Propagation is a fun and exciting way to turn one plant into many! Pothos plants are a beginner friendly plant to propagate. All you will need is a few supplies, a mother plant, and some time! From start to finish, the process will take just a few weeks until you have a fully rooted Pothos cutting ready to be transplanted.
Methods To Propagate Pothos
There are three main methods to propagate Pothos plants: stem/leaf/root cuttings, air layering, and division. The easiest way to propagate Pothos is via stem cuttings in the spring or summer. Take a cutting of a healthy stem with a few leaves and nodes, remove the bottom leaves, and place the stem in water or a growing media such as soil or sphagnum moss. The roots will grow out of the nodes on the stem within a few weeks.
Air layering is achieved by removing leaves from a section of stem, exposing a node. Wrap the stem piece in damp moss and plastic to encourage aerial roots to grow while it’s still connected to the plant. Alternatively, a large Pothos can also be divided and repotted into multiple pots.
Best Rooting Media To Propagate Pothos
The easiest propagation media for Pothos cuttings is clean water. Be sure to use a clean container, and regularly change out the water every week. Propagating in water allows you to watch the root growth. Other great rooting media include light soil mixes, sphagnum moss, and perlite. Lightweight expanded clay (LEC) can also be used as a propagation medium and allows excellent drainage. Rooting hormone is not needed to propagate Pothos, but it can promote faster rooting and dense new growth. The rooting hormone can be applied to the node or added to the propagation water.
Steps To Propagate Pothos
Step 1 - Choose the end of a stem with a few good leaves
Step 2 - Cut off a section about 6 - 10” long with a clean knife or scissors
Step 3 - Remove the bottom few leaves from the stem
Step 4 - Choose your rooting media (water, soil, perlite, moss, or LEC)
Step 5 - Apply rooting hormone to nodes or add to propagation water (optional)
Step 6 - Keep propagation media moist or change propagation water when cloudy
Step 7 - Keep cuttings in a bright location with indirect light and allow 2 to 4 weeks for roots to develop
Caring For Pothos Cuttings
Your rooting media will determine the level of care your cuttings will need. Propagation in water is the simplest. Place the vessel of water in a location with indirect light, not too close to a window. Change out the water when it becomes cloudy, replacing it with fresh, clean water and continue to do so until the cutting produces a healthy set of roots. Monitor the moisture level of your propagation media if using perlite, soil, or lightweight expanded clay. Keep the cutting moist but not overly saturated in a location with indirect bright light.
Transplanting Pothos Cuttings
As you care for your Pothos cutting, periodically check the root growth on the cutting. After a few weeks, your Pothos cutting will have developed a strong and branched root system that will be ready for transplanting. Choose a container with drainage holes that will comfortably house the new Pothos root system. Using a good-quality potting soil mix, gently transplant the cutting into its new container. Water the soil thoroughly, and regularly monitor the moisture level while you allow the new Pothos plant to establish.
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Author Katie Endicott - Published 6-29-2023 |