Propagation Fun Times!

 

Summer has sprung, and a lot of people are noticing the new rapid growth from fertilizing at the very beginning of the season. But what to do with the new growth? Do you just leave it to grow so big it eats you (Audrey II vibes!) or propagate it!

Propagation is the method of taking cuttings from your plants with the intention of producing more of them. It’s a popular method for rare houseplants to be sold, and it’s even better to give away to your friends or attend plant swaps to get something new for cheap.

To propagate your plant, you only need a few things you probably have already and didn’t even notice:

• Scissors, cleaned with isopropyl.
• Clean spring water OR sphagnum moss OR LECA balls.
• A see through, clean vessel – you don’t have to use a Propagation Station; many people opt for empty herb jars or even mini booze bottles! As long as it’s clear so you can monitor root growth, recycling vessels you have around the house is great.
• A plant with noticeable nodes, that isn’t a baby itself.

The best way to propagate is to start with something simple – if you’ve got a wild and unruly Pothos at home, then you have a winner! Use your clean scissors to gently snip under each node. Nodes are the little bumps along the stem of your plant, that will later grow into aerial roots.

Once you have cut them, pop in the cutting so the node is underwater, and ensure you change the water every 3 or so days. If you can, use bottled spring water as it contains less fluoride. I try to keep it to one cutting per small glass vessel, but sometimes you can put more in. The roots get tangled sometimes and that’s a massive pain in the ass.

Once you can see the roots have developed, you’re ready for soil! This can vary in time from days to even weeks, but don’t be too freaked out if it takes longer to see roots. As long as you’re not seeing rot, it’ll happen eventually. Lots of factors affect how propagation works, including light, temperature and water quality.

I am a sucker for instant gratification, so I use We the Wild ‘Grow’ in my prop stations. It’s clear and doesn’t smell, and it is a great booster of the soils. I also keep my babies on a heat mat in bright, indirect sun so they see the light more often than not.

Once you plop your cuttings into soil, make sure the pot is small and the soil stays damp for a few days so your cuttings can acclimate. The soil should be rich and chunky. Aroid soil is very popular – but if you don’t want to grab the handy Plant Runner Aroid or Indoor Potting mix, making your own is super fun and rewarding, not to mention cathartic as heck.

• Perlite
• Fine Orchid Bark
• Peat Moss
• Horticultural charcoal

Are very handy bags of goodies to have in the back shed, and they last forever when you are propagating.