Propagation is the creation of new plants from a parent. It’s an easy and painless (a.k.a free) way to expand your plant collection, all while learning more about the wonders of nature. A common way to clone your plants is through the soil method.
The soil method is easy. All you need to know beforehand is how to locate a node on your houseplant. Tons of houseplants have visible nodes, which are the points on a stem where new leaves, roots, or stems grow from. They are easy to identify, and usually appear as a bump or line on the stem, or even scarring from where an old leaf fell off.
Supplies Needed
🌿 A plant. We recommend pothos, tradescantias, or monsteras to start with.
✂️ Clean pruning shears or scissors. It's important to sanitize before cutting to avoid infections.
♻️ A planter. If you have extra planters lying around–great. Otherwise, get creative and upcycle old cans, water bottles, etc. The world is your oyster planter.
🪴 Potting mix. An aerated, fast-draining mix is best for rooting cuttings.
How To Propagate
Find a node. You’ll want at least 1-2 nodes on your cutting for a successful propagation.
Cut. About an inch below the node, cut into the stem and gather your plant clippings.
Plant. Place your cutting into the potting mix, ensuring the node is covered.
Place. Find the best spot for your cutting to root. A warm, bright spot safe from direct sun is ideal for most plants.
Care. Treat your cutting like you would treat its mother. It needs consistent waterings and sunlight to thrive, just like any other plant.
Wait. If you're looking for instant gratification, this method isn't for you. It can take some time for roots to establish.
Looking to speed things up? You can always apply a rooting hormone to encourage faster rooting and growth. This is how we're able to keep up with demand at our greenhouse. We use Hormondin Rooting Compound, but there are a ton of different brands out there. Just be sure to follow the instructions, and your plants will be rooted in no time.
Depending on the plant species and your space's conditions, cuttings can take about two to three weeks to grow substantial roots. New growth is usually a good indicator that your propagation was successful and that healthy roots are growing behind the scenes. Be patient and let nature do its thing!
If you're still unsure of how to make plant babies of your own, email our experts at hello@heyrooted.com, and we'll walk you through it.