Houseplants
HOW TO EASILY PROPAGATE HOUSEPLANTS IN WATER
LEARN HOW TO EASILY PROPAGATE HOUSEPLANTS IN WATER USING THESE SIMPLE TIPS. AN EFFECTIVE WAY TO PROPAGATE AND PRUNE HOUSEPLANTS.
This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. See my full disclosure here.
Have you ever seen cute little glass jars or tubes holding plant cuttings? This is actually called water propagation, and it’s a great way to share plants.
Before we dive in, it’s important to note that not all plants can be pruned or propagated this way. Some plants require propagation via rhizome, air layering, leaf cuttings or other methods. Not sure if your plant is suitable for water propagation? Either hop on a quick Google search or send me an email [email protected]!
The plant pictured in this post is called a rhaphidophora tetrasperma and propagates very well in water!
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO PROPAGATE HOUSEPLANTS IN WATER?
The definition of propagate is to “breed specimens of (a plant or animal) by natural processes from the parent stock.” – Oxford Dictionary
When we propagate houseplants in water, we are cutting a piece off of the original plant also known as the “mother plant” and allowing it to root in water. Once rooted, this new cutting can be potted in soil and will eventually grow into it’s own plant.
It’s literally that simple! There are some tricks of the trade, let’s dive right into them.
CUTTING HOUSEPLANTS
When propagating houseplants in water, we are essentially cutting our sacred plants up into tiny bits. This is understandably horrifying the first time you try it, but our plants are actually much hardier than we give them credit for.
Houseplants are often cut when their size becomes unruly. After giving plants a trim, this is a great time to experiment with the leftover plant clippings to see how they propagate.
Plants need to be cut in specific places in order to be successfully propagated in water. In this post we will learn how and where to cut them.
SUCCESSFUL PROPAGATION OF HOUSEPLANTS IN WATER
Here are my top tips and tricks for being successful in water propagation:
- Use clean, glass containers as water propagation vessels.
- Cut plants using sharp, clean scissors.
- Fill the glass containers in water a little warmer than room temperature.
- Change the water every couple of days.
- If you are able to, set more than one cutting per container of water for faster root growth.
HOW TO PROPAGATE HOUSEPLANTS IN WATER (STEP BY STEP)
This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. See my full disclosure here.
Before we get to snipping, let’s first discuss the tools needed to propagate our houseplants in water.
- Clean, sharp scissors – it is good practice to sanitize scissors before and after pruning each plant to prevent disease.
- Clean glass container – “propagation stations” like this are beautiful, and serve as the perfect way to display cuttings as they are taking root. It’s important that the water (and container) are clean.
- Water! – Fresh water that is slightly warmer than room temperature is perfect for fresh cuttings. The water needs to be changed every couple of days.
- A plant to prune – as mentioned earlier, many species of plants can be pruned and propagated this way.
STEP 1: PRUNE THE PLANT!
Once you’ve identified which plant needs to be trimmed (or just which plant you would like to start propagating), it’s time to get to work.
Determine about how much of the plant you wish to remove and plan out the cut(s) before you actually start pruning.
Funny side-story: I have pruned many plants, and I have propagated numerous houseplants in water without batting an eye. A plant that was on my wishlist for a very long time was the plant pictured here (rhaphidophora tetrasperma), and I was thrilled beyond belief when I finally added one to my collection.
Fast forward a few months, and the plant had completely grown out of control. I had some plant friends I wanted to share cuttings with, and the plant was so much bigger I figured I would give it a pruning. Even with all of my plant experience, I still felt a little queasy taking scissors to my beloved plant! Correction, I was suddenly terrified. The plant has continued to thrive beyond my imagination and it has made many new plants that I have shared with friends. Although daunting at times, the process works very well.
WHERE TO PRUNE PLANTS FOR WATER PROPAGATION
With sanitized, sharp scissors, let’s prepare to make the first cuts. When you’re ready to take the first snip, it’s important to first identify a “node”. A plant’s node is the “part of a plant stem from which one or more leaves emerge, often forming a slight swelling or knob.” – Oxford Dictionary
Often times, there will be a little bit of root coming from a node. This is great, because that node is the part of the plant that we will put into water and it will produce roots.
Cut below the node. The first time I heard this, I thought “what side is below?” So, consider the “top” of your plant to be the part closest to the end of the vine. Follow the vine backwards towards the plant again, so “below the node” is actually referring to just under the node as you go towards the plant again.
Cut below the node to remove as much growth as necessary.
STEP 2: TRIM THE CUTTINGS
Depending on how much of the plant was removed, you may be looking at a giant vine laying on your floor or table. Long pieces of plant will not propagate well in water, because there is simply too much plant there. Water propagation in houseplants cannot support life for a large piece of plant, therefore we need to break the cuttings down into more reasonable sizes.
Cut each vine into segments by cutting below each node. Each piece should have at least 1-2 leaves and a node at the base. You may find yourself left with some stem pieces, which is normal. These stem pieces can be discarded as they will just likely turn to mush in water.
As shown in the picture, remove any excess pieces of plant and just keep each leaf with a node attached to it.
STEP 3: PLACE CUTTINGS IN WATER TO PROPAGATE
Fill your glass vessels with clean, slightly warmer than room temperature water and pop the cuttings in. The node end of the cuttings should be fully submerged, but the leaves should remain out of the water.
Water should be changed every couple of days, or sooner if it appears murky.
WHERE TO KEEP CUTTINGS DURING HOUSEPLANT PROPAGATION IN WATER?
Once the houseplant cuttings are set in water for propagation, their care requirements will look different than when they were attached to the mother plant.
Cuttings require more indirect light, and enjoy warmer temperatures. So once set in water, cuttings may need to be placed in a different part of your home than the mother plant. Houseplant cuttings may burn if left in direct sun.
When we are trying to encourage root growth, a little warmth is always helpful! Don’t put your cuttings anywhere too hot, but away from drafty windows or cold spots in the house will help them root a little faster.
Oh, another tip with rooting: place more than one cutting per vessel of water. If you have a stubborn plant that is having a hard time rooting, try sticking a pothos cutting in the water with it for faster root growth.
CAN I LEAVE MY CUTTINGS IN WATER FOREVER?
The short answer? No.
Houseplant cuttings propagated in water may end up living in water for quite some time, but this is not an ideal place for the plant to sustain life forever.
Plants require more nutrients than water alone can provide, so a plant left in a container of water forever would be unhealthy or could die. Once a decent root system develops in the water, it’s time to move the plants to soil.
STEP 4: WATER PROPAGATION IS COMPLETE, TIME TO POT THE PLANT IN SOIL
When propagating houseplants in water, the amount of time it takes from plant cutting to potting in soil varies. Some factors that contribute to growth would include: plant species, health of the mother plant, location of the cut, care of the cutting, environmental factors and more.
Once the cutting has rooted with multiple roots, it’s time to plant the pot in soil. Choose a pot that is small, just large enough to fit the plant and it’s new roots. Keep the soil moist until the plant starts to take, and just keep an eye on the plant’s health.
Water propagation is a widely used and successful method of propagation. Many plants will experience a transition period when potted into soil for the first time, but often times the plants transition over just fine as long as the plant has a little extra care.
HOUSEPLANT PROPAGATION IN WATER IS EASY!
Wasn’t that easy? Propagating houseplants in water can surely seem like a terrifying task, but with a little bit of practice it can be mastered quickly.
Some co-workers and I are constantly trading plant cuttings, and it’s so much fun and a great way to grow our houseplant collections.
RELATED POSTS
