Succulents: how fast do they grow and how can you grow them faster?

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Although many types of plants fall under the succulent category, how fast do succulents grow on average?

Since succulents grow at different rates, there is no constant answer to this question.

Technically, these plants do grow slower compared to others.

Succulents are considered the best houseplants by most people. Why?

Low and relative humidity can be tolerated by these plants, and they don’t require much watering.

My indoor garden is filled with succulent plants, but they adapt well to being planted outside as well.

They all grow similarly at the same speed and have the same size pots since they are from the same variety.

Succulent Growth Rate: How Fast Do They Grow?

What is the growth rate of succulents?

A succulent’s growth rate depends on the environment it’s in. Also, the type of succulent you’re growing will determine the rate of growth.

Typically, the fastest growing succulents like Echeveria grow up-to 6-8 inches from a 2 inch plant in just a year, while slow-growing succulents like Haworthias can take a year or even longer to reach 5 inches in size. 

However, I cannot say the same for all succulents. It’s already established that all succulents require time to grow. It is true that some succulents grow faster than others when we are discussing them in general.

A succulent’s growth is also influenced by factors such as sunlight or the lack thereof, watering, the soil that it is planted in, and the season.

These plants are either actively growing or dormant at different times during the year.

Succulent Dormancy

Several animals in the animal kingdom hibernate where they lay dormant for a couple of months.

For example, brown bears enter a deep sleep. Just like animals, succulents undergo a dormant phase.

When succulents are in their dormant phase, they grow much slower, and they also require minimal watering.

Succulents go through this stage in the winter. They resume growth once summer arrives.

In contrast, there are also varieties of succulents that grow more quickly with a drop in temperature and less quickly when the temperature rises.

Winter Dormant Succulents

Summer growers, native to the Northern Hemisphere, go through dormancy from November to February.

  • Adenia
  • Adenium
  • Agave
  • Alluaudia
  • Brachystelma
  • Bursera
  • Calibanus
  • Ceropegia
  • Cissus
  • Cyphostemma
  • Didieria
  • Dorstenia
  • Echeveria
  • Encephalartos
  • Euphorbia
  • Ficus
  • Fockea
  • Huernia
  • Ibervillea
  • Ipomoea
  • Jathropha
  • Lithops
  • Monadenium
  • Moringa
  • Operculicarya
  • Pachypodium
  • Pedilanthus
  • Plumeria
  • Pseudolithos
  • Pterodiscu
  • Raphionacme
  • Siningia
  • Stapelianthus
  • Synadenium
  • Tillandsia
  • Trichocaulon
  • Trichodiadema
  • Xerosicyos

Summer Dormant Succulents

The succulents in this group are usually native to the Southern Hemisphere. The plants are dormant during the summer or between May and August, which is why they are also called winter growers.

  • Adromischus
  • Aeonium
  • Aloe
  • Anacampseros
  • Astroloba
  • Avonia
  • Bowiea
  • Bulbine
  • Ceraria
  • Conophytum
  • Cotyledon
  • Crassula
  • Dioscorea
  • Dudleya
  • Fouqueria
  • Gasteria
  • Gibbaeum
  • Graptopetalum
  • Graptoveria
  • Haemanthus
  • Haworthia
  • Kalanchoe
  • Neohenricia
  • Othonna
  • Pachycormus
  • Pachyphytum
  • Pachyveria
  • Pelargonium
  • Peperomia
  • Portulacaria
  • Sansevieria
  • Sarcocaulon
  • Sedeveria
  • Sedum
  • Senecio
  • Sempervivum
  • Stomatium
  • Talinum
  • Tylecod

Is it True That Succulents Propagated From Cuttings Take Longer To Root?

The first succulent plant I ever owned was a hanging succulent called a Burro’s tail. I just got lucky that the variety of sedum propagated on its own.

My Burros’s tail began rooting within a couple of weeks after its fallen leaves fell!

You can propagate your succulent collection rather than purchasing new ones if you ever decide to create a collection. It is also more economical to propagate succulents on your own.

The process of rooting succulents can sometimes be tedious for beginners.

Don’t worry, it will take a few weeks for the roots to develop. Below are estimates for each type of propagation technique.

How Long Do Succulents Take To Grow From Leaf?

If you propagate your succulent using this method, little roots will begin to sprout as early as two weeks. Within this period, you can see small roots forming beneath the leaves.

After a few months, at most 8 weeks, new leaves will appear, and it can be large enough to be moved into a new pot. It is usually a sign that the new plant is independent enough to be potted when it loses its original leaf.

This also means that new sprouts have already sucked up nutrients from the original leaf.

The meristem tissue in the leaf is essential for the plant’s ability to produce new roots. Make sure this tissue is still intact to the plant.

How Long Do Succulents Take To Grow From Stem?

The majority of succulents that are propagated using this method have branches or have a shrub-like growth pattern.

With enough light and water, a perfectly healed and re-potted stem can begin rooting in about four weeks. However, it can take longer in certain cases.

This technique works best for Crassula ovata, one of the easiest succulent varieties to propagate.

But how will you know when it has started to root?

An indication that the roots are able to absorb more water is when the leaves get plump and vibrant.

The stem cutting may also show signs of damage if you lightly pull on it, there will be a slight resistance.

One good point to note is that roots form fast and easily on stems that have two sets of leaves and nodes.   

Root Propagation

In order to execute this technique, you will need roots from any succulent species that are well-formed. Be sure to loosen and stretch the roots before planting so they can stabilize well in the soil.

If you plant a self-supporting succulent, it will begin to develop new roots and leaves within 21-28 days at most.

Offset Propagation

A baby plant that has its own root system can be transplanted from its mother plant and become a new plant.

It can take between 4-10 weeks for offsets to develop new roots after the calloused babies are set in soil. Some offsets even become established sooner than that.

Similar to other cuttings, it is important to dry out these babies in a warm area for a couple of days so they can dry and heal.

Whenever I propagate houseleeks or supervivum, I use this type of propagation since it results in a great deal of offsets.

How Long Do Succulent Seeds Take To Grow From Seed?

The slowest method of growing new succulents may be through seed propagation. It’s for people who enjoy waiting and seeing how succulents grow from the very start. In a way, it’s like watching a baby grow up!

It will take succulent seeds about 10-14 days to germinate. During this time, you will begin to see sprouts from the seed.

In the first few weeks after planting, the seeds require constant watering. After about four weeks, they can form their own root system. 

You can then transplant your new succulents into another pot. Once they have established a strong root system, you can reduce the frequency of watering.

Those who enjoy waiting and those who need immediate results are two types of people. Check out this list of succulents, and you might just find the right plant for you.

Examples Of Fast Growing Succulents?

In just a month or even less, you can already see some growth from these succulents. In about 4-6 months, you’ll notice noticeable growth.

Aloe 

Aloe arborescens, Aloe barbadensis, and Aloe vera are some of the fastest-growing species of Aloes. They are also very adaptable, able to grow two to six inches a year given the right conditions.

Kalanchoes Or Mother Of Thousands

The species under this type grow very quickly. I personally have my own Lavender Scallops (Kalanchoe fedtschenkoi or Bryophyllum fedtschenkoi), and I can attest to their rapid growth.

Kalanchoe marmorata, Kalanchoe diagremontana, Kalanchoe stormsa, and Kalanchoe pinnata are some of the fastest-growing Kalanchoe.

Crassula

There are some crassulas that grow faster indoors than others, like Jade plants, while others grow better outdoors. Another fast-growing species of Crassula is Crassula perforata, or String of Buttons.

Echeveria 

A two-inch Echeveria can grow to six to eight inches in one year. The Echeveria species of Hen and Chick succulents grows quickly.

Sedum Or Stonecrop

There are many Sedum species, but one notable one is Sedum rubrotinctum, or jelly bean plant. One foot of space can be covered by sedum within a year.

Agave Or Century Plant

An Agave the size of a fist can grow into a large plant within two to three years in ideal conditions. Some fast-growing Agaves are Agave stricta, Agave Angustifolia, Agave attenuata and Agave Americana.

Slow-Growing Succulents

These succulents become truly sluggish, and you would believe that they are not actually developing

  1. Lithops or Living Stones.
  2. Gasteria
  3. Adromischus cristatus or Crinkle Leaf Plant
  4. Tillandsia or Air plants
  5. Ferocactus or Barrel Cactus

How Big Do Succulents Get?   

Since there’s a plenty of delicious animal types, it very well may be difficult to group every one of them in one size. A few succulents can stay little for quite a long time while a few animal types can become taller than 50 feet.

The biggest delicious on the planet, Adansonia digitata or the Baobab tree is huge to such an extent that it can give haven, water, and food. Here and there primary stem of this tree can go up to up to 92 feet in size.

Not just the sidelong development of the succulents ought to be thought of. Since succulents can likewise create “puppies”, they can make new plants that group at the lower part of the plant and may add to the first plants’ width.

Obviously, to deal with the development of these plants. You can select to remove the new buds or trim the taller once as per your inclination.

How To Grow Succulents Faster?

To cause succulents to develop quicker, they need appropriate consideration. These plants are pioneering; it implies that they will fill consistently in positive conditions.

Beside that, you need to observe the dirt, pot, watering routine, and the measure of daylight that they are presented to.

Use Well Draining Soil For Succulent

Your plants will fundamentally profit in well-depleting soil. For most succulents, it is prescribed to utilize Cactus and Succulent Soil Mix. You can likewise select to make your own dirt blend following a few instructional exercises on the web.

A few succulents require particular soil, so try to do what’s needed exploration about your favored plant.

Choosing The Right Pot For Your Succulents

Continuously picked a holder with brilliant seepage. I’ve committed an incredible error of picking a pot with a helpless waste framework that made my plants decay. Unglazed earthenware pots help in wicking dampness away.

Actually, I use earthenware pots for my succulents since these pots are truly breathable. In any case, in case you will utilize earthenware pots, ensure that you water your plants more than expected during sweltering and dry summers.

Proper Watering Schedule

Despite the fact that succulents can endure delayed timeframes without water, it doesn’t imply that they needn’t bother with it.

A decent dependable guideline is to water your succulents once you feel that the dirt is dry. Here I compose a point by point direct on how much and how frequently you should water your succulents.

Additionally, make certain to water the dirt and not the plant straightforwardly since water can simply remain on the leaves that may make them decay.

Be Sure Your Succulent Has Enough Light

One thing is without a doubt, and succulents don’t require TOO much direct daylight. Be that as it may, a few assortments may require expanded periods under it or some delicious shifts do well in low light condition.

For most plants, they just need in any event 6 hours of direct daylight. On the off chance that your plants start to extend, it’s a decent pointer that they need sun.

Conclusion

Continuously recollect that not all succulents are something very similar. Each plant requires an alternate sort of care. The climate that they’re in assumes a critical part on how quick they would develop.

Essentially, soil, daylight, water, and temperature.

The presence of your plants is a decent sign of their present status or whether they need something. Do they require daylight? Do they require water?

Try not to be debilitate if at any time you feel like your plant isn’t developing. Recollect that they can be in their torpid season where they develop more slow, or they don’t develop by any stretch of the imagination.

It will all be great once their developing season begins.

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