Propagation 101

May 3, 20225 min read

Do you want to increase your houseplant collection for absolutely no extra cost? Welcome to the world of propagation! Propagation is one of my favorite things about owning plants, not to mention the most rewarding. When I can successfully propagate a plant I feel a sense of euphoria. I feel like a plant mother goddess full of earthy magic. You too can feel this magic hopefully after reading this article!

There are many different methods of propagation as well as mediums to propagate with. My favorite and most successful method is water, but that’s just me. There is ultimately no right or wrong way to propagate your plants, and you can get really creative with it! Propagation stations are all the rage right now, especially those cute little glass tubes that fit into wooden frames. One of my favorite Plant Dad’s, Hilton Carter, has lots of these for sale on his website which you can find here. There are also a lot of cute and creative propagation displays available from any local plant store.

In order to propagate, you will first need to know what kind of plant you’re working with. There are different methods of propagating for different species of plants. For example, the way I would propagate a succulent leaf is different from how I would propagate a pothos cutting. For aroid plants, I suggest 3 different mediums for the most successful propagation: sphagnum moss, water, or lecca clay balls. For succulents I would recommend soil or water. Epiphytes are tricky because many of these plants grow through pups and offshoots, which can all require different mediums depending on the plant. A good rule of thumb for propagation is water and sphagnum if you're just starting out, and use your best judgment from there. Remember, the more your practice the better you get, so just keep propagating!

Propagating can be so exciting when its successful, but let's real talk for a moment. Sometimes you will try your very hardest to root a cutting, and it just won't take off. It's a sad and frustrating time for any plant parent, especially when you have a fun plant you want to make more of. Just remember, propagations do not have 100% success rate. I would say every 6/10 cuttings will root and take off, so don't be too hard on yourself. Sometimes things are just out of control and you can't help it. Keep trying and keep being creative with your propagation methods. The more you try the more you will succeed. And with that, I wish you happy propagating my plant friends!

Propagation Mediums (bases to propagate with)

Water
Perlite
Leca clay balls
Sphagnum Moss
Peat Moss
Coco Coir
Soil

Methods

Division/Separation: Separation is a method where you take a portion of the plant to reduce its size in order to make more of that plant. Try not to tear the roots aggressively to reduce shock, but this is usually a great method to try!

Grafting: This is a technique used for fruit trees and many cacti which adds a plant to part of an already existing plant so it can grow as one. To do this, slice off the small top layer and add it to another plant. Think of those colorful little cacti at Lowes with the big flowers on top, that’s an example of grafting.

Runners/Offsets: Spider plants are great examples! These plants are excited to reproduce and they produce tons of baby plants ready for adventure. Aloe Veras, Pilias, snake plants, and many succulents can produce offsets or pups that can be detached from the mother plant and readily grow into their own pot.

Air Layering: This method includes making small incisions and cuts on the stem of a plant and then adding a cover to the incision so new growth occurs. You then put sphagnum moss around the area you want to grow, and new growth should occur over time!I have personally never tried this method, but I want to attempt this on one of my ficus trees to encourage a fuller look

Ground Layering: This happens very often in nature with ground cover plants like ivy and other perennials. Many plants will self-propagate and spread out over time if they have the space. Be careful not to do this with invasive plants or you will choke out the native treasures already growing in your yard. For ground layering in a container, simply take a cutting and lay it across the soil with the nodes facing downwards. You can circle the nodes around the top of the spoil and use a bobby pin to hold them in place. (Plant Tip: Make sure you stretch out the bobby pin before you use it). After a while, the nodes will take root in the soil and the plant will begin to spread out!

Cuttings: This is my favorite and most used method of propagation! I usually add my cuttings into a water medium until they grow roots of about two inches or longer before transplanting. For cuttings, make sure to cut half an inch below the node (those little bumps on the stem where new growth occurs), and tear off the bottom leaves to avoid rotting!

Succulents: I like to think of the leaves of succulents as the seeds. You can grow a new baby plant from one little leaf! All you have to do is pinch off a leaf, lay it on soil, then regularly mist it after a few days until new growth appears!

Pinching, Pruning & Deadheading: Many herbs and leafy greens prefer to be pruned regularly. Cleaning off the dead leaves is helpful for encouraging new growth. It gives energy to the new leaves trying to unfold. Many greens like lettuce and spinach prefer to be pinched back so they don't go to seed, otherwise the leaves taste more bitter. You can propagate the leaves and stems you cut by adding them to water too! Keeping up with pruning regularly will help you plants stay lush and happy.

Seedlings: You would be surprised how many seeds you can grow in your home from produce you would otherwise throw out. Strawberries, mangos, avocados, lemons, oranges, grapefruits, coconuts, and more! Make sure to collect the seeds and dry them in a paper towel before you plant, otherwise you could risk molding.

Hydroponics: much like the fruit seedlings, you can grow other things just as easily from scraps if you place them in a thin amount of water. Sweet potato vines are a popular one right now. Regular potatoes, onions, carrots, cabbage, lettuce heads, and celery are also very fun to try! Grab a low tray or dish and fill it with water. Take the ends of your produce you otherwise would have thrown away and let them sit in the water. Over time they will have new growth and you can eventually plant them in the ground!