The high price of houseplants is the most important thing that discourages you from buying houseplants in large numbers and makes you buy very few plants when you go to the market or buy plants online. As a result, if you love plants, you probably won’t like this purchase. Because you definitely want to buy enough plants to fill your house; But what is the solution? Propagation of houseplants.
By propagating your houseplants, you can add to their number and fill your house with plants as you wish. For this purpose, in this article, we have prepared a comprehensive content about the propagation of houseplants for you to learn everything you need to know about the propagation of houseplants and its methods, and from now on, you can easily reproduce your plants. So, follow this article from Tooplant and don’t miss this comprehensive training. Continue reading this article in TooPlant in order to learn more about how to propagation of houseplants.
What is houseplants propagation?
Plant propagation means its increases in an asexual way. This is often successful and very quick, as you don’t have to grow a plant from seed to maturity.
One of the exciting things about plants is that each of their cells can copy its function and appearance, and by removing a branch or leaf from a plant and providing the right conditions, you can have a complete and new plant.
It is obvious that propagation of indoor plants will not always be successful, but with patience and trial and error, you can increase the success rate.
By propagating your favorite plant, you can keep it with you forever, because, with propagation methods, you are actually copying your own plant. In addition, you can give your favorite plant as a gift to those you love.
There are some general and basic rules that apply to the propagation of any plant and you should keep them in mind. These principles are as follows:
¤¤ Cuttings and young plants need more attention and care than mature plants.
¤¤ Any negligence such as drying or overwetting of the soil will cause your young plant to die easily.
¤¤ If rooting is in soil, use suitable soil and if rooting is in water, use water without chlorine and mineral salts.
¤¤ Using growth hormone for rooting and propagation is a good option because it increases your chances of success, but it is not necessary.
¤¤ During the propagation process, all tools used, including knives, scissors, pots, etc., must be clean and sterile.
¤¤ Never expect 100% success; On the other hand, never be disappointed and regret after a failure; If you fail, just keep going and don’t stop going until you succeed. Don’t forget this golden principle that plants like to propagate and it’s not like you force the plant to do something it doesn’t like. All plants like to propagate and keep their DNA in the next generations.
Rooting is one of the basic steps in the propagation of houseplants. Every cutting or young plant needs roots to be able to live alone and independently. Since these cuttings or young plants do not have roots at first, they should be provided with the right conditions so that they can take root. For this purpose, the plant can be planted both in fresh soil and in a container full of clean water that you change every few days.
But what is the best way? In general, the method of rooting in the soil reduces the propagation stages, because like rooting in water, there is no need to transfer the cuttings to the soil after rooting. But you should keep in mind that rooting in the soil requires more care and you should be careful not to let the soil get too dry or too wet.
On the other hand, some plants are not suitable for rooting in water and must root in soil. Also, if you keep your young plant in water first, you should transfer it to the soil after the roots appear, which is a delicate task and you may damage its fragile roots.
All in all, both of these methods have their own advantages and disadvantages, and you should choose the right method according to the plant and the situation you have. You can also do both of these methods in parallel and at the same time to see which one you are more successful in.
In the following, we will talk about the method of rooting in water and soil for propagation of house plants.
1. Rooting in water for houseplants propagation
Rooting in water is done more quickly and does not require special expenses, and therefore it is perfect for those who do not have access to soil or pots.
Propagation in water is very suitable for beginners and those who do not have much experience in propagating plants. There is also the opportunity to watch and enjoy your plant rooting live.
For this method, you should prepare a sharp and sterilized scissors along with a glass of clean water.
♦♦ Cut a 10 to 15 cm stem with scissors, try to do this from below the leaf node and then remove the leaves from the lower half of the stem.
♦♦ Place the cut cutting in a container of water and move it to a sunny location with indirect light and change the water every two weeks to allow new roots to sprout and grow on the stem.
♦♦ When the roots reach the right size, you can transfer the plant to the pot.
•• Place the cuttings directly in the soil.
•• According to the size of the branch you cut, put it in the soil about 3-5 cm, tighten around it and then water the soil.
•• Remember that you should never let the soil in the pot dry; Because the cuttings don’t have roots yet and you have to provide them with a lot of moisture. For this purpose, a plastic container around the pot can help a lot to provide moisture, you just have to be careful that this plastic container does not come into contact with the leaves and is never exposed to direct sunlight.
Fortunately, you don’t need complicated and special tools to propagate your houseplants, and you can find almost all of them in your home. For this purpose, all you need is a sharp pair of scissors and a pot of soil (for rooting in soil), and all your equipment must be sterilized.
You can also get growth hormone and heating mat for more results. If you only intend to propagate a plant once, it is a mistake to buy these additional devices, but if you want to propagate your plants professionally and continuously, this tool will help you a lot and you will see the result of your investment over time.
In the following, we will tell you more about the suitable vase and sterile equipment.
A suitable pot
A plastic pot with a width of 15 to 20 cm that is filled with suitable soil is suitable for most cuttings. It is better to put the pot in the plastic and cover it to create a lot of moisture, this will help the rooting of the cutting. Never expose the pot to direct sunlight.
For potting soil, you can use coarse and clean sand or choose a combination of sand and peat moss. An equal mix of peat moss and perlite is also excellent. Vermiculite is also an effective and light material that can store water inside and help plant rooting.
Sterilization of tools for houseplants propagation
The water pot or any tool you use to propagate the plant must be completely clean and sterilized. For this purpose, you should thoroughly clean your tools and equipment with alcohol or household detergents, and if it is not possible to wash them, you should try to heat them for 20 to 30 minutes at a temperature of 65 to 90 degrees.
Now you are familiar with the general rules, types of maintenance methods and suitable tools for propagating house plants. It’s time to introduce the proper propagation methods of houseplants.
In this regard, you should keep in mind that different plants are propagated by different methods, so that sometimes you can reproduce a plant with several methods and sometimes only one method is suitable for it.
But the different methods of propagating house plants are as follows:
1. How to propagate houseplants by offsets
Some plants grow a smaller plant next to the main stem, which is called an offset. This offset has all the characteristics of the mother plant and the only difference is that it is smaller in size compared to the mother plant. Properly propagating houseplants in this way requires a lot of care, because you have to be careful that this little plant has enough roots, because if it has few roots, this newly independent young one cannot survive.
If you are going to try this method, choose an offset that has lived for a few months and is large enough. If your plant’s offset is small, give it some time so that it can continue to grow and become more mature. When the offset has grown enough, use a sharp sterilized knife to separate it from the mother plant, transfer it to a new pot with fresh soil, and after doing these actions, finally take care of it like the mother plant.
What plants can be propagated by offsets?
Some of the plants that are suitable for offset propagation are as follows:
- Chinese money plant (Pilea peperomioides) (Click to know all important and useful tips to care for Chinese money plant).
- Tillandsia
- Aloe vera
- Echeveria
- Haworthia
- Aechmea fasciata
Some houseplants produce seedlings at the end of the stem on their leaves. These seedlings are actually a miniature version of the same adult plant, and when the leaves and roots of the plant grow enough, they can live independently.
The only thing to do is to separate these seedlings from the leaves or stems and plant them in a pot with suitable soil. After this, your next task is to take care of the plant and water it properly so that after a few weeks you can see the growth of your plant.
Remember that seedlings grow in two ways. Some of them can root on the same leaf or stem, and others need contact with the soil to root. To reproduce the seedlings, if they have already taken root, you should gently separate them from the original plant with a tool such as tweezers so that the roots are not damaged and transfer them to the soil. It is better not to remove all the seedlings from the main plant so as not to spoil its appearance.
But in the case of seedlings that need soil for rooting, place a smaller pot next to the main pot and bend the stem with the seedling over it so that the seedling is in contact with the soil surface. After some time, this seedling will start to take root and you can separate it from the main plant.
What plants can be propagated by seedling?
Some of the plants that you can propagate by seedling method are as follows:
- Chinese Money Plant (Pilea Peperomioides)
- Phalaenopsis Orchids
- Spider plant (See here for complete information on care for spider plant)
Many houseplants can be propagated by stem cuttings. If you want to propagate a plant in this way, you should choose a stem without flowers in spring or summer.
After selecting and cutting the stem, you should immediately put most of the stem into the new soil. Of course, keep in mind that if you have taken your cutting from the family of cacti or succulents, you must allow this cutting to rest outside the soil for a few hours to a day so that the cut part of it dries so that your cutting is effective and your propagation is successful.
In the method of propagating houseplants by stem cuttings, you must choose a stem that is strong and healthy. Generally, a 10 to 15 cm stem is enough, and it is better to make the cut from below the stem node and the place where the leaf joins the stem.
Remember to make this cut with sharp and clean scissors so that the stem is not crushed or contaminated. Then remove the leaves from the lower part of the stem and be careful never to place the cut cutting on the table or in a contaminated place, because it is highly prone to absorb contamination.
What are the 4 main types of plant cuttings?
Stem cuttings are done in different ways, including hardwood cuttings, semi-hardwood cuttings, softwood cuttings and herbaceous cuttings:
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Hardwood cuttings
This type of cutting is generally taken from trees that fall asleep in the fall, such as grapes, pomegranates, mulberries, etc. In this method, cuttings should be taken from the plant in the winter and during the rest season, and the wood of several years of the tree, which has hardened, is used.
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Semi-hardwood cuttings
Semi-hardwood cuttings are usually done for evergreen trees or some citrus trees. It is better to take this type of cutting in late spring or early summer. In this method, branches are used that are not yet completely hard and woody.
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Softwood cuttings
Softwood cuttings are generally suitable for plants that are growing and their branches are still soft and fresh. Some plants such as maple or magnolia are propagated in this way. The best time to separate the cuttings in this way is in the spring when new and growing branches have started to grow.
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Herbaceous cuttings
This method is exactly the method used for propagating indoor and apartment plants. Almost all houseplants that can be propagated by stem cuttings are propagated by herbaceous cuttings. In this method, a cutting is taken from the fresh and fleshy stems of the plant so that leaves remain on it. Note that in most cases, sap may come out from the place where the stem is cut.
How do you care for newly rooted cuttings?
The time it takes for a cutting to take root depends entirely on the type of plant. If you have placed the cuttings in the soil, you can check the condition of the roots by moving the soil slowly. If the roots had reached about 3 cm, it is better to transfer the plant to a new pot.
The most difficult part of the work is transferring the plant from a very humid environment that is suitable for rooting to a drier environment. As a result, it is better to check the plant continuously in the first few weeks after the transfer.
After transferring the plant to a new pot, you can use a water-soluble fertilizer to feed the plant and then repeat the fertilization once a month. After the plant grows properly, continue fertilizing twice a week in spring and summer and once a month in autumn and winter.
What plants can be propagated by stem cuttings?
Some suitable plants for propagation through stem cuttings are:
- Begonia Rex (Have a look: How to Care for Begonia Rex?)
- Yucca
- Dracaena (See here for complete information on care for Dracaena)
- White goosefoot
- Corn Plant (Dracaena fragrans)
- Common groundsel
- Pothos (If you want to know all the tips you need to care for Pothos, click here).
4. How to propagate of houseplants by leaf cuttings
Some plants can be propagated by leaf cuttings. For this, depending on the type of plant you have, it is enough to separate its leaves by hand or with sterilized scissors and let this leaf rest for a few hours or a day so that the cut area dries and does not cause decay.
In this regard, keep in mind that some plants, such as the snake plants, have large leaves that you can divide into several smaller leaves and use all of them as cuttings.
But after the leaves are ready, place the cut side of them standing up in the soil or water. Try to keep most parts of the leaf out of the water or soil surface so that it does not rot and can carry out the photosynthesis it needs. It is enough that a few centimeters of the leaf is in water or soil and has the necessary support and does not fall.
What plants can be propagated by leaf cuttings?
Some plants suitable for propagation by leaf cuttings include the following:
- African violet (Read any more: The best tips for caring for an African violet).
- Begonia Rex
- Christmas Cactus (Continue to read: How to care for Christmas Cactus?)
- Echeveria
- Jade plant (The best bight, temperature, and fertilizer for Jade plant can be found in “How to Care for Jade Plant” article)
- ZZ plant (If you want to know all the tips you need to care for ZZ Plant, click here)
- Snake plant (See here for complete information on care for snake plants)
Propagation of houseplants from seeds is the cheapest way to do this, but unfortunately there are very few houseplants that you can propagate from seeds, and the biggest problem with this method is that you have to spend a lot of time growing a seed to the point where it will grow.
The plant becomes mature and has leaves or flowers; However, this method is still worth a try, and if your current plant produces seeds, there is nothing to lose or cost, and you can easily experiment with this method.
In this method of propagating house plants, if you have a greenhouse, you have a big advantage, because to plant the seeds, you have to provide them with fresh soil and a balanced temperature, and it is easier to provide them in the greenhouse.
After providing the conditions, once the seeds have germinated and become seedlings, you need to redouble your care because these young seedlings are highly susceptible to damage and are fragile. Finally, continue to care for the seedlings and watch them grow.
What houseplants can be propagated by seeds?
Some plants suitable for propagation by seeds:
- Gerbera
- Bird of paradise flower (Strelitzia reginae)
- Chrysanthemum
- Umbrella Grass (Cyperus alternifolius / Papyrus)
6. Houseplant propagation by layering
Another method of propagating houseplants is stem layering. Most of the creeping plants, the plants that creep or their stem can give roots independently, you can propagate by layering method.
The advantage of this method is that it greatly reduces the risk of cutting the cutting. But the negative point is the space that is occupied and during the rooting period, this space must be available to the plant, however, if you have enough space, the negative point of this method will not be noticeable.
You can do layering in two ways: air layering or ground layering:
1. Ground layering for houseplants propagation
¤¤ For ground layering, you should choose a healthy and strong stem and secure it with a clip or wire in a smaller pot next to the main pot in the soil.
¤¤ Then take out the rest of the stem from the soil and keep it facing up.
¤¤ Next, make sure that the middle part of the stem is completely immersed in the soil because the plant needs to be in contact with the soil to take root. The mother plant continues to supply the nutrients needed by this stem until the stem forms its own roots and can provide nutrients by itself.
¤¤ At this stage you will see new growth on the young plant and you can separate it from the mother plant and have a new plant.
2. Air layering for propagating houseplants
For this, it is enough to remove some of the leaves from the stem, then in the middle of the place where you have removed the leaves, cut about 1-2 cm of the skin on the stem with a sharp and sterile knife, or make a deep diagonal scratch on the stem.
Keep in mind that you should not allow this scratch to heal, so it is better to put a piece of wood like a toothpick in the middle to prevent this scratch from healing.
After removing the bark of the stem or scratching it, you should soak some sphagnum moss and take the excess water. Then place the moss around the peeled or scratched area to completely cover it and place a clear plastic over it (the clear plastic helps you see the plant rooting), then tighten the two ends of the plastic that no air or moisture enters or leaves it.
After about a month or so you should be able to see the roots and at this time you can separate the rooted stem from the main plant and plant it independently. Be careful to remove the entire root ball with the stem.
The roots formed in the layering method for propagating houseplants will still be weak and small compared to the size of the plant, and you must take care of them. To take care of these weak roots, it is better to wrap the newly separated plant with a clear plastic for a while to provide high humidity and the roots can grow more to get the power to supply the plant with food. After some time, when the roots are big enough, it is time to transfer them to the soil.
Which type of plants are used in layering method?
Some suitable plants for propagation by layering are as follows:
- English Ivy (Read the rest: How to care for English Ivy?)
- White goosefoot
- Pothos
- Spider plant
7. How to propagate houseplants by division
Some house plants can spread quickly and grow wide. You can make this group of houseplants smaller by division and multiplying them.
Dividing a plant is easy. Just take the plant out of the pot and slowly divide it into several pieces from the root. Don’t forget that each section or part of the divided plant must have its own root ball, otherwise, it cannot absorb the required nutrients and will dry up.
You can use a shovel to propagate by dividing plants in the garden, but do not do this with indoor plants because they are more delicate; As a result, it is better to do this by hand or with a sharp sterilized knife.
What are seven plants that can be propagated by division?
- Aspidistra (Continue now: How to care for Aspidistra?)
- Pitcher plants
- Calathea (Explore: How to care for Calathea Zebra Plant? and How to care for Calathea Orbifolia?)
- Spider plant
- Boston fern (Click to know other important and useful tips for caring for Boston Fern).
- Snake plant
- Peace lily (See here for complete information on care for Peace lily).
In this article, we tried to provide you with the necessary information about the methods of houseplant propagation.
However, if you have any questions regarding this indoor plant or you need to get advice from our houseplant experts, please share your questions with us through the comments section below.