Cut healthy new growth into lengths between 10 and 20 cm. Use a sharp knife to slice beneath a leaf joint. To make sure a clean stem is submerged in water, remove the lowest leaves.
Step 4
Compost should be used to pot the cuttings once a strong root system has formed. To promote plant branching, keep the compost moist and clip off tips.
African violets, cane-stemmed begonias, coleus, cyperus, impatiens, ivy, rubber plants and verbena, Philodendron scandens, epipremnum, and tradescantia are just a few of the houseplants that can be rooted in water.
How can a plant cutting be taken and made to grow?
Hello! Thank you for coming! I’m going to demonstrate how to root plant cuttings in water for you today. This is a fantastic approach to increase the number of your plants and spread your love of plants to friends. I will admit that it can be challenging to give away a plant that you have nurtured from the very beginning. But seeing improvements is so exciting and satisfying! I recently donated two cuttings of Chain of Hearts to households that are really fantastic. I’m eager to follow their development.
I used to work at a golf course with a 30 foot Monstera deliciosa when I was in my early 20s. 30 feet—you read that right! I developed a liking for flora because of that. If you didn’t already know, it’s actually my all-time favorite plant. Regardless, some of the leaves were 2 feet broad and breathtaking! One day, I noticed a tiny leaf emerge from the ground, and when no one was watching, I removed the dirt from the stem’s bright green color and pulled the leaf out. I kept checking behind me as if I were ready to commit a bank heist or something. Actually, I suppose that it was theft. But that’s not how I saw it. I was sharing the good vibes! But let’s be really clear: IF YOU DO IT AT A STORE, IT IS STEALING, so don’t do that! My supervisor finally heard me out (it was weighing heavily on my conscience), and he laughed, called me silly, and said it was absolutely fine! All of this to say, I brought it home, planted it in water, and it grew, making me very pleased! I was in awe of this incredible replication technique. Let’s discuss how to water-root plant cuttings.
The majority of common house plants can be propagated using water. Currently, I’m focusing on a tiny little stem from my large Fiddle Leaf Fig. There are no roots yet, but there is a small leaf of green!! Try it if you’re not sure.
Let’s get started
- Choose the spot on the main plant where you will cut your cutting. Finding the root node on your plant is important since not all cuttings that will root in water have them, but the majority of them do.
- Make a clean, precise cut immediately below the node with a knife or pair of scissors. 1/4 or so below the node.
- Set the cutting inside a spotless glass. Pour enough room-temperature water over the cutting nodes to cover them.
- Every 3-5 days, replace the water with brand-new, room-temperature water.
- Keep an eye on your roots as they expand! Depending on the plant, this could take weeks or even months.
- When your roots are around 3-5 inches long, it’s time to plant the cutting in soil!
Need a visual? Watch my propagation tips on AM Northwest.
Your rooted plants should be placed in a location with strong indirect light. Additionally, you’ll need patience—serious patience! It’s not necessarily bad news if you are attempting a fresh cutting and two weeks pass without any roots. Someone I know submerged a fiddle leaf fig leaf in water, and three months later, she noticed roots.
Make careful to clean and lightly rub the roots with your fingertips after changing the water. Before putting the roots in the fresh water, you should wipe off any mucky film (that’s the precise phrase).
You only have to do that! It’s really easy. You can now create your own plants and exchange them with pals. It’s one of my favorite activities. Check out my post on How to Repot a Houseplant when you’re ready to pot your rooted plant. Even though you won’t be repotting, there are some useful suggestions for potting in general. Many thanks for stopping by! See you again soon!
Can cuttings be used to cultivate indoor plants?
Stem or cane cuttings can be used to multiply many houseplants. Pick non-flowering stems if you’re planning to utilize a stem cutting, and do it in the spring or summer.
After being removed from the main plant, the bulk of cuttings should be gently placed into the compost. If you’re using cuttings from cactus or succulent plants, allow them to dry out for at least a few hours to a day. This helps to seal the raw “cut” and lowers the risk of rot developing.
Cane cuttings are a wonderful option when you want to stimulate new shoots to emerge lower down but the cane has lost its upper leaves, the crown is dying, or the plant has a tall but unattractive “leggy” appearance.
You must make sure the cane is still pointing upwards to mirror the direction it was growing when it was attached to the main plant. To remove the cane, simply cut it into pieces that are at least 2 to 3 inches long (how many cuttings you get per cane will therefore depend on how long it is to begin with).
Any plant may be trimmed for a cutting.
Cuttings are a fantastic technique to grow new plants. Although there are many different techniques to take cuttings at any time of year, collecting stem cuttings of plants in the summer is the simplest (and most effective) approach. Several plants, including rosemary, lavender, and other shrubby perennials, can be cut for summer cuttings. They swiftly and easily bulk up, allowing you to pot them on by the fall.
Try root cuttings, basal cuttings, leaf cuttings, and hardwood cuttings as well. If you get the fundamentals right, you can grow a plethora of different plants in your yard with very little equipment.
If you want a cutting from a plant, where do you cut it?
Because plants often have the most moisture in the morning, this is typically the optimum time to collect cuttings. Choose a healthy growth segment that is 3 to 6 inches long. Make a precise cut using a knife or pruning shears. The shoot may have a harder time growing new roots if the stem is crushed or torn. Place the cut ends of your cuttings in water or store them in a plastic bag with a damp paper towel wrapped over them until you’re ready to pot them.
Can cuttings be planted directly in the ground?
As long as you have properly prepared the cuttings, you can place them directly into the soil. According to Chick-Seward, “cut under a node at the bottom and above a node at the top.”
Remember that the soil must be able to drain well; as a result, if your garden soil is heavy clay, for instance, you will need to make a suitable potting mix. Fill tiny pots with one part compost to two parts grit with compost, advises Raven.
Is it preferable to root in soil or water?
Even if you already know how to root a plant in water, David Clark, a professional gardener, has some excellent advice that will help you make the procedure more effective.
He offers advice on two simple plant-starting techniques that you might not have known about.
Two practical workshops on plant propagation were recently presented by Clark at the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens.
He provided a plethora of knowledge, including these five excellent suggestions:
1. Build a miniature greenhouse. How frequently have you purchased comforters or bedding that was packaged in a plastic zipper bag? I frequently do so, and I usually consider, “This bag ought to be useful for something.
Clark believes these bags make fantastic mini-greenhouses for roots plants or for recently transplanted plants. Simply place the plant inside the bag and partially zip it up. This will assist in retaining moisture. In addition, a small aperture permits airflow to stop the development of mold.
“Because the plant needs to be confined, unless you have a greenhouse, Clark explained, I almost always root with a bag.
The bedding bags, as shown in the picture at the top of the article, can hold either a sizable plant or a number of smaller plants.
2. Use powders for rooting. By soaking a plant cutting in water, you can multiply plants in one of the easiest ways possible. Trim the stem horizontally above a node (see photo above). Soft, fleshy plants like the Wandering Jew, ivy, arrowhead plant, and spider plant respond nicely to this technique.
Using rooting products will boost your chances of success, according to Clark. There are numerous commercial goods available. These products contain a growth hormone to hasten the emergence of roots and destroy bacteria and fungi to stop the stem from decaying.
Dip your stem into the powder after dispensing a tiny bit of it. (Avoid inserting the stem into the product container directly.) Give the stem a minute to settle. The powder will be absorbed by the plant. Put the cutting’s tip in water; the water won’t completely wash the powder away.
He added that you can also utilize common home items to speed up roots. Cinnamon can be used to eliminate fungus and bacteria on plant stems. Make a rooting solution by dissolving one aspirin in water to encourage the formation of roots.
3. Give your new plant enough time to adjust to soil after being in water. According to Clark, if you root your cutting in water, it will grow roots that are best adapted to obtain its nutrients from water as opposed to soil. The plant could become stressed if it is transferred from water to soil right away.
As an alternative, mix a little dirt into the water you’re using to root your cutting. Do this gradually over the course of four or five weeks to allow your plant adjust to its new growing environment.
4. Learn about leaf section division. You may grow new plants from the leaves of succulents like the sansevieria pictured above. It’s not even necessary to utilize the full leaf; only a portion will do!
When you cut the leaf, Clark advised, be sure to mark which portion is the top and which is the bottom. As shown in the leftmost photo below, place the bottom portion of the leaf segment into a tray of moist perlite. (Fun fact: Perlite is a byproduct of volcanoes.)
5. Encourage plant runners as a means of division.
View the image of the Wandering Jew that is located close to the beginning of this article. Burying the stem horizontally is another approach to multiply such a plant. These nodes will produce new plants.
Do you regret skipping these workshops? On our Events page, you can see all the fascinating classes and events that will be taking place nearby Buffalo.
How long does a cutting take to take root in water?
Cuttings can be grouped together in a single container. Before the cuttings are completely rooted, make sure to add new water as necessary. Most plants will begin to root in 3–4 weeks, but others can take longer. The cutting is prepared for potting when the roots are at least 1-2 inches long.
Can you reproduce from a single leaf?
Some plants, but not all, can be multiplied from a single leaf or a portion of a leaf. Most plants’ leaf cuttings don’t grow into new plants; instead, they usually merely develop a few roots or decompose. Leaf cuttings can only be utilized for plants that are able to develop adventitious buds since they lack an axillary bud. Some indoor plants are propagated nearly solely by leaf cuttings. The various kinds of leaf cuts.
Which cuttings root the quickest?
We are fortunate that many of the most well-liked houseplants are also simple to propagate through cuttings, root division, or pups, among other methods. Here are some pointers on how to proceed and some suggestions for what you can do with the offspring of your plants.
Plants that are easy to propagate with stem or leaf cuttings
Cutting off a stem with a few leaves and roots it is all that is required to propagate plants from leaf cuttings. Shears should be cleanly cut directly below a node. You can root a cutting by either putting it directly in soil or by soaking it in water until roots form, after which you can transplant it into soil (or sometimes just leave it in water). When putting a cutting in soil, rooting powder can be used to promote root growth.
The following plants can be easily multiplied using the aforementioned technique from leaf or stem cuttings. To learn more about how it’s done, click on any of the links below.
When is the ideal time to take plant cuttings?
Learn how to take cuttings of your favorite garden plants on day six of our 30-day gardening challenge so you can grow additional plants for nothing.
Time it right
Early spring is typically the optimum time to take cuttings from a parent plant, such as a salvia. It’s a quick and enjoyable way to enhance your plant supply.
When taking cuttings, it is usually ideal to do it first thing in the morning, while the parent plant is still turgid, or full of water. The best possibility of rooting is ensured by doing this.
Cutting instructions
Cut a few wholesome stems to a length of approximately 10 cm using a clean pair of secateurs or a sharp knife.
Reduce the stems to a node’s width (or leaf joint). The majority of the latent root buds are concentrated here.
Position the pot
Put the pot in a heated propagator with a hood or wrap it in a clear plastic bag to protect it from the elements. Place in a well-lit area away from the sun.
This is a fantastic strategy to proliferate early in the season if you want to take cuttings. Watch our step-by-step video tutorial to learn how to make softwood or soft tip cuttings later in the year, in the summer.
Don’t forget to use the hashtag #30daygardenchallenge to let us know how you’re doing.