly 60 and yes, I have memory issues, okay?), and you don’t need to buy fancy plant food.
Perfect!
Bear Paw Succulents Are a Little More Finicky
Unlike Sempervivum succulents, which essentially propagate themselves with their offsets, Bear Paws are trickier.
When learning how to propagate Bear Paw succulents, there are a few things you should know.
Tips to Consider When Learning How to Propagate Bear Paw Succulents
This isn’t a comprehensive guide on how to propagate Bear Paw succulents. I do, however, have a few tips for you that may help. These include the following:
1. Leaf propagation rarely works for Bear Paws.
Unlike many succulents, Bear Paw leaves have fewer growth cells and often fail to produce new plants. Even if they root, they rarely grow into full succulents. Skip the leaves and focus on stem cuttings for real success.
2. Stem cuttings carry the magic.
The stems hold vascular tissue, nodes, and axillary buds that are essential for both root and shoot growth. They store more water and nutrients, giving them a higher chance of surviving callusing and rooting than leaves do.
3. Timing is critical.
Always take cuttings during the active growing season (spring to early summer). Avoid winter propagation since Bear Paws go semi-dormant and rooting success plummets.
4. Don’t skip the callusing stage.
Let the cut ends dry and callus for a few days before planting in well-draining soil. This step prevents rot and fungal infections, especially in fuzzy succulents like Bear Paws.
5. Be Patient!
Leaf cuttings often take several weeks to root and even longer to develop into a viable plant.
Stem cuttings need time to callus, root, and become established in their new pot before they will start to grow.
Important Tip:
Overwatering because “nothing is happening” is a common mistake. Succulents prefer to dry out between waterings.
Roots rot easily if disturbed too soon.
I’d love to hear from the gardeners out there!
What tips do YOU have for successful propagation?
Care to subscribe?
I’m moving my blog AgeingUP over to Substack, where everyone seems so much friendlier and genuinely interested in reading!