Here's how to make (free!) new plants to add to your collection.
When you love houseplants as much as we do, you want more. And then some more! Many common houseplants actually are easy to propagate, or to grow from cuttings. You won’t have to invest in a greenhouse, buy special tools, or invest in grow lights.
But first, understand that not every plant is actually legal to propagate. New plant varieties are introduced by plant breeders every year. They apply for a patent to protect plants they have developed with new or unique qualities. New varieties can take years and years to breed successfully, so this protects the breeders.
A patent, which lasts for 20 years, prevents anyone but the owner (or someone licensed by the owner) from producing the plant during its patent period. That means for any newly-introduced or rare plants with patents, you cannot legally propagate them—even for yourself.
However, there are tons and tons of plants that have been around forever that are totally fair game, like the ones listed below. For all of these, the propagation technique is super simple: Place cuttings in moist potting medium, keeping it ever-so-slightly damp. You can dip the cutting in rooting hormone first to help boost the process, but it’s not entirely necessary.
Keep the pot in a place where it receives bright, indirect light, not direct sunlight. Then, be patient. Within a few weeks to a few months, depending on the species, you’ll have a new plant. You will know you are successful if the plant pushes new growth and/or if you tug on the new plant and feel resistance (roots have grown!).
Ahead, 13 plants that grow from cuttings with ease, with simple propagation tips for each to ensure your success.
Holiday cacti, such as Thanksgiving cactus, Christmas cactus, and Easter cactus are long-lived plants, thriving for decades. They’re the ultimate pass-along plant. To propagate, cut off a length of 2-3 flattened stem segments, allowing them to “callus” or dry overnight, then press into moist potting mix. Place several cuttings in the same pot to fill it out more quickly.
Light: Bright, indirect light
Water: Allow to dry out slightly between waterings.
Read more: How to Tell a Thanksgiving and Christmas Cactus Apart
Pothos is probably the easiest plant to propagate! If the plant starts to look gangly, give it a haircut all around. Take a cutting that’s a few inches long with several leaves, making sure you have a node (a dormant growing point where the stem meets the leaf). Poke this into moist potting mix, and keep damp. Alternately, you can root these in water, waiting for roots to appear before potting up.
Light: Bright, indirect light
Water: Allow to dry out slightly between waterings
Read more: How to Grow Pothos
Heartleaf philodendron is just as easy as pothos. Take a cutting a few inches long containing a few leaves. Make sure there’s a node, push it into the moist potting mix, and wait. You also may be able to root these in water.
Light: Moderate to bright, indirect
Water: Let soil surface dry slightly before watering.
Read more: 11 Types of Philodendrons You Can Grow
Snake plants are loved because of their striking architectural form and their low-maintenance nature—and they’re just as fuss-free to propagate. Take a whole leaf or cut one into 2 to 3-inch-long sections. Push it about ½-inch into the moist potting medium.
Light: Low, medium or bright, indirect
Water: Let dry out almost completely before watering.
Read more: How to Care for a Snake Plant Even If You Don't Have a Green Thumb
This succulent is another plant that doesn’t need a lot of TLC to root. Simply take a stem cutting, let it dry slightly (though you can have equal success if you skip this step), then poke it into moist potting mix. You can take several to fill in a plant that’s getting leggy.
Light: Bright, indirect
Water: Water when soil is mostly dry.
Read more: How to Grow and Care for String of Pearls
Take a stem cutting with at least one node and several leaves. Dip the cut end into a rooting hormone, which can promote faster growth for this plant. Push it into the moist potting medium. You also can root this plant in water, then place in soil once roots appear.
Light: Bright, indirect
Water: Let soil surface dry before watering.
Read more: How to Grow Monstera Plants
Also known as wandering dude or silver inch plant, this colorful plant is easy to root in water. Take a cutting a few inches long, place in water, and give it bright, indirect light. When it grows roots, pop it into moist potting mix.
Light: Bright, indirect
Water: Let soil surface dry before watering.
Also known as coin plant because of its round leaves, you can pot up any of the little “babies” that pop up around the base of the mother plant. Use a knife to lift them up, and look for roots. If it has them, you can cut it away from the big plant, place the baby in potting mix, water lightly, and wait. This is a slow to moderate grower so it can take a few years before the babies mature.
Light: Bright, indirect
Water: Let the soil mostly dry out before watering.
Read more: The Best Houseplants for Beginners
Trim off the pups, or baby plants, that develop around the base of the mother plant. Or take a stem cutting, pulling a single leaf off the plant then placing in potting mix. This can take longer to root but is a good way to save a plant that’s become leggy.
Light: Bright, indirect
Water: Allow the soil to dry out most of the way before watering.
Read more: How to Care for an Aloe Vera Plant
Snip off a few inches, remove the lower leaves, and place the cutting in water in a brightly-lit spot (but not in direct sunlight). Roots should appear in about two weeks, when you can pot up the cuttings in regular potting mix.
Light: Bright, indirect
Water: Keep slightly moist
Take a 2- to 3-inch long stem piece, strip off the lower leaves, dip in rooting hormone, then poke into moist potting mix. Late winter and early spring are ideal times to root rosemary when it’s getting ready to kick into high growth.
Light: Bright, direct
Water: Allow to dry out slightly between waterings.
Read more: How to Grow an Indoor Herb Garden
Like its relative string of pearls, this plant doesn’t need much to root it. Take a stem cutting, pop it into moist potting mix, and wait for it to root.
Light: Bright, indirect
Water: Water when soil is mostly dry
Spider plants make it so easy for you to propagate them because it forms “babies” on the ends of long stems. When you see little root nubs on the babies, trim the plantlet off and place in another pot of soil. Use a bent paper clip to keep it in contact with the soil, and water as usual.
Light: Medium to bright, indirect light
Water: Keep slightly moist
Read more: How to Care for Spider Plant
How to Get Rid of Stink Bugs Before They Take Over
Experts Say “Grandma Gardens” Are Trending
What Guests Always Notice Is Off in Your Home
Ben and Erin Napier’s Uphill Insurance Battle.
