How to Propagate Plants from Cuttings (Any Species)

Plant propagation is one of the most satisfying things you can do as a plant parent: take a piece of one plant, and grow an entirely new one from it. Most common houseplants can be propagated from stem cuttings with no specialist equipment — just a sharp knife, a glass of water or some potting mix, and a little patience.

What You'll Need

• Clean, sharp scissors or a knife (sterilise with isopropyl alcohol between plants)
• A glass, jar, or small pot
• Clean water (for water propagation) or moist potting mix (for soil propagation)
• Optional: rooting hormone powder or gel
• Optional: clear plastic bag or propagation dome (to increase humidity)
• Bright, indirect light

That's genuinely all you need to get started.

Understanding Nodes

The most important concept in stem propagation is the node: the bump or joint on the stem where leaves, aerial roots, or lateral branches emerge. Every cutting must include at least one node — this is where roots will grow.

Without a node, a cutting cannot produce roots, no matter how healthy it looks.

To take a stem cutting:

1. Identify a node
2. Cut 0.5–1 cm below the node with a clean, sharp blade
3. Remove any leaves that would be submerged in water or buried in soil
4. Leave at least one leaf on the cutting (for photosynthesis)

Water Propagation (Best for Beginners)

Water propagation lets you watch roots develop and is the easiest method for most houseplants.

Best species for water propagation:

• Pothos
• Philodendron (heartleaf)
• Tradescantia
• Impatiens
• Begonia
• Coleus
• Mint and other herbs

How to:

1. Take your cutting as described above
2. Place in a clean glass or jar of room-temperature water
3. Ensure the node is submerged but leaves are above water
4. Place in bright indirect light (not direct sun — it causes algae and overheats the water)
5. Change the water every 5–7 days
6. Roots typically appear in 2–6 weeks

When to pot up: Once roots are 3–5 cm long. Plant in moist potting mix and keep consistently moist for 2–3 weeks while the plant adjusts from water to soil.

Soil Propagation

Some species root more successfully directly in soil — and many cuttings that start in water benefit from going directly into a humid soil environment.

Best species for soil propagation:

• Monstera
• Calathea
• ZZ Plant
• Succulent cuttings
• Rosemary and woody herbs
• Rose cuttings

How to:

1. Take your cutting and let it callous for 30 minutes to 2 hours (especially important for succulents)
2. Optional: dip the cut end in rooting hormone
3. Insert into moist propagation mix (perlite + coconut coir, or specialised propagation mix)
4. Water lightly
5. Cover with a clear plastic bag or propagation dome to maintain humidity
6. Remove the cover daily for 10–15 minutes to prevent fungal issues
7. Roots typically establish in 3–6 weeks

Testing for roots: Gently tug the cutting after 3 weeks. Resistance means roots have formed.

Specific Plant Guides

Pothos

Cut just below a node with 2–3 leaves. Water propagation is easiest. Roots form in 2–3 weeks.

Monstera

Cut a stem section with one node and one leaf. You can propagate a single node without a leaf (it takes longer). Soil or sphagnum moss propagation works better than water. See our Monstera care guide for more.

Succulents

Let the cutting callous for 24–48 hours before planting (essential — wet ends rot). Plant in dry cactus mix. Wait a week before the first watering.

Fiddle Leaf Fig

Stem cuttings with 1–2 leaves. Dip in rooting hormone. Soil propagation in a humid environment. Takes 4–8 weeks. See our Fiddle Leaf Fig guide.

Snake Plant

Leaf cuttings: cut a leaf into 5–7 cm sections and plant upright in moist soil (maintain the same orientation as on the plant — upside down won't root). Takes 4–8 weeks. Note: variegated varieties will revert to solid green if propagated from leaf sections; propagate by division instead.

Using Rooting Hormone

Rooting hormone (indole-3-butyric acid, IBA) speeds up root formation and increases success rates, especially for woody species and harder-to-propagate plants.

• Powder: Dip moist cut end in powder, tap off excess, then plant
• Gel: Apply directly to the cut, then plant
• Liquid: Soak cuttings for 30 seconds or dilute for an overnight soak

Available at any garden centre. Worth having for valuable or difficult cuttings.

Troubleshooting

Cutting wilts: Normal — the cutting has no roots to take up water. Keep it humid (bag or dome) and shaded until roots form.

Cutting rots in water: Old water or dirty container. Change water more frequently. Clean the jar with soap and hot water.

Cutting rots in soil: Too much moisture or poor drainage. Propagation mix should be moist, not wet. Ensure good airflow by removing the dome daily.

No roots after 6 weeks: Take a fresh cutting from higher on the stem (newer growth roots faster). Check that the node is submerged/buried. Try rooting hormone.

Roots grow but plant dies when potted up: Transplant shock from water to soil. Keep newly potted cuttings consistently moist and in humidity for the first 2 weeks.

When to Take Cuttings

Spring is ideal — plants are entering active growth and root more readily. You can propagate year-round, but winter cuttings take longer to establish.

Spring is also repotting season — see our spring repotting guide for what to do with the parent plant while you're propagating.