How To Propagate Pothos? 3 Quick Ways
If you look at lists of easy to grow houseplants, you will usually see pothos near the top.
Pothos is a type of plant that is easy to take care of. It grows in lots of different places. Its scientific name is Epipremnum aureum.
These plants don’t need a lot of light. They also don’t need special humidity. You can put them on shelves and hang them up for decoration.
It’s not just that. These plants are also easy to propagate.
You can grow a new pothos plant in just two weeks. You will get double the benefits from having two plants!
Follow our simple guide on how to propagate pothos.
Contents
Things Required To Get Started
| Tools | Materials |
|---|---|
| Propagating in Soil – Scissors – Hand Pruners | Propagating in Soil – Well-draining mix – Rooting hormone – Pot |
| Propagating in Water – Plastic or Glass container – Vase – Scissors – Hand Pruners | Propagating in Water – Water – Pot – Well-draining mix |
| Propagating in Sphagnum Moss – Scissors – Hand Pruners – Plastic or Glass container | Propagating in Sphagnum Moss – Well-draining mix – Sphagnum moss – Pot |
When You Can Propagate Pothos
It is best to grow a pothos plant in the spring or summer. This is when it’s growing the most.
Do not try to pothos propagation in the fall or winter. It will be more difficult for the mother plant to get better when you take cuttings during this time.
Propagating Pothos in Soil
Propagating pothos in the soil is a great way to grow your houseplant. It’s not difficult and doesn’t require a lot of effort or resources.
You can make a new pothos plant by taking cuttings from another pothos plant. With the right preparation, you will have a beautiful new plant for your home.
To grow plants from cuttings, you need rooting hormone. You also need a pot and soil mix that allows water to flow through it easily.
Below are the steps to propagate pothos in detail.
Stem Cuttings
To get stem cuttings from your mother plant, use a pair of very sharp and clean scissors.
When you cut a stem, make there are 3 or 4 nodes. Nodes look like little bumps on the stem. It’s where leaves and aerial root growth.
The cuttings will grow new roots from the place where they were cut.
Cut The Bottom Leaves
Take off the leaves at the bottom of each cutting. Leave at least one or two leaves on top. You can use scissors to cut them off or pull them gently from the stem.
Dip The Cutting in Rooting Hormone
Take the bottom of each stem and carefully put it in a rooting hormone powder.
Plant The Cuttings in The Soil
Use your finger to make a small hole in the soil. Take cutting from the rooting hormone. Then put them in the hole.
When choosing a pot, make sure it has holes in the bottom so water can get out. Also, don’t pick one that is too big.
Put some potting mix into the pot. Push the stem down into the mix so that part of it is under the soil. Also, some of the leaves are still above.
Press down on the soil with your hands, but be gentle. This will help keep the cuttings in place.
Keep the Soil Moist
Put the potted cuttings where there is bright light but not direct sunlight. Give them water.
Water the soil so it is always damp, but not too wet. The cuttings need this to grow roots.
After a few weeks, only water your plants when the soil is dry.
Propagating Pothos in Water
Propagating pothos plants in water is one of the easiest ways to do it. It’s easy and it can be fun too!
You can see your cuttings grow roots. It is easy to change them from water to soil.
To start growing plants, you need cuttings, a pot or container, and water.
Stem Cuttings
Get a pair of clean scissors or pruning shears. Cut pieces from your mother plant. Each piece should have 3 to 4 nodes on it.
The nodes are small bumps on the stem. Leaves and aerial roots grow from them. New roots will also grow from them when you take cuttings.
Take Off the Bottom Leaves
Once you have your stem cuttings, take off the leaves at the bottom. This is important because the bottom part will be in water.
You can take the leaves off the stem either by cutting them or pulling them. Leave one or two leaves at the top of each cutting.
Place the Cuttings in Water
Fill a small container with water. Put the stem cuttings in the water. Make sure the leaves are above the water. Also, the nodes on the stem are under it.
You can use glass jars, plastic containers, or vases. You can use whatever you have around the house.
Change the Water Once a Week
Change the water once a week while the cuttings are growing. Soon, roots will start to grow from the nodes on the stem. This should take about two weeks.
Plant the Rooted Cuttings in Soil
When the roots of your cuttings are 2 to 3 inches long, take them out of the water and put them in the soil.
Use soil that lets water pass through easily. Plant the cuttings in a pot with holes in the bottom so the water can go out.
Give the new plant some water. Put it in a spot with bright light but not direct sunlight. Keep the soil moist for 1-2 weeks so the roots can get used to the new soil.
Propagating Pothos in Sphagnum Moss
Finally, you can use sphagnum moss to make more pothos plants. People who are experienced with growing plants like this often use sphagnum moss.
If other methods haven’t worked, it might be worth giving this a try.
For most people, using water or soil is easier to use than sphagnum moss. This is especially true if you do not have any sphagnum moss at home.
Wet the Sphagnum Moss
Sphagnum moss is usually sold dry. To make it ready for propagating, put it in water and let it soak for 20-30 minutes.
Fill a bowl with water. Put the moss into the water and make sure it is completely covered. Now put the bowl aside until you finish the other steps.
Stem Cuttings
Take a pair of scissors that are sharp and clean. Cut off some stems from the plant.
When you cut the stem, make sure it has 3 to 4 bumps. These bumps are called nodes and leaves and roots will grow from them.
Cut the Bottom Leaves
Cut off the bottom leaves of each cutting. Leave at least 1 or 2 leaves at the top. You can use scissors to cut off the leaves or you can carefully pull them away.
Put the Cuttings in the Moss
After the moss has been soaking in the water, take it out and squeeze it to get rid of as much water as you can.
When you are done, the moss should not be too wet or too dry. Put some sphagnum moss in a glass or plastic container. Then put the cuttings into it.
Put moss at the bottom of each stem so that the nodes are covered. Put the leaves on top of the moss and make sure they don’t cover it.
Push the moss down around the cuttings. Make sure it is touching all of the nodes. Secure it in place.
Keep the Sphagnum Moss Damp
Put the cuttings in a spot where there is light but not direct sunlight. Make sure the sphagnum moss stays damp but not too wet.
It will take a few weeks for the roots to grow.
Plant the Rooted Cuttings in Soil
Wait until the roots of the cuttings are 2-3 inches long. That is when they can be planted in soil. This may take a few weeks or even more than one month.
When planting cuttings, use soil that drains well. Use a pot with holes in the bottom so extra water can come out.
Water the new plant. Keep the soil damp for 1-2 weeks to help the roots get used to the soil.
Pothos Plant Quick Care Guide
| Origin: | Southeastern Asia |
| Flowers Color: | Creamy White |
| USDA Zone: | 10-12 |
| Soil pH: | 6.0-6.8 |
| Average Length: | Upto 18 meters or 60 feets |
| Water Schedule: | Every 1-2 weeks, let the soil dry in between |
| Ideal Temperature: | 70-90 °F or 21-32°C. |
| Soil Texture: | Well draining potting soil |
Reasons Why Your Pothos Cutting Didn’t Root
Pothos plants are usually easy to take care of. Sometimes there can be problems that stop the plant from growing roots or being moved to a new place.
Look at these reasons and use them to know what things you should not do.
Not Cutting Stem From The Right Place
The roots of pothos plants come from the stem. These roots will grow when a node on the stem is underwater or in soil.
If the stem of a plant is too far above the water, it won’t grow roots.
If you have cuttings with leaves on top, but no nodes at the bottom, it will be hard for roots to grow.
Didn’t Changed Water on Time
Roots can grow in water because it contains oxygen. But after a few days, the oxygen runs out. Without oxygen, the roots will die like humans without air.
Standing water can bring in germs and bugs that can hurt the growth of plants or make them rot.
Change the water in your cutting every few days or when it looks dirty. This will help keep it healthy.
Low Light
Plants need sunlight to make energy. This process is called photosynthesis. If you want your plant to grow, it needs sunlight too.
Pothos plants don’t need a lot of sunlight to survive. But they do best in a spot that is bright and has indirect light.
If a plant is in an area without much light, it will take a long time for the roots to grow. It might not even grow any roots.
Taking cutting From an old/damaged Vine
To have the best chance of success, take a cutting from a strong and healthy vine.
This means the stem’s inside parts are working properly and it can make roots grow.
If the stem of a plant is old or broken, it will have trouble growing new roots.
If roots do grow, they might not be very strong or healthy. Growing roots takes a lot of energy. Find a stem that is strong enough to handle the job.
Not a Suitable Temperature
Pothos plants like warm places with lots of moisture in the air.
Plants grow quickly in spring and summer when it is their best time to grow.
If you are planting in a cold room or during winter, it will take longer for your plants to grow. They may not even grow at all.
Put your glass or pot in the warmest room of your house. If it is cold, use a heating mat to keep it warm.
They Need More Time
Propagation may be easy but it will take some time. The roots need at least four weeks to reach the stage where they can be transplanted. It could take even longer.
Plants grow really fast, but it might take a long time for us who are not very patient.
If your cutting is not growing roots after a couple of weeks, wait a little longer.
If nothing grows after one month, you might have a different problem. Don’t worry before that time.
You Transplanted Too Late
The roots of a cutting will be different if it grows in water than if it grows in soil.
Roots that grow in water are very thin and delicate. The longer they stay in the water, the harder it will be for them to get used to the soil.
If you transplant too late, the leaves on your plant may turn yellow. It can also make it harder for your cutting to grow roots in the soil.
Wait until the roots of a plant are at least two inches long before you transplant it. Do not wait too long, or it might cause problems later.
Also, you should slowly introduce the plant to a new medium.
When the roots are ready, add a little bit of perlite or coconut coir to the soil every day until the glass is full.
It is important to help the roots adjust to their new home.
FAQs
Can you propagate a pothos from a leaf?
You can’t make more pothos plants from just a leaf. You need along the stem cuttings that have one or more nodes. It is easy to turn one plant into many new ones with soil, water, or by dividing it.
Why is my pothos so leggy?
Not enough light is why your pothos plant looks leggy. Pothos needs bright sunlight, but not too much. If it’s getting shade, the plant will try to find more light by growing longer vines.
What can I do with leafless pothos vines?
Let the roots of the pothos plant dry out. Put it in a new pot with soil that lets water drain away.
Pruning and repotting can help if your pothos vine does not have leaves.
Do pothos like tight roots?
Pothos does not like it if its roots are too tight. It would rather have more space to grow.
Does Pothos do better hanging or climbing?
All kinds of pothos plants need to climb. If you let it trail or hang, the leaves will get smaller and there will be more space between them.
This will make bare stems after a few years. Climbing helps the plant grow up and become mature.
Final Verdict
Propagating pothos is a fun activity for gardeners. It takes some time, but it’s worth it when you see your plant grow!
Propagating plants means you can make more of the same plant. It’s also a great way to give gifts to people who love plants.
You can grow your pothos in soil, water, or sphagnum moss. Try each one and watch as the cuttings get new roots and become small versions of the parent plant.
Each way of propagating plants has its own advantages and disadvantages. Think carefully before deciding which one to use. You can try them all!