AI Overview🪴 In This Guide 🪴
🌿 The Best Plants for Water Propagation
While not all plants enjoy rooting in water, many of our favorite trailing houseplants absolutely thrive with this method. They are programmed to grow roots from their nodes easily.
Top Candidates for Your Jar
- Pothos (Epipremnum aureum): The undisputed champion. Golden, Neon, Marble Queen-they all root incredibly fast.
- Philodendron: Heartleaf Philodendron, Brasil, and Micans are all fantastic choices. (See also: Philodendron Lemon Lime, Birkin, Mayoi)
- Monstera: Both the large Monstera deliciosa and the vining Monstera adansonii root very well in water.
- Tradescantia (Inch Plant): These are so prolific you’ll have a new plant in just a few weeks.
- Scindapsus (Satin Pothos): Similar to Pothos, these root reliably. (Examples: Satin Pothos ‘Exotica’, Scindapsus ‘Silver Lady’)
- Hoya: Many Hoya varieties will root well, though they can be a bit slower than Pothos.
- Syngonium (Arrowhead Plant): Very easy and fast to root.
✂️ The 4 Simple Steps to Water Propagation
Ready? This process is so quick you can do it during your morning coffee break.
Step 1: Take a Healthy Cutting
Choose a healthy, mature vine on your parent plant. Look for a section with at least 2-3 leaves. Using your clean, sharp scissors, make a cut about a quarter-inch below a node. Your final cutting should be about 4-6 inches long.
Pro-Tip: If possible, choose a cutting that already has a small, bumpy aerial root starting to form at the node. This will give you a head start!
Step 2: Prepare the Cutting
This is a quick but crucial step. Identify the lowest leaf on your cutting-the one closest to the cut end. Gently snip it off, as close to the main stem as possible.
Why? Any leaves left under the water will rot, creating bacteria that can ruin your entire cutting. You want a clean stem with at least one node submerged.
Step 3: Place in Water
Find a clear glass jar, vase, or bottle so you can watch the root growth. Fill it with room-temperature water and place your cutting inside. Make sure at least one node is fully submerged, but try not to let any of the remaining leaves touch the water.Step 4: Wait and Watch
Place your jar in a spot that gets plenty of bright, indirect light (a windowsill that doesn’t get harsh, direct sun is perfect). Now, the hardest part: patience!
Crucial Care Tip: To keep bacteria from forming, change the water every 2-3 days, or whenever you notice it getting cloudy. Fresh water provides oxygen that encourages healthy root growth. You should start to see the first signs of roots in 1-4 weeks.
🪴 The Big Move: Transferring Your Cutting to Soil
Congratulations, you have roots! But the journey isn’t over. The transition from water to soil can be a shock for your little plant. Here’s how to do it successfully.
When is it Ready?
The ideal time to move your cutting is when the new, primary roots are 1-2 inches long. If you wait too long, the roots can become too accustomed to living in water and may have a harder time adapting to soil.
How to Pot Your New Plant
- Choose a Small Pot: This is key! Select a small nursery pot (2-4 inches) with drainage holes. A pot that’s too big will hold too much water and can cause the delicate new roots to rot.
- Use a Light Potting Mix: Fill the pot with a light, airy potting mix. You can amend a standard indoor mix with extra perlite to keep it from getting compacted.
- Plant the Cutting: Gently place your rooted cutting into the soil, burying the roots and the bottom of the stem. Lightly pat the soil around it to secure it.
- Water Thoroughly: Give it a good, deep watering until water runs out of the drainage holes. This helps the soil settle around the roots.
- Keep it Humid: For the first week, the “water roots” will be adapting to soil. To ease the transition, you can place a clear plastic bag over the pot to create a mini-greenhouse effect, or place it near a humidifier. Keep the soil consistently moist (but not soggy) for the first couple of weeks.
After a few weeks, you should notice new leaf growth-a sign your propagation was a complete success!
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of water is best for propagation?
Simple tap water is perfectly fine for most cuttings! If your tap water is very hard or heavily treated, you can let it sit out for 24 hours to allow chlorine to evaporate. There’s no need for filtered or distilled water.Why is the stem of my cutting getting slimy?
A slimy stem is the first sign of bacterial rot. It happens when the water isn’t changed frequently enough. Immediately take the cutting out, rinse the slimy part under gentle running water, and put it in a clean jar with fresh water. You might also want to trim the very end of the stem with a clean blade.My cutting has roots, but no new leaves. What should I do?
Be patient! The cutting’s primary focus is on developing a strong root system first. Once it has enough roots to support itself (usually about 1-2 inches long), it will switch its energy to producing new leaves. This is a great sign that it’s almost ready to be planted in soil.Will sunlight on the glass jar cause algae to grow?
Yes, it can. Algae loves light and nutrients. While a little bit of green algae isn’t harmful to the roots, it can look unsightly. To prevent it, you can use a dark-colored glass bottle (like a brown beer bottle) or simply make sure you are changing the water and cleaning the jar every few days.👈 Back to the Main Guide: The Ultimate Guide to Propagation
👉 Next Method: How to Propagate Plants Directly in Soil
🪴 See also 🪴
How to Propagate Succulents from Leaves & Offsets
How to Propagate Plants Directly in Soil: A Beginner's Guide
The Complete Guide to Dividing Houseplants: Refresh and Multiply
An Introduction to Air Layering for Indoor Trees
The Ultimate Guide to Houseplant Propagation: Create New Plants for Free!
How to Use a Moisture Meter (and Never Overwater Again)
The Essential Houseplant Care Checklist & Routine
How to Repot a Houseplant Without Killing It (Step-by-Step Guide)
How to Fertilize Houseplants: A Simple Guide for Beginners
A Beginner's Guide to Houseplant Humidity (5 Ways to Stop Crispy Leaves)
Choosing the Right Potting Mix: A Beginner's Soil Guide
Houseplant Light Guide: How to Find the Perfect Spot for Your Plant
