How to Propagate House Plants

Sayward Rebhal writes about Portland remodeling and home issues, like painting without hiring a local painter, for Networx.

I love house plants. Love ‘em! I think they’re beautiful and elegant and calming and endearing, all at the same time. A well-placed house plant invites instant charm, a sprinkle of whimsy, and a hefty dose of happiness to any room. As a bonus, house plants are natural air purifiers. They literally clean pollution from the atmosphere, and help to keep a home healthy and fresh.

This love affair has led to a serious overpopulation of plants throughout my house. In my kitchen, they’re perched on every counter, above the cupboards, atop the breakfast bar, the fridge, it goes on. The living room is overflowing as well, with plants peeking out from behind the TV, pots used as book ends, and of course the indoor lemon tree that lives next to the couch. Now that I’ve learned how – and how easy it is – to propagate them, I can’t help but to keep doing it. More plants! I love to be surrounded by all the lush greenery, especially during the bitter winter months.

If you’re looking to bring a bit more green into your abode, don’t waste your money buying a bunch of fully mature plants. Way too expensive. Instead, you just need one (or better yet, clip from a friend), which you can turn into many. Here’s how:

1. Take a Clipping

You’ll want to clip a piece of stem at least 4 inches long, about 6 inches is best. Cut directly beneath the node (the little bump where the leaves grow from) and cut at a 45 degree angle. If there are leaves on that node, snip them off.

2. Give It Water

Place the clipped stem in a small vase or drinking glass (mason jars work well) full of water. The stem should be submerged a few inches, but the upper leaves should remain out of water. Place the container in a sunny spot.

3. Keep It Happy

Change the water out frequently. Over the next few days or weeks, the stem will begin growing its own set of roots. They’ll start out as thin white hair-like projections, multiplying and thickening over time. Wait until the roots are a few inches long before you attempt to transfer the plant.

4. Transplant

Once the roots are long and sturdy, you can move the stem to soil. Choose a good-sized pot with plenty of room to grow. After adding potting soil, gently lay the roots down, and then cover with more potting soil. Pat down – but not too hard! Water often, fertilize as needed, and enjoy your new plant!

This technique works well for most common house plants, as well as many edible herbs such as basil or mint. You can keep a perpetual culinary garden on your kitchen windowsill, just by using this method.

Or, you can effortlessly whip up an adorable, thoughtful, and practical present. Herbs are awesome as housewarming gifts, while pretty plants are perfect for a birthday or other celebration.

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Bonnie M.

7:22PM PDT on Apr 15, 2013

Interesting- proves society love plants and the benefits of taking care of these beautiful gift from Nature. I learned to propagate house plants and gift these to a few friends. I have the Queen of the Nile, fortune plant, cactus and a few others.In the Fall, I bring in geraniums -some bloom around Feb. I cut slips and plant these in starter soils, in small pots, ready to dig in come Spring. I start most of the annuals for my garden from seeds. It is fun to have a micro-mini nursery indoors .To see these plants in the winter is calming. Houseplants are not all thesame- some can survive a bit og neglect, some want the soil moist, some thrive in lots of sun, some can tolerate a bit of shade- a gardener gets to know which plant requires what.

April 15
send a green star

Liliana G.

9:54PM PDT on Apr 7, 2013

The tough part to me is watering them just about enough and not over doing it. Thanks.

April 7
send a green star

Bill and Katie D.

9:45PM PDT on Apr 7, 2013

Great Article! Thank You!

Tanya W.

6:40AM PDT on Apr 7, 2013

Cheers.

Danuta W.

1:06AM PDT on Apr 7, 2013

Thank you for sharing.

Lindsay K.

3:22PM PDT on Apr 5, 2013

Plants for free! Great! The BBC Gardeners' World website has great info, too, as does the programme.

April 5
send a green star

Sonia M.

1:46PM PDT on Apr 5, 2013

Great article for beginners,thanks for sharing

Rosemary H.

12:35PM PDT on Apr 5, 2013

I've been doing this for years, though it doesn't work for every plant - I wish I could propogate orchids this way!

Right now I have my fingers crossed. I was able to bring back two cuttings of a foliage plant from Ghana. One died but the other lived.and grew so tall I trained it up to the celing in my hall, where it was a wonderful sight. Recently all the leaves died though the stems looked healthy. So I have about 60 stem cuttings!

I've never been able to discover what the plant is. If I could look it up I could discover care instructions, because I don't know what I did that was different from the cafre it was receiving before,