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Cacti & Succulents

Can Echeveria/Agave cuttings take during winter? Winter "dormant"

9 years ago

Hi I live in Southern California Los Angeles a few miles from the ocean. We've had pretty cold and somewhat rainy weather lately like 50 degrees at night sometimes as cold as 45 degrees at night. During days about 60 degrees to 70 sometimes as low as 55 degrees a few days

I was wondering will winter "dormant" plants like Echeveria, Agave and Senecio still form cuttings if I plant them in the soil and don't water them?

What sort of plants have you had the best results with during winter?

I have planted some Crasulla Jade plants, Aloe, and climbing aloe as cuttings just striaght PIG (Planted In Ground) and they have taken during late fall and summer.

Can summer growers take directly PIG?

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Comments (5)

cactusmcharris, interior BC Z4/5
9 years ago
Wait until it's warmer for a better chance of them getting successfully PIG'd. February should be fine.

I'm pretty sure we discussed this before, when there were extensive questions and answers about turning your yard into a succulent garden, but you live in an area where these plants are very opportunistic and grow pretty much non-stop, though some of them slow down in the winter. All the species you cited do this. There are very few succulent plant species which can't take some winter water in Southern California and other Meditteranean climates. Pseudolithos, Cyphostemmas, some Pachypodiums are a few which generally don't want water at all, but almost all others can and will respond with growth, though in some cases slower than usual, given sufficient warmth and light, too.
intelinside1
Original Author
9 years ago
Yes I wanted more opinions from others in So Cal and mediteranian climates as to their specific experiences were with PIG plants.

I've had good experiences with Aloe during the winter just planted directly into the ground from cuttings. Also a lot of jade crasula plants straight PIG

I haven't had much experience with echeveria, aeoniums, or agaves PIG. I'd assume the echeveria and agaves I should wait til late spring to plant?

Aeoniums are winter growers I think. Couldn't I just plant them directly in the ground now? Has anyone had personal experience in a mediterranian climte with aeoniums?

More specific is better, as I have a limitted amount of cuttings and not enough plants. I would be devastated if I just tested it myself by planting a bunch of the aeoniums I've been growing and then the cuttings just die

Yes that was me before, I turned my mom's yard into a succulent garden. I'm also now working on a rental house of mine and I'm just trying to plant cuttings PIG in ground just so theirs a ground cover that's low maintenence, especially in areas without a lot of sprinklers
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lzrddr
9 years ago
I would not fret over winter or summer growersÃ¢ÂÂ¦ if you want them to 'take', just keep them warm and all will do well. In your area you could possibly even do it out doors (once this current cold snap leavesÃ¢ÂÂ¦ maybe in a week or so). Whether a plant will grow from a cutting depends more on what exact species it is, and how you are trying to root it, not so much what time of year it is.
cactusmcharris, interior BC Z4/5
9 years ago
All of the ones you mentioned will be OK PIG'd, as long as they have good drainage, some water and some warmth. If your temps are in the 50s during the day, or the 60s, it's a little more difficult, and if there's a lot of rain, it makes it even more so.

Both of the respondents to you have extensive Aeonium / Agave experience, Geoff more than I. Like the Agaves, if your average temp for the next few weeks is warmish with a little rain, it'd be a good time to get them rooting - the sooner the better for the plant as it can take advantage of the next few months of generally prime growing weather.
intelinside1
Original Author
9 years ago
Thank you for the advice guys.

I went to the rental house today and I planted a lot of cuttings that I had dry for a couple days.

I think it may be still a little too cold but today it felt pretty warm like 70s. It will also be in low 70s this coming week.

I did a lot of different Aeonium, Jade Crasulla, some different Aloes, and 2 echeveria.

I'll let you know how they root

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