Broken succulent stems might seem like the end of the world to new gardeners, but it actually can be the signal of new life: if you approach the situation in the right way! Believe it or not, it’s super easy to fix broken succulent stems, all you need is a pair of clean scissors, some dirt, and a few weeks of patience. Find the full tutorial to fix broken succulent stems below.
Fixing Broken Succulent Stems: Step One
Like a haircut, this is often the most traumatic part of the process for many house plant owners! But like a haircut, sometimes it has to be done. To fix a broken succulent stem, first use a pair of CLEAN sharp scissors to remove the broken end from the plant. Cut as smooth as you can, saving as much of the healthy stem as possible.
Phew! The hard part is over! And though it may seem scary to cut your succulents (especially if you’re the lucky owner of a rare plant) I promise that you’ll save your succulent just as long as you follow my tips!
Fixing Broken Succulent Stems: Step Two
After taking the cutting, place the succulent stem (leaves and all!) on a dry paper towel and leave it alone for a minimum of 1-2 days. The key here is to let the succulent dry out a little so that it doesn’t drown once you incorporate water into the mix.
Move on to step three once you notice your succulent cutting beginning to wrinkle–don’t panic, as this is totally normal!
Fixing Broken Succulent Stems: Step Three
Now that your succulent is a little wrinkly, and thusly, thirsty, it’s time to start adding water into the mix. To do so, place your succulent stems over some soil–do not BURY the stem like you would during a repot, but rather lay them directly on top of the soil. Use a spray bottle to wetten the top of the soil and repeat the process each time the soil goes dry. Don’t spray your succulents directly, rather just the soil they are sitting on.
Within a few days time, you should begin to notice some new roots developing off of the succulent stem. Wait until these roots are at least 2-3 inches long before moving on to step four, our final step.
Fixing Broken Succulent Stems: Step Four
If you feel comfortable with the length of your roots, it’s time to transplant your succulent back into a pot. Of course, use a well-draining potting soil formulated for cacti and succulents. Typically, I don’t water repotted succulents for at least two days, but water thoroughly when you notice the plant beginning to wrinkle (this goes back to step two–scabbing is always important!)
