2 Ways to Start Cuttings: Water or Soil

Starting cuttings from a parent plant is as easy. Here are 2 ways to start cuttings in water or soil and a few tips can help you to achieve success!

Why Start Plants From Cuttings?

• You are moving and can’t bring the plants.
• You really want the same houseplant your friend has.
• A piece of your plant broke off and you can not bring yourself to let it die.
• Large plants have taken over your home.

Starting Cuttings in Water

Starting plants in water is easy!  Botanists make plants grow in amazing ways using rooting hormones and fertilizer.  Don’t be deterred, because most plants will start just fine in tap water.  I have had success with aloe vera, Christmas cactus, jade, dracaena, peace lily, philodendron, and spider plants.

Easy Steps for Starting Cuttings

1. First, make sure the plant start is clean. If using a cutting, a fresh cut is better and should be cut immediately before step 2.
2. Next, Prepare room temperature water, an inch or two deep in a glass container (glass harbors less bacteria and you can watch your plants grow.)  But remember, do not use distilled water, as tap water is preferred.
3. Then, add your plant to the prepared water and glass.
4. After adding your plant, set it in a sunny location inside and wait.  After a few days the roots should start to emerge.
5. Periodically add water as needed to maintain the water level above the roots.
6. Eventually, you will need to clean the container.  Otherwise, it will begin to grow algae.  Transfer the plant to a new container of room temperature water.
7. Once the roots have established, the start can be planted in soil or may remain in the water. 

Starting Cuttings in Soil

Spider plants and philodendron are the easiest plants to start because they have visible roots. Spider plants send shoots or babies out all ready to plant. You can cut the baby plant right off and plant it with the roots covered in a fresh pot of soil.  Give the plant a little water and fertilizer and as a result, it will grow quite well. 

The philodendron that you usually find as a house plant is viney and has root stubs.  Because of the roots everywhere, you can cut anywhere along this vine. Then, plant the stem a few inches in a pot of soil.  I suggest three to six stems to start a nice philodendron house plant.  As illustrated above you can also start these plants in water.  

In conclusion, there are two ways to start root cuttings and it is as simple as placing them in water or soil. Good luck starting your plants from cuttings!

Check back in the spring for tips on how to plant your newly rooted starts in soil.   And most importantly, I would love to see the plants you start!  Please share your pictures on instagram and tag #GardenFoodandCrafts so I can see them!

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