I wanted to know how to get started with buying and trading. I do not own any succulents right now.
To be honest, I am not sure when I should start buying them. Depending on where I look I am can be anything from a 9B to a 7A growing zone.
I really want to get into this in a serious way, because I want to make living wreaths, hanging ball, unusual containers and sell them locally.
I am retired, live on SS in a 5th wheel and take care of my disabled husband so I don't have a lot of money to spend or a lot of room to bring plants inside.
When you buy, do you just contact the seller?
When you find something in the trade section and don't have anything to trade, can you buy?
Is it possible to buy cuttings?
Thank you to anyone who answers this.
Nancy

I saw that you got some good answers already about trading in another forum on here, so thought you might find some propagation pics helpful to start considering at this point. Unlike other plants that would wilt and die if cut and not immediately placed in water or moist soil, succulent cuttings need to dry (callous) before propagating them. Knowing that should put you well ahead in the learning curve. Until these plants make roots, they can't use water and are prone to rotting if they get drenched or the soil is too moist. Succulent plants in general are designed to absorb occasional water in mostly/usually dry conditions.

Kalanchoe leaf making babies.


Cuttings I sent to someone in trade:



Holiday cacti propagation.


Mini gardens have become a 'thing' lately. You might want to investigate those also, and there's a forum on here dedicated to such. This one is yet incomplete, but it'll get there, eventually.

Thank you Tiffany, that was so nice of you to do.
I did something today that I have never done before.
I went to Wal-Mart and Home Depot yesterday, looking around, and I noticed that all of their plants were dying from the cold, it was 21 degrees here Thursday night. It just made me sick.
Today, I got up the courage and went back and just asked them if I could have leaves and/or offsets from the plants and both places said yes, as long as I didn't make a big to-do about it. They didn't want to get into trouble for letting me do it, even though I found out that both places are just going to throw all of the plants away! Is that sick or what?! I ended up with about 15 different leaves and three off-shoots. Time will tell if I end up with anything, but if I do it will be a great start.
Happy Holidays,
Nancy

Oh I know what you mean, hard to not feel bad for the 'oops' plants like that. Why not wheel the cart inside & put 75% off at least? Probably don't want to train us to wait for that. Good for you for your honest approach! A WM is a pretty good micro-climate but nothing to block the wind, IDK if you've got anything viable there after a 21-degrees experience but anything not mushy has potential. Good luck!!!

Another great way to increase your selection during the warmer months is trading. Succulents travel through the mail well, as long as it's not terribly cold or extremely hot. I got several cuttings of holiday cacti that way - I'll soon see what color they are. Fun stuff!

I am a new parent!
I was able to cut off the top of one of the flowerets I picked up from the throw away table at Home Depot and after taking off a couple of leaves and letting them callus over I planted my own first plant, plus two leaves.
I have also discovered that a few of the leaves that I laid out on the 6th of December are starting to show signs of roots. Oh happy day!!!
If watching and looking for activity has any growth producing effects I should have a nursery full of plants by now.