If you're new to the houseplant scene and you'd like an inexpensive way to build your collection, propagaing your plants from cuttings is a great way to get started. In simple terms, propagation is the process of growing new plants from an existing plant. Propagation from cuttings is one easy way to achieve this.
HOW TO PROPAGATE PLANTS WITH CUTTINGS
For your first time propagating a plant, it’s best to choose a healthy, hardy, easy-to-grow plant with standard, developed roots that you’ve had for a while. This ensures that its roots are established in its pot and that the parent plant will have no adverse effects from being propagated.
Some types of houseplants are also easier to propagate than others. If you’re new to propagation, we suggest pothos, philodendron, wandering Jew, and spider plants for your first attempt.
Once you’ve chosen your plant, it’s time to get cutting! Here are the supplies you’ll need:
A plant
A small vase, old drinking glass, or other glass container
Water
Clean, sharp scissors
Patience
Find an area that you’d like to cut. The best cuttings contain 2-3 leaves and are around 4-8” long. Then, find the node (the knobby bump opposite where the stems and leaves attach to the main stem) and make a diagonal cut just below the lowest node of your cutting. The diagonal cut helps the new plant take in water and nutrients, and the node at the bottom is where the new roots will develop.
Fill a tall, skinny glass with water and place your cutting into the water. We recommend using clear glass for these plant propagation techniques because it will allow you to track root growth more easily, but any tall, skinny, watertight container will work in a pinch.
In about a week, roots will begin to sprout from the bottom of your cutting. Be sure to top off your water level so that the roots remain just below the surface. You should also completely change the water once or twice a week (or whenever it begins to get cloudy).
Once the root system has developed and you have at least one strong root that is about 4” long, it’s time to pot your new plant. Pot as per usual in a lightweight potting mix in a planter that is just big enough for your cutting. Place the new plant in filtered or indirect light until you begin to see new growth. Once there is new growth, you can move the plant to an area that provides its desired light level.
Since living in water is all your cutting has ever known, soil moisture and plant propagation go hand in hand. You’ll need to water your new plant heavily in the beginning to help it transition into living in soil. Keep the soil moist (but not soaking) to avoid root rot. Some growers also put a terrarium top or plastic bag over the top of the plant to help it retain moisture (just be sure to poke some ventilation holes for air flow).
Slowly space out your waterings until the plant is on a normal watering schedule. Congratulations! You’ve propagated your first plant. (source: https://www.skh.com/thedirt/plant-propagation-techniques)
CUTTING SWAPS
Cutting swaps at Dust Gardens are free (and fun). Want to participate? Bring a cutting in its container that you'd like to share. It can be a new cutting, or a fully rooted small plant. Please label your plant upon arriving. We want to know what the plant is and how to care for it (light and water requirements). After a short presentation about cuttings and propagation, choose the plant you'd like to take home. It's that simple. Please plan on taking only as many cuttings as you've brought with you. Any houseplant variety is acceptable. I hope you'll join us! I can't wait to see what might show up on our cuttings table.
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