Plant propagation: A beginner’s guide
Jan 14th 2022
Plant propagation: A beginner’s guide
First let’s start with the meaning of propagating. Propagation is the process of growing new plants from other plants. There are many different ways to propagate plants, but today we will focus on Leaf & Stem cutting.
If you are new, we suggest starting with one of the following plants: succulents, pothos, snake plants, philodendrons, and pileas, especially pilea peperiomiodes
Leaf Cutting: Leaf cuttings will be successfulfor plants such as succulents and snake plants. This is the easiest way to propagate plants, and a great way to get started.
- Gently remove a leaf from the stem (depending on the plant you choose, you might have to cut off the leaf using a knife).
- Place your cutting on a dry and safe place to allow the cutting area to dry and callous over(about 2-3 days)
- Once the wound has dried, place your cutting on soil in the direction you want them to grow, with the now healed edge down. You’ll only need to cover enough of the bottom to keep your plant standing.
- Water the soil once it becomes dry.
- Keep an eye for root growth and switch to a more regular watering schedule depending on your plant’s needs.
Stem Cutting: This method is great for herbs and certain houseplants (especially ones with vine-like stems) and it involves taking a section of the stem from a parent plant.
- Once you choose your plant, locate the part where the leaf and stem meet the stem of the plant parent (also called a node) Sometimes you will be able to see little pieces of roots already starting to grow at a node.
- Use a sharp knife or pruners to cut a 3” to 6” piece of stem from the parent plant at a 45-degree angle. This angle increases surface area to increase the likelihood of roots growing.
- Place your cutting in a vase with clean water to induce rooting.
- Check your cuttings every couple of days for any root growth, and make sure to keep the water fresh and clean.
- Once roots are about 2-3” long, you can plant your cutting into a container with planting mix and water regularly depending on the plant’s needs
And that’s about it! Propagation can be very easy once you understand the basics. Before you know it, your plant collection will have doubled its size!
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