The Pothos plant is a trailing plant used by many gardeners as a houseplant. The plant has heart-shaped leaves that illuminate beauty indoors.
The pothos plant is easy to care for, including minimal watering. Being popular houseplants, they are among the most propagated plants.
Tools and materials need to propagate pothos plant
Understanding the tools and materials that may be necessary when propagating the pothos plants is essential. Among the main farm tools that are required include sharp scissors. They should be properly sanitized before being used to cut the plant.
Other essential garden tools work well in pothos propagation, including knives and garden pruners. You need to ensure that these tools are cleaned and sanitized.
If you do not adhere to this, you will introduce pathogens to the cutting or the parent plant. It is recommended to use bleach when wiping these tools.
Once you have the materials needed, the next thing is to ensure you understand the steps to follow in propagating the pothos plant. A few steps can be vital if you learn them to detail.
Steps to follow to propagate pothos in soil
Propagating the pothos can be done in the soil successfully. Simple cutting is one of the best ways of propagating the pothos. This is to ensure that the method is easy to execute.
Here is a guide to some of the steps to propagate the pothos in soil.
Step 1: Prepare your materials
It is essential to ensure you have the materials ready before you start the propagation process. Getting everything ready is easy, especially for gardeners who have experience. But it may be difficult for first-time gardeners with few materials.
Among the tools that should be ready is a glass container. There is also a need to have the shears and the scissors ready.
Remember that these scissors should be cleaned before they are used. The rooting hormone is also essential. It should be prepared before getting the cutting.
Remember that you should learn more about different types of rooting hormones. This is because they work differently in promoting rooting in cuttings.
Step 2: Take the cuttings
The next step is to take the cuttings from the pothos plant. It is recommended to cut from vines with at least two leaves. Use a sharp blade to ensure precision when cutting.
You have to remember that every cutting should have enough nodes. Experts insist on this as one way to ensure that the cutting will successfully root.
Step 3: Dip in the rooting hormone
The next step is to introduce the rooting hormone. It has been viewed that the rooting hormone quickens the rooting process. It is also considered great for producing healthy roots. You should dip the cuttings in the rooting hormone for at least 15 seconds after cutting.
The cutting reacts to being removed from the mother plant. That is why dipping the rooting hormone manages the shock.
The rooting hormone also allows the cutting to heal in preparation for propagation. Dipping the cutting in the rooting hormone has been seen as increasing the chances of survival.
Step 4: In the water
After dipping the cutting in the rooting hormone, you then move to dip it in water. The freshly cut node is immersed in water to start the rooting process.
It is good to ensure that the rooting hormone is not disturbed when placing the cutting in the water.
Immerse the cutting dip in the water to cover all the nodes. It is also good to ensure you regularly replace the water for proper airing. Experts recommend that you can change the water after three days. Ensure that the cuttings do not dry out.
Step 5: Planting in soil
Once the pothos plant roots successfully, you must transplant them into the soil. This is usually considered the most crucial step in growing the pothos. You must ensure the cutting has already developed enough roots before planting in the soil.
Make sure that the soil remains moist when transplanting the cutting. You should also make sure that you monitor that cutting for the successful growth of the pothos plant. Watering the cutting regularly is always advisable.
But caution is necessary to avoid overwatering the plant. The secret to the growth of the pothos is to ensure that it is provided with the right conditions, including water, air and sunlight.
Steps to follow to propagate pothos in water
Propagating the pothos in water is also a suitable method for many gardeners. Experienced horticulturists mostly use this.
But there are considerations that the propagation has to start with placing the cutting in the soil. Then the cutting has to be placed in a rooting hormone for faster rooting.
Here are a few steps that can help you use water to propagate the pothos plant.
Step 1: Prepare your materials.
The first step of propagating any pothos plant is to prepare all the required materials. It is recommended first to ensure that you have a clean space. This is where you prepare the materials, including the shears and the scissors.
It would help if you also got the rooting hormone ready. This is good for quickening the propagation process. Ensures that you also have the potting mix ready. This is where you will transplant the cutting once it has rooted successfully.
Step 2: Make a cutting
The other important step of propagating the pothos is water is to make the cutting. This requires excellent experience to avoid damaging the cutting and the parent plant. All principles of making the cuttings from a plant should be applied.
It would help if you focused on selecting a healthy cutting from the pothos plant. Ensure that you do not damage the nodes when making the cuttings. It is good to ensure that there are as many nodes as possible in the cutting.
Step 3: Dip in rooting hormone
It is also necessary to consider using the rooting hormone when propagating the pothos in water. This should be done immediately after you get the cutting.
The rooting hormone has been viewed as critical in healing the cutting. It is also considered excellent for preparing for better rooting.
Among the things you should avoid is using too much-rooting hormone on the cutting. This is because the saturated hormone can slow rooting. It can also lead to rotting.
It is also good to make sure that you understand how these hormones work. Ensure that you read the details of the rooting hormone on the label. This is great for using the rooting hormone the right way.
Step 4: Water regulation
It is considered appropriate to regularly check the water level when propagating the pothos in water. Some cuttings may take longer to root. This is to mean that you will have to monitor the cuttings periodically.
Be sure to replace the water regularly for better rooting. Freshwater ensures that you have fresh air that promotes rooting. Remember that cutting can dry out quickly if they are not monitored.
Contaminated water is always considered harmful to the cutting. It delays rooting and can cause the cutting to fail to germinate.
How long do you propagate pothos in water?
The time the pothos cutting takes to propagate depends on many factors. This includes the presented conditions. It may also be affected by the quality of water. Experts have indicated that the cutting can take more than seven days to root.
However, ensuring the cutting is submerged adequately in water should be critical. This includes ensuring that the nodes are inside the water for this duration. The idea is to ensure that the cutting does not dry out.
Do pothos cuttings grow faster in water or soil?
The two options for propagating the pothos plant have been used for years. The success rate of each method is different.
But once this is clear that propagating in the water is quicker. This is because the cuttings produce roots faster. It is even better when the rooting hormone is used.
Your goal should be to ensure that you acquire knowledge on how to propagate using both methods. It can help you make the right choice on the method you feel safe and comfortable with when propagating the pothos plant.
The right time to propagate pothos
Propagating the pothos plant requires warm weather. That is why many experts recommend propagating during the summer season.
The longer, warmer temperatures are great for promoting healthy rooting. However, any time can be great for propagation if the right conditions are presented. This includes using the growth hormone to ensure quicker rooting.
Can you propagate just the stem of a pothos?
It is possible to propagate the stem of the pothos plant. What you need is to make sure that the stem has enough nodes.
These nodes are considered the main requirement for rooting. However, it may take longer to propagate, such as cutting, compared to others with some leaves.
Can I propagate multiple pothos in one jar?
It is also possible to propagate the pothos plant in the same jar. This is possible when you have a healthy cutting. It would be best if you took a cutting that is 5 to 6 inches long.
Then make sure that you have fresh water available in the jar. The secret is to change the water regularly. You can then remove the water and add some soil to the jar for further propagation.
My pothos cuttings rotting in water – why is this?
One of the many experiences among first-time gardeners is the rotting of cuttings. It is a scare that the cutting can rot in the water. This is because the pothos plant may not access enough oxygen.
The cutting may also need access to more nutrients. The more the cutting sits in the water without oxygen, the higher chance that it will start rotting.
There are also chances that a pothos cutting can start rotting if you do not change the water regularly.
That is why it is recommended to use fresh water and change it at least once every week. Placing the container where the cutting can access enough sunlight and air is also good.