Quick Links. 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.
Use soil, not water, Water cuttings require a lengthy acclimation process to move them from water to soil once they have struck roots. Starting them in soil from the beginning omits this tedious step.
Stem Cuttings:
This technique is probably the most versatile of all methods used for vegetative propagation. It can be used for both herbaceous and woody material. Herbaceous stem cuttings can be made from houseplants, annual flowers and bedding plants, ground covers, and some perennials.
Water roots grow much faster than soil roots and require less space and energy to grow. They are designed to absorb nutrients from the water all around them, so they don't have to grow as large to search for resources. Soil roots, on the other hand, are much sturdier and have fewer thin offshoots than water roots.
1) Light - The more light you can provide, the faster a cutting will photosynthesize and the faster it will produce roots. We know that light intensity drops significantly with distance, so keep cuttings in front of windows. Bright light is over 3000 lux but the more you provide the faster they will root.⠀ ⠀ Or buy gr.
As long as you give them proper nutrients in the water, they can thrive indefinitely without soil.
For plant roots to grow faster, it requires nutrients, sufficient water, well-aerated soil, enough light, the right range of temperature and proper amendments. Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are the three essential nutrients that a plant requires for its growth.
Missing the Nodes
Certain plants will not grow new roots from anywhere except the nodes, so if you place a cutting in the water without any nodes submerged, it will just rot and eventually die. However, some plants will root from any area of the stem, not just the nodes.
Perlite gives best results if mixed with an equal volume of peat moss or vermiculite. Compressed peat pellets that expand when water is added make a convenient propagation medium and container. Heavy soils should not be used for rooting.
Make sure your propagations are exposed to sufficient light so they can stay strong while growing those new roots. We recommend they stay away from hot, direct sunlight (like summer sun) to avoid burning.
And yes, there are also other ways to propagate, but water propagation is the simplest way to start if you're new to propagating plants, or simply want to speed up the process, as cuttings root faster in water vs soil, plus you can easily see what's going on each step of the way.
Propagating by saving and sowing seed
Growing plants from seed is one of the cheapest and most effective ways of propagating plants.
If you'd like to transplant your plant cutting(s) from the glass vessel into a planter with potting mix, we recommend waiting until the root is at least 1 inch long or longer. This should take 4-6 weeks.
Another advantage is that many plants grow faster when raised hydroponically. In fact, some plants are ready for harvest 30 to 50 percent faster than they would be if they were grown in the soil.
Willow is good for rooting cuttings because it contains high concentrations of Indolebutyric acid (IBA), and also salicylic acid, from which aspirin is derived and which protects against fungi and other pathogens. To make willow water, simply gather around 2 cups of fresh willow growth chopped up into short lengths.
Plants that do best with water propagation is a huge list, but some of the more common ones are Pothos, Avocado, Ivy, Fiddle leaf fig, Coleus, Christmas cactus, Polka dot plant, Snake Plant, Mint, Basil, Sage, Lemon Verbena and Rubber Plants.
Plant the Cutting in the Soil
Carefully plant the cutting in the hole you made in the potting mix, and gently tamp the soil around it. You can fit several cuttings into one container, but space them so the leaves do not touch one another.
Taking a leaf or a stem cutting is usually the most obvious and most used method out there as it will create an exact clone of your plant. Leaf cuttings are a great way to propagate snake plants or succulents since they either don't have stems or the stems are very small.
Using a sharp knife (or pruners) cut just below where a leaf attaches to the stem (the node). Roots grow easiest from this location. If you leave a section of stem below the node, it often rots. Remove the lower leaves but leave the top two or three.
Inadequate Moisture: Cuttings need to be kept moist, but not waterlogged. Overwatering can lead to rot, while under-watering can cause the cutting to dry out and die. Use a spray bottle to mist the cuttings regularly with fresh clean and ensure the soil is consistently moist but well-drained.
Encouraging Root Formation
A mixture of 50% vermiculite/50% perlite holds sufficient air and water to support good root growth, but any well-drained soilless potting mix is acceptable. If your cuttings frequently rot before they root, you know the mix is staying too wet.
Although propagating in water is generally preferred over propagating in soil, it doesn't mean all plants can or should be propagated in water. For starters, plants typically develop stronger roots in soil than in water due to the resistance.
Cinnamon as a rooting agent is as useful as willow water or hormone rooting powder. A single application to the stem when you plant the cutting will stimulate root growth in almost every plant variety. Give your cuttings a quick start with the help of cinnamon powder.
All you need to do is mix 3 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar into 1 gallon of water and dip your cuttings in it, then transfer them to the rooting medium.
Wildlife-friendly plants to take cuttings from:
Some evergreen shrubs, such as Hebe, hollies and privets. Most climbers such as Clematis, ivies and honeysuckles. Most herbs, such as mints, catmints, Hyssop, lavenders, Rosemary, Sage, thymes.