Want to grow more plants? There are many ways to propagate plant cuttings and grow your green family!
In this post we will share our best methods for water propagation. The thrill of observing roots as they emerge from bare stem and then to see how they slowly take over a glass of water to then form a new version of the mama plant is such a rewarding adventure! Over the years we've discovered a few favorite ways to propagate plant cuttings. You can choose one method or try them all!
Let's dive in!
Water Propagation
Why chose to water propagate your plant cutting when it will eventually grow in soil? Because we enjoy the view! When propagating a cutting in water you are provided with your own little window into the natural world of root systems. This is especially rewarding for new plant parents as a visual guide to understanding the anatomy of your plant. It's super helpful to learn the shape and size of your roots so when your plant makes it's way into soil, you can have an idea of what's going on below.
Here are 5 tips for successful water propagation:
1.Depending on the type of plant, we recommend waiting to place them in water anywhere from 1 hour (tropical types) to several days (cactus and succulent types) this allows for plants to callous over after cutting them. This step will help mitigate any chances of stem rot occurring.
2.Fresh Aloe is loaded with naturally occurring rooting hormones, making it the perfect match for propagations of all types. Simply slice fresh aloe, stick your cutting into the fillet, and twirl it around to soak in all that plant medicine. Now your plant is inoculated and ready to start rooting with your propagation method of choice.
3.Choose the right vessel! We’ve learned that darker colored vessels (like wine bottles) help cuttings (especially those with more woody branches like ficus elastica) grow more robust roots. Clear glass vessels are fine for aroid types like monstera or pothos as often in their natural environment these roots are exposed to more light.
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. In general you want to keep plants in bright light or under a grow light until roots are a few inches long before transferring them to soil.
4.Change out your propagation water on a regular basis to maintain healthy root growth. We recommend a water change about once a week. Each time you change out the water, use this as an opportunity to give any of your thirsty plants a drink to close the loop. You can also use this water to blend up a batch of Sacred Soil Tonic to offer your houseplants that are living in soil a foamy Sacred Soil Bath!
Here's how to mix up a batch and enjoy a little Sacred Plant Ritual.
5. Pairing your propagations with faster rooting plants such as spider plants, pothos, swedish ivy, tradescantia, or if you can find a willow branch, add that to the water vessel too! It can really help speed up root development! More rooting hormones in the water = faster root growth.
It's important to note, once you have a root system established, anywhere from two-four inches long, it's best to make a decision about the future of your plant. Will it remain in water indefinitely, or are you going to transfer it to soil? If you plan to transplant it into a soil medium, we recommend doing so before too long as the transition becomes more challenging as time goes on. Be sure to check back for our next post that'll include plant propagation tips for soil!
We encourage exploration and discovery and are thrilled to share even more ways to connect you with our precious planet. Stay tuned as we continue this propagation series and explore more methods to grow your plant babies!
Best wishes and sending out the love,
Team SE