How To Propagate--Aneesa

 

Hi everyone! My blog post will be on plant propagation. Plant propagation can come in forms, such as attaching two plants, such as succulents and cacti, to create a conjoint plant; the other propagation is water propagation, which I will show. Water propagation occurs when a plant clipping is placed in water and roots grow. Once the roots are produced, the plant can continue growing in water or soil. The best time to propagate plants is during Spring through Summer; this gives them enough light for the roots to grow!

 First Step: Choose a house plant that has multiple leaves and stems. The best indoor plants for this are pothos, African violets, the prayer plant, and philodendron, but other plants, such as string of pearls, can also work. For this example, I am using a pothos plant that my grandma started growing, and my mom and I have continued propagating it over the years.

Second Step: Once you have chosen which leaf of the plant you want to cut, look for a root node. The root node is a little bud on the stem that will connect a leaf to the stem once it starts growing. Cut about 4-6 inches from the node.

Third Step: Get a small vase, cup, or plant propagation stand and fill it with water. Place the cutting into the cup and ensure only the stem is submerged- not the leaves. Place the cutting into a sunny spot and wait for it to grow!

Fourth Step: Consistently fill the cup with the water; the sample can quickly absorb the water and the water constantly evaporates. Once in a while, you can also replace the water in the cup once every few days to a week if the water becomes murky.

Fifth Step: Once you see little roots growing out of the stem, you can plant the cutting in soil! Consistently water it and give it nutrients so it can thrive. If you want it to continue growing in water, make sure to give it liquid nutrients and change the water.

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial and try out propagation! Propagation is a great tool to have more houseplants without spending money on buying multiple houseplants. Propagation can also work with fruits and vegetables, the process is called aquaponics/hydroponics- allowing the plant to grow and produce without soil. It is a great tool, especially with climate change and industrial farming causing harm to soil; it is also helpful to people living in urban areas without quick access to fresh produce.