Technically, you can transfer your cuttings to soil at any time. In fact, you can actually propagate directly into soil, however, it's much harder to do within your home. When you propagate in soil, you have to keep a good balance of soil moisture, air flow, and humidity.
Propagating plants from cuttings is one of the easiest and most used methods of propagation. Many plants will root from just a section of a plant. Some plants will root in water, but cuttings will develop a better root system when rooted in a soil-less potting mix.
Keep it in a warm, bright location out of direct sunlight and wait until roots grow and develop to about 1-3 inches long. Be patient, this can take anywhere from 2-6 weeks or in some cases, months! After roots have developed, plant your cutting in fresh soil in a pot and water as normal.
Soil should be damp, but not soggy before placing cuttings in it. Choose a container with ample drainage (as always), and thoroughly water after placing cuttings in soil. Keep soil fairly moist until the cutting has fully rooted in the soil- this will help any water roots make the transition to soil more easily.
Propagation for many plants is best done in potting soil, but some plants can be propagated in water. This is because they have evolved in an environment that allows it. Most Aroid plants can be propagated in water, including pothos plants, philodendrons, monsteras, and ZZ plants.
Once the root system is longer than the cutting, you can place it directly into a 3-inch pot with soil; however, going from one extreme to the next may stress your plant out and has a stronger chance of perishing than it would if you slowly added soil to the water.
Plant cuttings mistakes can range from using dirty tools to potting up your cuttings in the incorrect potting soil. Too much harsh sun, too much or not enough water, and using offcuts from plants that are sickly or flowering can also put your cuttings at risk.
Bloomscape says to fill a pot with fresh soil, making sure it's at least 3/4 full. Then take a cutting of a plant (which must include a node, as that's were the roots grow from), poke your finger a few inches into the soil, and place the cutting in the hole.
Dip the end of the cutting in a small container of rooting powder. Pour a little of your rooting powder into a small container. Take your cutting and dip its stem end in water, then press the wet end of the stem into the small container of rooting powder.
Warm growing medium temperatures accelerate cell division which leads to faster callusing, root initial development and subsequent root growth. It also speeds up the dry-down rate of the growing medium, which also helps encourage better rooting. The best way to warm the growing medium is through bottom heat.
In most cases when the roots are 1-2 inches long they can be moved to individual pots but many rooted cuttings will survive in water for extended periods of time. Add water sparingly to the potting soil, mixing thoroughly until the potting soil is moist but not soggy.
It is best to harvest cuttings in early spring and plant immediately but if this is not possible, cuttings can be stored safely for about 4 months. Store cuttings in a cool, dark, and moist place. Do NOT store in a wet area as this will promote root growth and weaken the cutting.
The most common rooting mediums used are coarse sand, vermiculite, a blend of equal parts peat moss and vermiculite, or a blend of equal parts peat moss and perlite. The planting medium should be moistened before inserting cuttings and should be kept moist throughout the rooting and shoot formation process.
Generally, when you see a few inch-long roots, you can move your cutting from water into soil. Waiting until there are several roots will increase the chance of survival during the transplant. But you don't want the roots to be too long, as they can easily get tangled during the process.
Erler prefers planting leaf cuttings in a standard indoor soil mix as soon as you cut them, because she says they can easily rot in water. If you're planting an unrooted cutting, she recommends watering the soil and using your finger or a pencil to create a small hole. Gently place the cutting inside.
According to Richa, overwatering is the most common failure. 'When propagating cuttings, it's important to ensure the soil is moist but not waterlogged,' she says. 'Overwatering can easily lead to root rot. To avoid this, wait until the top inch of soil is dry before watering your cuttings.
If you don't have any commercially available (synthetic) rooting hormone, simply try rooting your cuttings without it. Focus on creating the ideal rooting conditions for your plant as we outline below. You may also try to pair several cuttings in one glass.
The Best Way to Convert Your Water Propagations.
Depending on many factors, this can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months, so be patient. If given proper light, I would say you will have water roots about an inch long in 3-4 weeks. Once you see a few roots an inch long, transfer them to a very airy soil mix.
Tap water, especially when it's not distilled, contains several chemicals that are bad for you and your plants. Your tap water contains things, like lead, chlorine, and pathogens. These are harmful to your plants and will cause problems when you're consistently watering them with this tap water.
Roots need air in order to grow. You should try and change the water with fresh tap water every 2-3 days or so for best results because oxygen in the water will be depleted.