Multiply Your Houseplants!
Wanting to work on your green thumb this winter? Houseplant cuttings are a great indoor cool-season activity and will turn your home into a tiny jungle in no time! Many common houseplants root easily from cuttings, including pothos, philodendron, monstera, tradescantia, snake plant, hoya, and many succulents. But it’s important to follow a few basic guidelines to ensure your propagation success.
First, choose a healthy stem with at least one node and make a clean cut just below it. For plants with larger leaves, trimming the leaf size (yes, cut the leaf in half!) slightly can help reduce moisture loss while your cutting is creating roots. Most houseplant cuttings can be rooted in either water or in soil. Water propagation is great for beginners and allows you to watch roots develop before transitioning to soil (though soil propagation creates stronger roots from the start!) Use a light, well-draining potting mix and keep it evenly moist but never soggy. Bright, indirect light is ideal during winter, and placing cuttings near a window or under a grow light can make a big difference when daylight is short. Warmth also helps, so keep cuttings away from cold drafts and consider using a heat mat for more sensitive plants.
Humidity is especially valuable for indoor cuttings during winter when heating systems dry the air. Grouping plants together, using a humidity dome (try a gallon size plastic bag!), or lightly misting can help cuttings stay hydrated while they establish roots. Be patient as rooting may take longer in winter, but healthy cuttings will reward you with new growth as days begin to lengthen.
Tips for Success:
Monstera: A monstera cutting without a node will never root, even if it has a leaf so make sure you cut from the main stem 1 inch below a node! Nodes are usually thick, knobby joints on the main vine and often have an aerial root nub. If your cutting does contain and aerial root, make sure it is positioned in water or soil. Cuttings from the top of the monstera will root faster than cuttings taken from the middle or bottom. If your cutting has large leaves, consider cutting the leaf in half to minimize moisture loss.
Snake Plant: These plants are slow growers so be patient! Leaf cuttings from snake plants will not keep variegation but will revert to solid green when propagated from leaves. To keep variegation, you must divide the rhizome, not take leaf cuttings. Select a strong mature leaf and cut it into 2–4 inch sections making sure to mark which side is the bottom. If you plant it upside down, it won’t root! Use a very fast draining soil mix like cactus mix and don’t overwater.
Pothos: Cut just below a node; a single leaf won’t do the trick! Stick to 1–3 leaves max so your cutting doesn’t dry out. Plant a few cuttings together for a fuller pot, and once they’re rooted, give the tips a clip to encourage branching. Variegated pothos like Golden or Marble Queen prefer brighter light while rooting; too little light and they’ll start going green on you.
Philodendron: Philodendrons root very well in water, especially vining types. If your cutting has an aerial root, make sure to place that section in water or soil. For soil, use a chunky, well-draining aroid mix (potting soil + bark + perlite) and if your Philodendron has larger leaves, cut them in half to minimize moisture loss.