How To Propagate Your Pothos

Is your pothos starting to take over your shelf? Do you want to share the plant love with your friends? Propagating is the perfect way to shape up your existing plant and create new ones!

Pothos are a great beginner house plant because they thrive in almost any situation - from low light to growing in a vase full of water. They grow fast and can easily make your bookshelf or you bathroom take on some serious jungle vibes. Here I’m going to show you how to get the most out of your pothos with a few step by step instructions for propagation.

Step 1: Look for the right place to make a cut

The best place to make a cutting is directly above or below a “node”. Nodes are the part of the plant that produce roots as well as new leafs. They are typically found every inch or so down the stem of the plant. You want to make sure that you have about 4-6 inches of stem once you cut so make sure you choose far enough down the stem!

You also want to make sure that you have at least one healthy leaf on the stem - but 3 to 4 is preferred. If you cut a piece of stem that has several leafs, cut off the leaves that are further down the stem so that they are not sitting in water/dirt when you replant! All you need is that healthy leaf on the tip.

Step 2: Snip Snip!

Alright, you’ve found the perfect spot and now its time to cut! Snip the stem with a pair of scissors leaving that 4-6 inches and healthy leafs!

Step 3: Place cutting into water

Once you’ve made your cutting (or cuttings) place them into a jar of fresh water. Remember those nodes I kept talking about? Well in a few weeks time that is where the new aerial roots are going to shoot out! The aerial roots will be clear and thin and you should start to see them after two or three weeks. Make sure to check your water every few days and swap it out for fresh water when things start to get murky.

Step 4: Plant in soil

So it’s been three week and your aerial roots are finally an inch long or more - it’s time to plant! Use a relatively small pot (4” would do) and fill it with potting soil. Make a small hole with your finger and place the stem of your pothos down into the soil - make sure the aerial roots are covered! Cover the stem well with soil and water the plant thoroughly (until water comes out of the bottom of the pot)! Keep the soil most for the first few weeks that the plant is potted - growing plants need more moisture! And there you have it - you can add to your house plant collection without having to spend any more money - or you can give it as a gift to your friends! Plants really are the gifts that keep on giving.