Yes, you CAN propagate succulents in winter… and it doesn't have to be difficult either!
When Is the Best Time to Propagate Succulents? Propagation can be done year-round, but you'll get the best results during the spring and summer months when succulents are actively growing, advises Kremblas.
Taking winter cuttings from your plants
Most deciduous shrubs are ideal for taking winter cuttings, such as dogwood, flowering currants, roses, honeysuckle, gooseberries and figs. You can also take cuttings from trees such as willow and poplar. You can take cuttings from a few evergreens, including holly and skimmia.
Propagating succulent leaves and cuttings is easiest in spring and summer, when leaves and stems are primed for active growth. Most popular succulents propagate well from individual leaves or stem pieces.
Outdoor Leaf Propagation
These are watered a minimum of 3 times per week. They are outside in temperatures between 38°F and 80°F.
Both ends of the spectrum, hot and cold, can cause irreversible damage to these resilient plants, so it's just a matter of paying attention to their condition and modifying the environment as needed. In general, succulents and cacti do best in temperatures ranging from 40-80°F.
Many of the coleus, geraniums, and some of the begonias that we all love in our pots will also overwinter well as cuttings. It's very difficult to bring the entire pot in, but you can take small cuttings, root them over the winter months, and then next spring plant them out in your containers.
Hardwood cutting are taken in the dormant season (mid-autumn until late winter) after leaf fall, avoiding periods of severe frost. The ideal time is just after leaf fall or just before bud-burst in spring. Although this type of cutting may be slow to develop roots and shoots, it is usually successful.
Hardwood cuttings are best taken in October and November once the new summer growth has gone woody.
However, during the coldest parts of the winter (December/January in the US) they will go through a mini dormancy. You'll definitely want to keep these succulents protected from extreme heat as much as possible and limit the amount you water during the summer.
The Best Conditions to Propagate Succulents
The best time to propagate a succulent is in the springtime while they are in growth mode. Succulents are dormant during the winter months so do not attempt propagation at that time.
Bring the succulents inside
During the winter time, water them sparingly, just enough to keep them from dehydration. Also make sure the temperature is always between 50 – 60 Fahrenheit degrees. Another thing to consider for indoor adaptation is providing enough light for succulents in winter.
Succulents Need Little Water During the Winter
Succulents are always better off too dry, than too wet. This is especially true during the winter when the plants are receiving less than ideal light and cooler than normal temperatures. Keep your succulents on the dry side during the winter.
Outdoors, succulents will be unlikely to need watering in winter. Indoors, limit watering to once a month, max. When watering succulents, always ensure the roots are soaked, but that the water in the plant's pot is able to immediately drain out. Succulents do not like their roots sitting in water.
You can propagate houseplants at any time of year. This being said, the best time to do it is during their growing season – which is typically spring-summer. They will grow more slowly during the dormant months of autumn-winter.
Preparing cuttings
The plant material should be semi-mature, i.e. semi-hardwood. The best time, therefore, to take cuttings is late spring or early summer. Cuttings taken at other times will often root but may take much longer, although there are many exceptions.
There are many plants that can be propagated during winter. We often take cuttings during winter as it's a quiet time in the nursery. Most people may assume that it's simply too cold to take cuttings during the winter months, however there are quite a lot of plant species where winter propagation is the perfect time.
Cuttings from many annual plants will keep over winter, sprout roots, and be ready for planting in spring. You may place them in pots or cups without drainage filled with moist perlite or vermiculite. Locate them at first in bright light, away from the sun. Move later to an area where they receive morning sun.
When to take cuttings. The best time to take softwood cuttings is from mid-spring to early summer. Hardwood cuttings are taken later in the year, from mid-autumn to mid-winter.
Offer your succulent leaf cuttings water and light for successful propagation. Water succulent leaf cuttings about 2-4 times per week, depending on temperature and humidity in your home. Don't overwater though. Soil should be moist and prevented from drying out, but not so moist that there is any standing water.
Succulent leaf propagation do not need too much sunlight. Put them in an airy and bright place will help them do better. Pups do not do well under extreme heat or too much direct sunlight. Also, if your succulent does not show new growth close to leaf, then it means your plant needs more light to grow.