How Fast Do Succulents Grow And How To Grow Them Faster

There are different plant species under succulents but overall, how fast do succulents grow?

There isn’t a constant answer to this question since different succulents grow at different rates.

However, these plants technically grow slower compared to others.

Like most people, you might have heard that succulents make the best house plants. Why?

These plants are low-maintenance. They can tolerate low and relative humidity and not much watering.

Personally, I chose to plant succulents for my indoor garden, but they adapt well, even outdoors too.

Since they are from the same type, my succulents also grow at similar rates and as the same size of the pots, they are in.

succulent growth rate: How fast do they grow?

So, how fast do succulents grow?

Succulent growth rate is depends on where you want to grow them, and what kinds of succulents you are growing.

For example fastest growing succulents like Echeveria can grow up-to 6-8 inch in just a year from a 2 inch plant when slow growers like Haworthias can take to a year or even more To go from a 2 inch size to 5 inch. 

As previously stated, I can’t say the same with all succulents. It’s already established that all succulents take time to grow. But when we’re talking about succulents in general, some indeed grow faster while some might take time.

There are also instances where the sunlight or the lack thereof, watering, the soil that they’re planted in, and the season, play a significant role on the succulents’ growth.

Throughout the year, these plants go through phases where they are either actively growing or dormant.

Succulent Dormancy

In the animal kingdom, there are different animals that undergo hibernation where they lay dormant in a couple of months.

For instance, brown bears enter a deep sleep. Just like animals, succulents also have a dormancy phase.

When succulents are in their dormant period, they grow much slower. It is also important to note that plants on a dormant phase need minimal watering.

Most succulents go on through this period in the winter. They resume growing once summer hits.

On the other hand, there are also varieties of succulents that grow faster when the temperature drops and slows down when it rises.

Winter Dormant Succulents

Also known as the summer growers, these plants are native in the Northern Hemisphere. They go through dormancy during November up to February.

Summer Dormant Succulents

These succulents are mostly native in the Southern Hemisphere. Since they are dormant in summer or from May to August, they are called winter growers.

How Long Does It Take For Propagated Succulents To Root?

The first succulent plant that I’ve ever owned was a hanging succulent called a Burro’s tail . I just got lucky that this variety of sedum has a tendency to propagate on its own.

I was actually amazed when some of the fallen leaves from my Burros’s tail started rooting just after a few weeks!

So, if ever you decide to grow your collection of succulents, you can try propagating them instead of buying new ones. Propagating succulents on your own is also more cost-effective.

If you’re still a newbie when it comes to this, you might feel a bit antsy waiting for your succulents to start rooting.

Don’t worry as it will take a few weeks for them to let out those roots. Below is an estimate for each type of propagation technique.

how long do succulents take to grow from Leaf?

If you choose to propagate your succulent using this technique, little roots will start to sprout as early as 2 weeks. Within this time, you can find small roots forming at the bottom of the leaf.

After a few months, 8 weeks at best, new leaves will be present, and it can be big enough to be moved to a new pot. Usually, when the original leaf turns brown and falls off, it means that the new plant is independent enough to be repotted.

It also means that the new sprout has already zapped up the nutrients from the original leaf.

A word of caution! Make sure that the meristem tissue of the leaf is still intact to the plant. This will determine if the leaf can make new roots.

How Long Do Succulents Take To Grow from stem?

This type of propagation is mostly reliable for succulents that grow branches or those that have a shrub-like growth pattern.

A perfectly healed and re-potted stem, when given enough light and a bit of water, can start rooting in about 4 weeks. However, it can take longer in some cases.

In my experience, Crassula ovata is one succulent variety that is quite easy to propagate through this technique.

But how will you know once it starts to root?

One good sign is when the leaves begin to look plump and vibrant. It means that there are roots that can absorb more water.

Another sign is when you lightly pull on the stem cutting; there’s a slight resistance.

One good thing to note is that a 2-4in stem that has two sets each of nodes and leaves is the easiest and fastest to root.   

Root Propagation

From the name of the technique itself, this requires a well-formed root from any succulent type. Before planting the root, make sure to loosen and stretch the roots so they can stabilize well in the soil.

Since you’re basically planting a succulent that can stand on its own, it will start to form new roots and leaves in just a few weeks, 21-28 days at best.

Offset Propagation

This is like taking a baby plant from the mother plant and letting it grow in another place. These babies have their own root systems.

With that said, offsets can take between 4-10 weeks for new roots to grow once the calloused babies are set on a soil. Some offsets even develop faster than that.

Just like with other cuttings, it is important to dry out these babies in a warm area for a couple of days to dry and heal.

I have used this type of propagation for my houseleeks or supervivum since this type produces a lot of offsets.

How long do succulent seeds take to grow from seed?

Seed propagation might be the slowest technique to grow new succulents. This is for people who like to wait and personally witness how succulents thrive from the very beginning. In true fashion, it’s like waiting for a baby to grow up!

Succulent seeds will begin to germinate in just two weeks or about 10-14 days. During this time, you should start seeing sprouts from the seed.

As the seeds grow, they need constant watering. After about 4 weeks, the seeds will begin to establish their own root structure. 

Then, you can transplant your new succulents to another pot. Once they have made a good root structure, you can lower the frequency of watering.

There are two types of people, one who doesn’t mind waiting and one who wants to see results right away. Take a look at some of the succulents on this list, and you might just find the right plant for you.

examples of fast growing succulents?

You can immediately see a little development from these succulents in just a month or maybe even less. Considerable growth can be noticed in about 4-6 months.

Aloe 

Aloe arborescens, Aloe barbadensis, and Aloe vera are some of the fastest-growing species of Aloes. They are also very adaptable too. Given the right care, they can grow two to six inches in just a year.

Kalanchoes or Mother of Thousands

Species under this type grow extremely fast. I personally have my own Lavander Scallops or Lavender scallops (Kalanchoe fedtschenkoi or Bryophyllum fedtschenkoi), and I can attest to its growth rate.

Some of the fastest-growing Kalanchoe are Kalanchoe marmorata, Kalanchoe diagremontana, Kalanchoe tormentosa, and Kalanchoe pinnata.

Crassula

This can be a little tricky since some Crassulas grow faster indoors like the Jade plant while some grow more quickly outdoor. Another fast-growing Crassula is Crassula perforate or String of Buttons.

Echeveria 

In perfect conditions, a two-inch Echeveria can widen to 6-8 inch in just a year. The Echevaria specie of Hen and Chicks succulents grow fast.

Sedum or Stonecrop

There are a lot of Sedum species, but one notable candidate is the Sedum rubrotinctum or Jelly bean plant. A two inch sedum can cover within a foot or space in just a year.

Agave or Century plant

In an ideal environment, an Agave a big as a fist can grow into a big plant within 2 to 3 years. Some fast-growing Agaves are Agave stricta, Agave Angustifolia, Agave attenuata and Agave Americana.

Slow-growing succulents

These succulents grow really slow, and you would think that they are not really growing 

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 plethora of succulent species, it can be hard to cluster all of them in one size. Some succulents can remain small for years while some species can grow taller than 50 feet.

The largest succulent in the world, Adansonia digitata or the Baobab tree is so big that it can provide shelter, water, and food. Sometimes main stem of this tree can go up to up to 92 feet in girth.

Not only the lateral growth of the succulents should be considered. Since succulents can also produce “pups”, they can make new plants that cluster at the bottom of the plant and might contribute to the original plants’ width.

Of course, to manage the growth of these plants. You can opt to cut off the new buds or trim the taller once according to your preference.

how to grow succulents faster?

To make succulents grow faster, they need proper care. These plants are opportunistic; it means that they will grow steadily in favorable conditions.

Aside from that, you have to take note of the soil, pot, watering regimen, and the amount of sunlight that they are exposed to.

Use Well draining soil for succulent

Your plants will significantly benefit in well-draining soil. For most succulents, it is recommended to use Cactus and Succulent Soil Mix. You can also opt to make your own soil mix following some tutorials online.

Some succulents require specialized soil, so make sure to do enough research about your preferred plant.

Choosing the Right Pot for your Succulents

Always chose a container with excellent drainage. I’ve made a great mistake of choosing a pot with a poor drainage system that caused my plants to rot. Unglazed ceramic pots help in wicking moisture away.

Personally, I use terracotta pots for my succulents since these pots are really breathable. However, if you’re going to use terracotta pots, make sure that you water your plants more than usual during hot and dry summers.

Proper watering schedule

Although succulents can survive prolonged periods of time without water, it doesn’t mean that they don’t need it.

A good rule of thumb is to water your succulents once you feel that the soil is dry. Here I write a detailed guide on how much and how often you should water your succulents.

Also, be sure to water the soil and not the plant directly since water can just stay on the leaves that may cause them to rot.

Be Sure Your Succulent Has enough Light

One thing is for sure, and succulents don’t need TOO much direct sunlight. However, some varieties might need extended periods under it or some succulent varies do well in low light condition.

For most plants, they only need at least 6 hours of direct sunlight. If your plants begin to stretch, it’s a good indicator that they need sun.

Final Thought

Always remember that not all succulents are the same. Each plant requires a different kind of care. The environment that they’re in plays a significant role on how fast they would grow.

Basically, soil, sunlight, water, and temperature.

The appearance of your plants is a good indication of their current state or whether they need something. Do they need sunlight? Do they need water?

Don’t be discouraged if ever you feel like your plant isn’t growing. Remember that they can be in their dormant season in which they grow slower, or they don’t grow at all.

It will all be worth it once their growing season starts.