5. Avoid using store-bought potting dirt unless the soil is designed to be used for succulents. I'm a sucker when it comes to selling items. So, I purchased the little plant and placed it in an allpurpose potting mixture. It may be necessary to move the plant around several times before you find the perfect spot. The mother plant must have the leaves up to the incision. However the cutting should have a clean, bare bottom. It is crucial to do a good job when taking a cut. Getting a clean break is the largest factor that determines whether or not the leaf will germinate into a new plant.