Propagation

Turning one plant into more: cuttings, division, and air layering.

Sep 2026

Water propagation vs. soil propagation

Water shows you progress. Soil produces a sturdier plant with no transition shock. Neither is universally better.

Propagation

Sep 2026

A glass jar with a rooting plant cutting

Propagating philodendron

Water or soil? One horticulturist prefers soil and rarely uses water at all. Both work, here's the step-by-step for each.

Propagation

Sep 2026

How to know when a cutting is ready for soil

Root length alone is misleading. What actually matters is branching, root color, and a simple tug test.

Propagation

Sep 2026

How long does propagation take?

Pothos roots in 2-4 weeks. Hoya can take 10. Why the timeline varies so much, and when to actually worry.

Propagation

Sep 2026

Common propagation mistakes (and how to avoid them)

Cutting without a node is the single biggest reason propagation fails. The other common mistakes, and how to fix each one.

Propagation

Sep 2026

Ficus elastica leaves, a classic air-layering candidate

Air layering: propagating thick-stemmed plants without cutting first

For rubber plants, dracaena, and other stems too woody to root as a simple cutting. How it works, and a full step-by-step.

Propagation

Sep 2026

Sansevieria trifasciata 'Laurentii', a variegated snake plant

Propagating snake plant: leaf cuttings and division

Two methods, and one detail that decides which to use: whether your plant is variegated.

Propagation

Sep 2026

A monstera leaf with characteristic split leaves

Propagating pothos and monstera cuttings

Both plants root from a cutting the same way, as long as it includes a node. Where to cut, water versus soil, and the two places even good sources disagree on timing.

Propagation