Growing Succulents From Seed Is Easy—Here's How to Do It Successfully (2025)

Succulents are most often propagated using cuttings. However, you may want to add a rare plant to your collection that's either hard to find or a little too pricey. You might like a challenge and have the patience and time to grow these plants starting with seeds.

If you fit any of the above, this guide for growing succulents from seed is for you.

Best Succulents to Grow From Seed

• Jade Plant (Crassula spp.) - Tiny seeds germinate from several weeks to two months. Sow seed in spring.
• Haworthia (Haworthia spp.) - Miniscule seeds germinate incrementally beginning in one week. Fresh seeds should be less than six months old. Sow in spring or autumn.
• Kalanchoe (Kalanchoe spp.) - Seeds may be microscopic and germinate in 7 to 14 days. Sow seed in spring.
• Stonecrop (Sedum spp.) - Small seeds germinate in 14 to 28 days. Appropriate for sowing outdoors. Sow seeds from spring to late summer.
• Agave (Agave spp.) - Seed size depends on variety with germination in 10 to 12 days. Appropriate for sowing outdoors in spring or fall.

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What You'll Need

To plant succulent seeds, you'll need:

• Sterile cactus or succulent potting mix or a mix of peat, vermiculite, and pumice or coarse sand
• Fine sand
• A seed starting tray with bottom holes or 4- to 6-inch shallow pots
• Q-tips or popsicle sticks (Optional)
• A plastic dome or plastic wrap
• Distilled or filtered water
• A mister
• A heat mat (optional)

How to Plant Succulent Seeds

As a general rule of thumb, the smaller the seed, the finer the potting mixture should be. Adhere to specific planting and care instructions on the seed packet. Here are the basic steps to get started.

1. Prepare potting mix. Use moistened cactus or succulent mix. You can prepare your own with two parts peat to one part each vermiculite and pumice or coarse sand.
2. Sterilize the mix, if necessary. Succulent seeds are vulnerable to molds and bacteria. Place moistened soil mix in the microwave for 90 seconds or put it in a covered pan in a 200°F oven for 30 minutes.
3. Transfer the potting mix into a seed tray or small pots with ample drainage holes.
4. Scatter seeds on top and cover with a layer of fine sand or plant at the depth recommended on the seed packet.
5. Fill a solid bottom tray with distilled water and place pots or the seed tray into the bottom tray. Bottom watering encourages root growth and discourages surface molds.
6. Poke holes in a plastic dome or wrap and cover trays or pots for increased humidity.
7. Place them in a warm (62°F to 82°F) spot with plenty of bright, indirect sunlight.
8. Refill the bottom tray with water as needed. Aim to maintain evenly moist soil between 50°F and 86°F and do not let the soil dry out. A heat mat helps regulate soil temperature.
9. Germination time depends on the succulent variety. Once it occurs, remove the plastic.

When to Repot Succulent Seedlings

When seedlings begin to crowd the germination container, separate and pot them up into individual containers. Ideally, the seedling will have four true leaves.

How to Water and Care for Succulent Seedlings

Soil must be kept consistently moist after seedlings emerge. Continue watering from the bottom until a good root system forms, then switch to misting soil daily. Continue to keep seedlings in a warm location with bright, indirect light for the first four months.

Then begin to acclimate young plants to greater amounts of direct sunlight by exposing them to a little more each day. Fertilize during spring and summer months with 1/4 to 1/2 dilution of a formula specific for cactus or succulents.

Succulent Growing Tips

• Plant succulents in pots with good drainage and cactus or succulent potting medium. They grow in all types of pots however porous materials like clay and terracotta pull excess moisture from soil. Avoid using containers too large for the plant. Smaller pots drain quicker.
• Provide a minimum of eight hours of bright, indirect light daily. Supplement with grow lights when necessary.
• Maintain room temperatures between 55°F and 75°F and slightly cooler at night.
• Allow soil to dry completely between waterings. Drench the root ball and allow excess water to drain before returning the plant to its saucer. Overwatering leads to soggy, discolored leaves and root rot. If leaves appear wrinkled or brown along the edges, the plant needs water.
• Household humidity levels are adequate for succulents that thrive in low humidity. In extremely dry conditions, a pebble tray can be added to raise moisture.
• Succulents seldom need fertilizer. If you need to feed your plant, use a 1/4 to 1/2 dilution of a balanced liquid food, formulated for succulents, during spring and summer months.
• Repot when the potting medium breaks down and starts to hold moisture. Succulents do not need to be repotted frequently.