Learn Spanish (Latin America): Sacando un esqueje de la suculenta, se obtiene otra planta. - If you take a cutting from the succulent, another plant is obtained.

In Spanish, the gerund (words ending in -ando or -iendo) can act as a conditional clause, essentially replacing si (if) plus a conjugated verb. Here, sacando means the same thing as si sacas (if you take) or si se saca (if one takes). It expresses the condition required to get another plant.

Why use se obtiene instead of just saying obtienes (you obtain)?

Se obtiene uses the impersonal se to mean "is obtained" or "one obtains." It pairs perfectly with the conditional gerund sacando because the sentence is stating a general rule about plant propagation rather than talking to a specific person. You could say obtienes, but the impersonal se makes it a universal fact.

Is it wrong to say una otra planta for "another plant"?

Yes, that is a classic trap for English speakers! In Spanish, otro and otra inherently mean "another" or "other." You never put un or una in front of them.

Could I use the infinitive sacar instead of the gerund sacando to start this sentence?