Propagating Plants

How to Propagate Plants in Water

Follow these easy steps:

Use the Right Equipment Prior to collecting a plant cutting, it is important to ensure that the equipment is sharp and sterilized. \

Dip your shears in isopropyl alcohol to sterilize them and prevent bacterial infection from spreading to your vulnerable plant clipping.

Choosing Where to Cut The clipping should be about 6 inches in length. Try not to cut too long of a piece; not only does this diminish the likelihood of rooting, but it also results in a leggy, tall plant instead of a compact, bushy plant.

You should cut your stem right below the bud; leaving too much stem will heighten the risk of rotting. Prepare the Cutting Prune the lower leaves from the cutting, but allow the top 2 or 3 leaves to remain intact.

There should be no leaves submerged in the water, as this increases the risk of rotting. In addition to cutting bottom leaves, there should be no flowers present on the cutting. The reason for this is that flowers will attempt to seed if left on the cutting; this can drain out the cutting’s energy that would otherwise be used to develop root growth.

Place the Cutting in Water I recommend housing your plant cutting in a glass container so you can easily monitor your progress without disrupting the plant as much.

This 3-Vase Desktop Propagator is perfect for small cuttings. Its small size is convenient for placing on a desk, or even a windowsill (for cuttings that require direct sun exposure).

For larger cuttings, opt for the Hanging Glass Vase with Wire Hanger. This is another beautiful glass vase that you can monitor your cutting’s progress as roots begin to form. This glass vase is a little longer, measuring 12” in length. In addition, it has a wire hanger.

Be Patient and Monitor Your Cutting Every week, you should replenish your glass with fresh water; doing so is a preventative measure to deter any bacteria build-up.

It can take anywhere from 1 to 3 months for roots to grow from the cutting. Transfer into Soil Generally speaking, you may transplant your cutting into a pot of soil when the roots have reached 1 to 2 inches in length; however, many plants are capable of surviving in water for long periods of time.

Lightly moisten your potting soil prior to transplanting the cutting. Transplant your cutting in an appropriate plant pot. Moving forward, you should care for the cutting as you would with a regular plant. Growing preferences such as water, sunlight, and fertilizer are up to the discretion of the plant.

In Conclusion There’s nothing that is more rewarding than successfully propagating your plants. With easy steps, you can turn one plant into several. With all these new plants laying around, you might even want to gift one to your friends or family. Go ahead and try propagating with some of the plants you have around your home!