Sitting on our front stoop today, we noticed how big our money tree (aka jade plant) has grown. When we moved into our apartment in Echo Park three years ago, we scoured the area for lovely succulents, finding most types growing along the roadside (and even our own backyard). All we needed was a small cutting and eventually we'd have our own mature plant to call our own. Our money tree all grown up plus after the jump.
We're currently drying out another jade plant to add to our collection. We like to use our plant clippings indoors as decoration while they're drying out.


Our three year old jade plant--we're still amazed at how fast it grew.
We potted the succulent grouping on the right just a year ago. We collected both plant clippings from a friend's mature succulent.
Once you clip your succulent, the clipping only takes a few days to a week to dry out. After that, it's ready to plop down in some soil and grow.
We found a great video resource for propagating your own succulents called Expert Village: How To Grow Cactus and Succulent Plants.
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Fun! Why do they need to dry out?
view GreaterYesterday's profile
Terrific idea! I love succulents. They are so hard to accidentally kill.
view LilyC's profile
My succulents grew UP and it didn't look like a cute green flower anymore, is that what is supposed to happen??
view SweetChicEventsChicago's profile
I have an old wine barrel in my back patio which I had been planting flowers in but they never did well or only last a season.
Instead of more flowers I recently planted a variety 17 small succulents in the barrel. They look beautiful, need hardly any water and I have a new love affair with a different one each lime I look at them.
While my orchids are not blooming I added succulents indoors as well.
view LoriSF's profile
succulents are my favorite plants. i love their plump little leaves!
view ilovediy's profile
I cannot figure out why my jade plant cuttings won't root. It makes me sad.
view Cassis's profile
I've had pretty good success with my succulents, except the my jade plant. I have no idea why. I think its because I have in an area that doesn't get all day sun. I've moved it so a new place with more sun, and am hoping it will do the trick. All the other ones are doing well.
view Jose A's profile
i killed two of my three succulents.... I just can't get it right :(
view spiralcma's profile
I'm with you spiralcma... I seem to have a knack for killing these poor little plants.
view shockthebourgeois's profile
Me three! I used to have a big jade plant like the one above, and managed to keep it alive for a year, but haven't had any luck since then. I keep buying them and they keep dying on me. Too much or too little water.
view OliviaTokyo's profile
Sweetchiceventschicago- If your succulent is growing UP it need more sun. Just what I have learned the hard way.
view djohnson's profile
Great ideas, I love succulents. Growing up our mom had a jade plant and my brother and I would always pick off the leaves (they had water in them, cool!) and little buds and that thing still lasted for 20 years. And she was no green thumb either!
view sarrazak's profile
My 4 year old jade plant has been battling mealy bugs for the past several months. There's nothing like giving a rubbing alcohol bath to each individual leaf of a ginormous plant.
view happiness's profile
I keep bringing my succulents to the brink to death them somehow they survive. I think I water them too much.
view Kim's profile
Has AT got shares in the global succulent market? ENOUGH, WE GET IT!
view pinky speedway's profile
Thanks djohnson, that makes sense. My bedroom doesn't get a lot of sun...
view SweetChicEventsChicago's profile
I love succulents in Perch! design ceramic hanging planters.
see them here - http://www.nest-living.com/collections/perch
view thetroll's profile
my succulent grew UP as well, and I hear that both sun and airflow are needed. Trying again, so we'll see!
view catsf's profile
succulents (or any plants) growing "up" or getting leggy are reaching for light. and succulents that die are usually over-watered (just one time can kill them).
happiness: try neem oil for the mealy bug. rubbing alcohol isn't the greatest for plants. neem oil is a bit smelly, but it's generally very effective. however, if it's very infested, it might be a losing battle. isolate it from your other plants (if potted) to prevent the bugs from spreading.
view foodefafa's profile
succulents are LA's "It" plant?
view outlikealamb...'s profile
I love this. The costs of plants can add up. Those videos were great (because they were short).
view faithcrawford's profile