Depending on what species you are speaking about, they can either be propagated via leaf of stem cutting. Crassula Ovata is the most popular regarding these two methods. But many of the rosette succulents like Echeveria do well when they become leggy.
B.

OK...saw the post which shows leaf and stem cuttings...am not sure what you mean when you say they do well when leggy? Does that mean that you take the stem that sprouts from the middle and root it?

I assume that with rosette succulents that make babies you just put the babies on soil and they root. At least that works with ordinary hens-and-chickens from the garden!

Looking at the post - propagation is slow if it takes several months to make a small plant!!

I have bought a couple of really lovely and unusual small plants that essentially have no stems. The are irregular - not a tradtional rosette -seems from the site you suggested that I would try and root a leaf. I hesitate to take even one leaf because one of them in particular doesn't have that many! The leaves are large and irregular and there are just a few of them.

Appreciate your help!

Deborah

Yes and yes. I admit that was not clear. When grown, some Echeveria and Aeonium can get leggy, meaning the stem will grow and the older leaves will dry up and fall away. When this happens you can cut the rosette off let it dry then plant up in gritty soil. You can also pluck a leaf (keeping in mind not to damage the plant) if you have enough to do so. The leaf essentially will grow roots then a small plant will grow up from the nodule and as it ages the leaf from which it was grown will provide the plants nutrients then expire and dry up. I would only encourage you to do this when you have either enough leaves to pull off or a leggy specimen to cut on.
If the plant in question is still small with few leaves then let it grow up a bit before you do anything. Hope this clears up the confusion.
B.

Thanks for all the info. I will try both.

I just realized that months ago I took a couple of stems which had gotten long just like you said and I put them in a little narrow vase w. water. They have - after a long time - grown a few hair-like roots. I assume I can plant those. Trouble is, there is still the long (2-3 inches) stem with leaves on top and a few roots at the bottom.

I am just wanting to make sure what it means to let the rosettes dry before planting. If I was doing hens and chickens in the garden I would plant little babies grees and not dry them out. Do you mean really, truly dry as in not green/red or whatever color the are when growing? I have a LOT of leggy stems so as soon as I hear from you I will cut the rosettes off at the top and start planting. I assume one keeps them barely moist and as you say in gritty soil which drains well.

Now the other thing I have is two lovely mahogany rosettes - larger - one of which has sent up two fat stems beside the mother rossette with a tiny baby on top. Shall I plant the whole stem, or once again cut off the babies and plants them without any stem?

In the garden I have a coupld of varieties of rossette-types which send up a thick stem with a flower. I cut these off as I don't personally like the look of them. Are they useful in any way.

I am very appreciative of this help. Once I get a handle on this I will be off and running!

Deborah