Looking for ways to propagate Burro’s Tail? These simple methods will help you grow a fuller, trailing collection at home.
Burro’s Tail is known for its long, trailing stems covered in plump, silvery-green leaves. Native to southern Mexico and Honduras, this succulent brings a soft, cascading charm to any indoor space.
What You’ll Need to Get Started?
1. Picking the Right Pot
Start with a pot that has drainage holes. Good drainage prevents soggy soil and root rot. If you are propagating in water, choose a clear jar or glass so you can watch the roots grow.
2. Pruning Shears
You may invite infection to your plant if you use unsterilized pruning shears. Sterilize your pruning shears or scissors by rubbing them with 70% alcohol; this will prevent infections.
3. Optimal Potting Mix
This tender plant will die either due to a lack of nutrition or stressful soil characteristics, if the soil is not succulent or a cacti mix. Therefore, a well-draining potting mix formulated for cacti and succulents is the best option.
Tip: You can also add perlite, pumice, baked clay granules, small pea gravel, or sand to improve texture and drainage.
Ways to Propagate Burro’s Tail
1. Leaf Cuttings
Propagating from leaves is the easiest way to multiply your Burro’s Tail.
Start by choosing healthy, plump leaves. Gently twist them off the stem, making sure the base stays intact. This is where new roots will grow. Let the leaves sit in a cool, dry spot for two days so the cut ends can heal.
Prepare a shallow tray with succulent soil and place the leaves on top. Press them lightly so they don’t roll away. Keep the tray in bright, indirect light. Mist the soil every few days—just enough to keep it slightly moist.
In a few weeks, tiny roots and baby leaves will appear. Once the roots grow longer, cover them with a little soil to anchor them. When the plantlets are strong enough, move them to small pots. Handle gently—Burro’s Tail leaves fall off at the slightest touch.
2. Stem Sections
Stem cuttings are perfect if you want a fuller plant faster.
Take cuttings in spring or summer when the plant is actively growing. Use sterilized scissors to cut a healthy trailing stem. Remove a few leaves from the bottom so a couple of inches of bare stem are exposed. These leaf nodes will grow roots.
Let the cutting dry and callous for two days. Then plant it in a pot filled with succulent mix. Make a small hole first so you don’t damage the stem while inserting it. If the cutting is long, use floral pins or a small stick to support it.
Place the pot in bright, indirect light. Water after 3–7 days, just enough to slightly moisten the soil. Once you see new growth, you can treat it like a young plant. For a lush look, root 3–4 cuttings together in one pot.
3. Propagation in Water
Water propagation is fun and lets you watch the roots form.
Cut 2–3 healthy stems and remove the lower leaves. Place the stems in a glass jar filled with clean water, but submerge only the lower end of the stem. Keep each stem spaced so they don’t crowd.
Place the jar in bright, indirect light and change the water every few days to prevent bacteria. When the roots grow about an inch long, move the cuttings to soil. This method works best in warm, slightly humid weather.
Propagate Burro’s tail and and enjoy the process of nurturing life from a single leaf or stem. Let us know in the comments how your trailing collection has grown.
