Grow more ice plant from a stem cutting. Snip a healthy stem, let the cut dry, then stick it in cactus mix.
Grow more from a stem cutting
| Factor | Recommended | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| When | Spring or early summer, while the plant is growing | Do not take cuttings in cold, wet weather |
| Stem | A healthy 3- to 5-inch stem, cut just below a node | Do not use a flowering, damaged, or dried-out stem |
| Wound | Let the cut dry in shade for a few hours up to a day | Do not stick a fresh, wet cut straight into wet mix |
| Mix | Cactus mix in a small pot with a hole | Do not use heavy garden soil that stays soggy |
A nursery plug is still the usual start. A stem cutting is how you fill a gap from a plant you already like. Do not expect a single leaf to root. [1] Cooper's ice plant and yellow ice plant both take from a stem. [2] [3] Sun and drain after the cutting roots are on How to Grow Ice Plant.
How do you propagate ice plant?
Take a 3- to 5-inch stem, strip the lower leaves, dry the cut, then stick it in cactus mix. A plug from the nursery is still the usual start.
How to take a stem cutting
Work one stem at a time in warm weather, with a dry wound and mix that drains.
- Cut a healthy 3- to 5-inch stem just below a node. Strip the lower leaves so they will not sit in the mix.
- Let the cut dry in shade for a few hours, or up to a day, so the wound skins over.
- Push the dried end into cactus mix in a small pot with a hole. Press the mix so the stem stands.
- Water lightly. Keep the mix barely moist, not wet, until you see new growth. Then treat it like the rest of the bed.
- Start it in bright light out of harsh noon sun, then move it into full sun once it is growing.
Divide a crowded mat
If the mat is already thick, lift a piece that has roots and stems, and replant it at the same depth. Water the division as you would a new plug until it takes. [4]
Can I divide ice plant?
Yes. Lift a rooted piece from a crowded mat and replant it at the same depth. Water it until it takes, the same way you water a new plug.
What fails a cutting
A fresh cut pushed into wet mix is the usual reason a stem rots before it roots. Let the wound dry. A single leaf rarely roots on this plant, so use a stem. Named hybrids will not come true from seed.
If the cutting turns mushy, the wound went into wet mix too soon — let the next cut dry before you stick it.
FAQ
Will a single leaf root?
Rarely. Use a stem with a node. A torn leaf in wet mix usually rots.
Do named hybrids come true from seed?
No. Named Jewel, Hotcakes, and Wheels plants will not match from seed. Take a cutting from the plant you like.
Related guides
Recommended plants
References
This note is part of Delosperma Guides.
More notes on making another plant live in Propagating Guides.
Updated: Reviewed by Bosquelle Editors