How to Grow Succulents from Seeds: Complete Beginner’s Guide

Succulents are beautiful plants that come in an assortment of colors, sizes, and shapes. They’re also very low-maintenance and incredibly easy to take care of, thanks to their minimal watering and feeding requirements.

While you can purchase already grown succulents at pretty much any gardening center, home supply retailer, or even a grocery store, there’s something to be said about growing these beauties from seeds on your own.

Watching as something that was once so tiny (succulent seeds are very small) grow into a full-grown, flourishing plant is so rewarding. But how do you go about growing succulents from seeds?

We’ll let you in on a little secret: It isn’t rocket science. However, with that being said, you do have to make appropriate accommodations, including selecting the right soil, placing the seeds in the proper location, and using an adequate amount of water.

So, what do you need to do in order to successfully grow your own garden (or small potted plant) of succulents from seeds? Let’s explore.

Why Should You Grow Succulents from Seeds?

Before we dive and explain how to grow succulents from seeds, you might be wondering why you would want to grow succulents from seeds in the first place.

After all (and as we discussed), these plants aren’t exactly in short supply. You can purchase them at pretty much any location that sells flora. So, why then, would you be interested in propagating your own plants from seeds?

First, there’s the whole satisfaction factor. As we already stated, just like any other type of plant, there’s something deeply satisfying about growing succulents from seeds.

But, why else would you want to grow them yourself? Some varieties are so rare that you’ll either have a really hard time finding them for purchase, and if you’re lucky enough to find them, they could cost a substantial amount of money.

Plus, if you’re a die-hard succulent fan, taking the time to grow them from seeds will really give you even more appreciation for the plants. Plus, growing them from seeds will yield a bountiful harvest; in fact, you’ll likely have enough plants to fill your own windowsill or garden, and plenty left over to give away to friends and family!

Types of Succulents

• Guide to Succulents
• Aloe Vera
• Jade Plants
• Snake Plants
• Echeveria elegans
• Lithops
• Sedum Morganianum
• Coral Cactus
• Pleiospilos Nelii
• Portulacaria Afra
• Kalanchoe Tomentosa
• Sedum Rubrotinctum
• Kalanchoe Luciae
• Aeonium
• Orostachys Iwarenge
• Senecio Rowleyanus
• Stonecrop Sedums

Tips for Growing Succulents from Seeds

So, now that we’ve discussed why you should grow your own succulents from seeds, if you’ve decided that you’d like to try your hand at growing them on your own, you’re likely wondering how to get started.

First, it’s important to note that growing succulents from seeds is very different than growing other types of plants from seeds. With that said, let’s take a look at how you can grow your own succulent garden from seeds.

Start with Good-Quality Seeds

While it’s pretty obvious, it’s a point that needs to be made: make sure you start with good-quality seeds from a reliable source. We previously mentioned that succulent seeds are extremely small; in fact, some varieties are so tiny that they can easily be mistaken for dirt or dust.

Believe it or not, and unfortunately, there are some shady people out there that have actually sold people things that could easily be mistaken for succulent seeds.

To avoid being swindled, make sure you purchase seeds from a reputable resource. Online shopping is the most convenient. There are several sellers on Amazon and Etsy that offers great-quality succulent seeds; however, there are also some not-so trustworthy sellers on these sites, too.

So, to make sure that you’re working with a reputable source, read through reviews before you make a purchase.

100 pcs succulent seeds, From Amazon

Supplies You’ll Need

Once you have your seeds, it’s time to gather the rest of the supplies that you’ll need.

To grow your succulents from seeds, you’ll need to gather:

• A shallow planting tray. You’ll want to choose something that has several drainage holes along the bottom. Succulents need proper drainage – even when they’re seeds – otherwise they can drown.
• Well-draining soil. There are plenty of potting soils on the market that are specifically designed for succulents.
• A plant dome, which can be purchased at most garden supply stores or via online retailers, such as Amazon.

Preparing for Planting

Once you have your supplies, you can start making the necessary preparations for planting. Before you sow your seeds, establishing the proper substrate is vital.

• The substrate the seeds are placed in will have a big impact on the quality of growth and whether or not your attempt is successful.
• A sand-rich, or course, well-draining, potting soil is ideal for succulent seeds, as it closely mimics the soil these plants grow in in nature.
• You can either purchase a soil that’s specifically made for succulents, or you can make your own substrate by mixing together standard potting soil with either builder’s or horticultural sand.
• If you’re making your own substrate, we recommend sterilizing it before planting the seeds.
• Set the soil on a cookie tray or sheet pan and bake it an oven at 300 degrees F for a maximum of 30 minutes.
• Alternatively, you could place the soil/sand mixture in a microwave-safe dish and cook for no longer than 10 minutes.

Whichever option you choose to sanitize your self-made succulent seed soil, let it cool thoroughly before use.

Fill your planting tray with soil

Next, take the pre-made succulent soil or the substrate you made and fill up your planting tray. Fill each section in the tray so that the soil is approximately 1-inch below the edge of the tray.

Once the tray is filled with soil, water it. Allow the excess water to run through the drainage holes. When no more water is coming out of the holes, you know you’re ready to start planting. Watering the soil before planting the seeds is important, as it will ensure that the super-tiny seeds will stick into the soil.

We recommend Hoffman Organic Cactus and Succulent Soil Mix

Plant the Seeds

Once your planting tray is filled with soil and the soil has been watered and drained, you can proceed with planting your seeds.

Though we’ve mentioned it several times before, it’s worth mentioning again; succulent seeds are incredibly small. They’re so small that they can easily be picked up by the wind and blown away. As such, you’ll want to plant your seeds in an area that’s sheltered; inside or in an outdoor location that’s guarded from the wind.

• Hold one hand open flat and place the seeds on the palm of your hand. This will make pushing the seeds into the tray a lot easier.
• To plant the seeds, use care and spread them along the surface of the soil, making sure to leave enough space between the seeds.
• The larger the succulents will be once they start growing, the more space the seeds will need between them.
• If you’re using a tray that contains different compartments, place a seed or two in each one.

Because succulent seeds are so tiny, you should avoid covering them up with soil. Why? – Because once the plants take root and begin to germinate, if they’re covered with soil, they won’t be able to make their way up to the surface and they will die.

If you’re growing an assortment of succulent plants at the same time, we strongly recommend growing each type in individual trays. This is because each type of succulent seed has a different germination period. As such, it will be a lot easier to provide each variety of plant with the proper growing conditions.

Cover the Seeds

The majority of succulent species need a certain amount of humidity in order to germinate (think about the environment they grow in in nature).

Covering the planting tray with a plant dome or even a shower cap (yes, the type you would wear to protect your hair in the shower) will help to create the humidity that the seeds need to thrive.

ARMRA Seed Trays are perfect for Succulents

Place in a Sunny, Warm Location

Once the seeds are planted and the tray is covered, you should now place the tray in direct sunlight. If a constant source of sunlight isn’t available, you can place the tray underneath a growing lamp. Additionally, a temperature of 70 degrees F is ideal for germination

Keep an eye on the seeds. Once they start to sprout, you can remove dome or shower cap. Move the tray to an area that receives plenty of light, but is out of the way of direct sunlight, Once the seeds start to germinate, you’re on your way to having your own collection of succulents that you grew on your own.

Other Succulent Guides

• Complete Guide to Succulents
• How to Plant Succulents
• How to Water Succulents
• How to Grow Succulents from Seeds
• Why is my Succulent Dying?

Summing It Up

Once your seeds have grown into plants that are large enough, you can safely transplant them to new locations.

The process of growing succulents from seeds isn’t really hard; however, it does take the proper materials and a good bit of patience, just like it takes any other type of plant to grow from a seed.

As long as you follow the above-mentioned instructions and are patient, you should be able to  successfully grow your own succulents.