When I bought my moonstone plant, it was a bit etiolated, as I got it from a supermarket, and there was very little sunlight reaching it. Ever since then, I've been growing it, and it's been doing just fine. However, I've wanted to have a nice, short, plump moonstone, but I don't want to start it from a leaf, as that seems like it would take too long. I've seen that lots of other succulents are able to be propagated from stem cuttings, but they've never explicitly mentioned the moonstone plant.
I've seen some people mention moonstone stem cuttings once or twice, but idk if they're actually being truthful.
Additionally, most articles only mention leaf propagation (for the moonstone). I just want to make sure before I do anything bold that I am in fact able to plant a stem cutting from a moonstone. Thanks!

to the forum!

Yes, you can start your Pachyphytum from a stem cutting. Ideally one with a healthy rosette (a few leaves and the growth center intact), with just a bit of naked (leafless) stem at the bottom, like no more than half an inch or so. Wait a week after you take the cutting to pot it up (and use a relatively small pot, because you can upsize later after it roots and takes off). Wait another week after you pot it up to water for the first time.

I would recommend when you take the cutting you simply remove the bottom leaf or two to expose that half inch of stem, but save the leaves and put them on top of the soil in another container, just to watch the process of leaf propagation unfold. It's a delay of maybe 3-6 months relative to starting from a cutting.

This may not be the best time of year to be propagating this plant, if you are in the northlands, what with the cooler/darker months already upon us. You will get the best results when there is ample light and warmth, in terms of rooting and growing and especially good form.

I recently posted this photo in another thread but it seems relevant here. Pachyphytum bracteosum, 10 inch pot, about to flower.



That plant was originally started in a smaller container using three stem cuttings (3 heads planted together). They were all decapitated early on to force branching (and start a new threefer), and this is the result a year or two down the road.

Also a database picture here showing the results of beheading that species, and the appearance of leaf propagations once they have sprouted rosettes.

I live in Wisconsin, and seeing how it's snowing intensely outside currently, I probably shouldn't do the cutting right now

Anyways, here's the picture of the moonstone, you can definitely see when I bought it from the store based on how elongated the bottom half of the stem is

I'm also thinking of getting a grow light so that I can do the cutting right away. It would definitely be faster than waiting 6 months for the weather to warm up.

Finally, I had one last question. I've been looking at pictures of these plants flowering, and I've wanted to have mine flower too. However, lots of websites say that it takes around 5 years from a leaf cutting to fully mature and flower. How long will it take from a stem cutting for it to mature so that it can flower?

I love my moonstone. He's super happy. He's grown a lot in the year I've had him.

It is a lovely plant. The color and the obesity are a nice pillowy combination.

I think a fresh start will improve things. Maybe in spring. There is something rejuvenating about restarting plants in this group from short stemmed cuttings, maybe also there is some benefit in the fresh soil that comes as a part of that process.

I have no experience with artificial light but we do have a thread on the subject:

The thread "Artificial light for cacti and other succulents" in Cactus and Succulents forum

As for timing, I would think a stem like yours (cutting at the point where the color changes) would root and put out new growth within 2-3 months, given permissive conditions. I mean, this is based on my outdoor zone 11 experience in a climate pretty much ideal for these plants. It will double in height in less than 6 months, closer to 3 months. That is my propagation cycle (when the next beheading will occur and half the plant will go to starting a new one). If I were to propagate from leaves I would achieve greater numbers (with an initial lag of a few months) but really I have no need for dozens of these right now.

These plants seem to flower pretty freely once they are a certain size/age, and not sooner. One of my Pachyphytums flowers every few months sort of sporadically in an 8 inch pot (at least twice a year, usually with multiples) and the other one (pictured) has only just now started flowering in a 10 inch pot. It doesn't take that long. The plant pictured came to me as a single small head a little more than 2 years ago. In the meantime after serial beheadings (straight up multiplication) I let my first decapitated threefer go unmolested, and that is the result. I suspect by 5 years they would begin to approach senescence.

Again, speaking from the perspective of very permissive conditions. Plants in habitat would live much longer but they would also be a lot scrappier, with much smaller leaves and rosettes.

There does seem to be an effect where limiting pot size begins to shrink the rosettes, and allowing a bit of extra space tends to make them bigger and fuller. You kind of have to ride the wave there and let the plant tell you when it might like more space. Your plant would definitely enjoy more space once it has rooted and properly filled out a container.