For those who want to add greenery to their life, even without a garden, let me introduce you to propagation! Today I share with you four different methods you can use to propagate potted plants. With this guide you can multiply the existing plants you have and create your very own home jungle.
Seeing new life emerge in my home makes me really excited. For first-time breeders, you must see! You walk by every day and look at your houseplants to see how they grow new roots and leaves. Propagation is extremely rewarding and oh so satisfying, and often produces new plants in less than a month.
For new and old plant lovers, propagating plants is an easy way to fill up your home based on what you already have. If a plant feels good in your home, why not grow another one right?
In addition, each person needs a potted plant. If I become friends with someone new and notice that their house does not have a potted plant, you bet I will look past with one of my propagations. If you are looking for a caring and affordable gift, why not give them a plant baby that you have spent weeks watching over?
How to propagate an indoor plant?
Making new plant babies is pretty easy! There are four different methods for propagating houseplants: water propagation, stem cuttings, leaf cuttings and division.
For some plants, only one of the methods works. For other plants, you can use several methods to propagate houseplants. I have described each method below and the types of plants that work best for this method.
Spring is a wonderful time to propagate houseplants because they also wake up from a hibernation, ready to produce some new growth. This means that your new cuttings and plant babies are likely to grow faster and easier!
Remember that not all plants take and that’s okay. Humidity, the temperature in the home, sunlight, the amount of moisture and the health of the mother plant will all play a role in the success of your plant. But soon enough, you will have a budding plant lady (or guy) haven in your own home. Let’s go through how to propagate plants with these 4 different methods.
Water reproduction
Water propagation is perhaps my favorite method of propagating houseplants because you get to see the plot. In addition, this method is fast! When I take a cutting in water, I am always sure to place it in a clear glass container so that I can see the roots grow.
1. Find a plant node
To propagate a plant in water, you will want to find the nodes for a plant. Essentially, this is wherever a leaf comes out of the plant. Cut just below the node and make sure your plant has 3-4 leaves. Your plant needs enough leaves to photosynthesize and produce energy.
2. Add cuttings to the water
Dip the cuttings in water and make sure no leaves are submerged as they will rot and cause bacteria. Place your small cuttings somewhere warm and with plenty of sun to promote new growth. You will need to refill the water frequently to keep the node immersed, and the water should be replaced completely after one week.
Plant in soil
When your roots are an inch or longer, they are ready for some potting soil! This usually takes anywhere from 2-4 weeks, but can be longer for some houseplants. Moisten your soil beforehand. Create a well or use your finger to punch a hole for your cut. Feel free to put some cuttings in the same pot to really fill up a plant.
4. Water well and keep moist
Water the plant thoroughly after planting. You will also want to keep the soil fairly moist for the first two weeks to encourage more root growth.
What potted plants can you root in water?
Pothos
Monstera
Begonia
Philodendron
String of hearts
ZZ plant
Croton
Arrowhead vines
Lipstick plant
Hoya
Peperomia
Pilea
Prayer plant
Most aroid plants
Stem cutting propagation
Stem cuttings are similar to water cuttings in how you prepare them, but instead of sticking them in water, you will place them directly in the soil. This method of propagating potted plants works well for fast-growing plants with multiple stems.
1. Cut below the node and add root hormone
As a water repellent, cut your plant 3-5 inches from the top of the stem (with enough leaves left for photosynthesis) and just below a node. Peel off any lower leaves and dip the end of your cutting in a root hormone, such as the willow water recipe in Garden alchemy.
2. Place in soil
Now moisten your soil, take a pencil or your finger and make a hole in it. Place your plant in the hole and gently pat the soil. It may need some support as it has no roots to anchor it. Feel free to place a transparent plastic bag on top to help retain moisture as it grows.
3. Transplantation (optional)
Once you can give the plant a little jolt and it resists, it has successfully taken root and is ready for transplantation if you wish.
Which indoor plants can grow from leaf cuttings?
Chinese evergreen plants
African violet
Jade
Ficus
Prayer plant
Most other plants that also enjoy water reproduction
Propagation of leaf cutting
Leaf cuttings are similar to stem cutting for propagation of houseplants. Instead, some plants need only a single leaf to reproduce. If you have a bushy plant that likes this method, you get endless propagation and baby growth possibilities.
1. Cut a leaf
The most common method for leaf cuttings is to cut a single leaf with a hint of a stem left.
2. Add root hormone and plant
Dip the cuttings into the willow rooting hormone for an extra boost and then place it in moist potting soil. Do not place the cutting upside down, otherwise it will not take root.
After 2-3 weeks, the plant should have some roots established and a new baby plant begins to grow. Eventually, the parent leaflet will die and disintegrate.
Which indoor plants can grow from leaf cuttings?
Most succulents will also grow from a single leaf. For more info read my guide on succulent reproduction. Other plants include:
Jade
Cactus
Snake plants
African violet
Peperomia
Begonia
Swedish ivy
ZZ plant
Division multiplication
Do you have an overcrowded potted plant? It can be a good candidate for division! To be able to divide, the plant needs to have an established root system. Plants that have rhizomes, tubers or several stems work well for division.
Divide the plant
To perform a plant division, remove the plant from the container and gently shake off excess soil. Carefully pry apart parts of the plant, making sure that each section has a good amount of roots and leaves left. If the roots or stems are very close together and difficult to pull apart, you can use a sharp, clean knife to cut the roots apart.
Transplant in potting soil
Transplant each of your sections directly into moist potting soil. Pat the soil thoroughly and water your plant thoroughly. Like the other methods, keep the soil moist for the first few weeks to encourage the plant to grow roots again.
Which indoor plants can grow from division?
Some houseplants will have small baby plants that grow that you can easily pull off (with a few roots) and trim it in some soil. For example, spider plants are notorious for pushing baby plants left and right. Others include:
ZZ plant
Birds of paradise
Bromeliads
Oxalis
Peace lily
Snake plant
Calathea
Prayer plant
palm
Peacock plant
Chinese evergreen
Ferns
Common houseplants for propagation
How to propagate a snake plant
Snake plants grow from rhizomes and divide easily. If your plant has lots of shoots from the bottom, this is the best method to go. Cut the base into sections, leaving about 3 rhizomes and at least one healthy leaf per section. Plant each section in a potting soil.
Alternatively, you can cut a healthy leaf and put it directly in water until new roots are formed. Or you can take the cuttings, dip them in the arrowwater root hormone from Garden alchemy, and place it directly in the ground. After a couple of weeks, the plant will get new roots.
Spider plant reproduction
Spider plants always create mini versions of themselves with spiderettes. These plant babies can be grown directly in soil or water. The process is quite simple! Simply look for spiders that already have small roots growing out of them. Cut them off and soak in water for up to a week or directly in the soil.
ZZ Plant reproduction
ZZ plants have rhizomes, making them an excellent candidate for division. However, it can only be done sparingly because rhizomes take time to grow. Divide your ZZ system only when it is overcrowded.
Otherwise, you can use stem or leaf cuttings to propagate your ZZ plant. Stem cuttings grow fastest while leaf cuttings take longer. After taking a cutting, wait a few hours until the insert has hardened. Then put your cuttings in my willow water root hormone and then in a good draining soil. Be patient and wait for your ZZ plant to slowly grow new roots!
Jade plant propagation
Every time I replant my jade plant, I end up cutting off a leaf. Instead of throwing that leaf in the compost, I can actually make a new baby jade with it. Leaf cuttings are very easy to make to propagate a jade plant, but it may not always be successful.
Wait until your jade leaf has dried and heals the wound from loosening. Eventually, small white roots will begin to protrude. Place the leaf on a potting soil for succulents, and watch it grow! Eventually, the parent leaf will shrink as a new jade plant takes shape.
You can also do this method with a whole cut. Be sure to choose a cutting that has a few leaves and is a few inches long. Place your cuttings in a glass (without water) and wait until some small white roots grow before planting.
Prayer Plant reproduction
Bean plants can be propagated using three methods: water, stem cuttings and division. For water cuttings, choose where to cut by finding the nodes. You will want to cut just below a node, near the bottom of the stem, and make sure there are some healthy leaves on top. Pour in water and wait.
For stem cuttings, follow the same steps. Instead of adding water, dip in willow root hormone and then place your bean plant in low light and keep it moist.
If you divide, do it in early spring when the plant is overcrowded and needs to be replanted. Carefully separate the shoots and stems, making sure that each branch has enough leaves and roots to support itself. Pot new parts and keep them fairly moist for the first two weeks.
With these tips for propagating houseplants, you will have an endless supply of baby babies without having to spend a dollar on the garden center!
