Upcycle Takeout Containers Into The Perfect Succulent Propagation Solution

While you'll find big spenders willing to pay top dollar for a rare succulent species, in the gardening world it is perhaps more common to find penny pinchers excited about using leaves and stems to grow new fleshy plants for free. And how much more frugal can you get when you're repurposing items out of the recycling bin as part of your plant-focused hobby? That's right — don't throw out your plastic takeout containers, you can upcycle them into a tray to propagate succulents instead. After all, in some ways those containers used to hold restaurant food are very similar to the gardening trays you might otherwise have to purchase.

Many different types of succulents are easy to propagate from both leaf and stem cuttings, or from offsets. Maybe you have a Haworthia or an aloe plant that has grown little babies all around it and you'd like to share them with friends. Perhaps you want to multiply your supply of snake plants (Dracaena) by taking leaf cuttings. Or are you hoping to grow new Christmas cacti (Schlumbergera) from stem cuttings? In each of these cases, you can save items that would otherwise end up in the bin, giving your plastic takeout containers new life as propagation trays.

Start by removing the offsets or taking leaf or stem cuttings from a fully mature succulent plant — but ensure that the plant is in its active growth season (typically spring and summer) before you take material for propagation. Applying rooting hormone to the open end of a cutting can help ensure good results. After applying the rooting hormone, let the wound callus over for at least a week before potting the cutting in the takeout container. The ideal soil mix to fill your upcycled container is one that is specifically designed for succulents. Adding some drainage holes to the container is helpful to ensure the roots of the developing plants won't rot.

Simply fill the thoroughly washed takeout container with soil that is slightly damp, and insert the bottom or callused ends of the cuttings or offsets into the soil. However, don't put the top on the container. Giving fleshy plants too much moisture is one of the most common indoor gardening mistakes – they simply don't need the extra humidity. 

Place the container in indirect light and keep the upcycled container in a temperature range of between 64 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. For most succulents, you only need to water lightly during propagation. Expect it to take at least a month for the cuttings to root. After they have enough mature roots, you can transplant them into separate containers.