Create a Cost-Effective Garden by Learning to Propagate Plants

 

Creating your own jungle of houseplants is a lot easier and cheaper than you think. If you have a few healthy houseplants, succulents, or herbs in your home already, you can easily double your collection with a few easy steps. 

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If your plant is growing too big or trailing too long, give it a prune and save those cuttings! Trade clippings with a friend or neighbor if you want to add some variety to your collection. Or once you're done, share a baby plant as a thoughtful gift. 

There are many common houseplants that can be easily propagated, this list includes, but is not limited to: pothos, monstera, english ivy, spider plant, and snake plant. You can also propagate herbs, such as, rosemary, sage, lavender, basil, and mint. And fortunately, most succulents can be propagated. 

What you’ll need:

  • A jar or glass

  • Room temperature water

  • Shears, scissors, or a knife

  • A sunny window sill

  • Plant cuttings

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Succulents

Succulents are some of the fastest and easiest plants to propagate. In fact, you might have noticed a fallen leaf already beginning to propagate on its own. The easiest way to propagate a succulent is to gently remove a leaf. Leave it out to dry and callous (heal its wound). A baby succulent may begin to grow on its own, or you can put the leaf’s end into water and it will quickly grow roots. 

You can also propagate from a stem cutting, which will have more stable results. Again, rest the cutting in water, leave in the sunlight, and wait for roots to grow.

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Houseplants 

While houseplants may differ slightly, and you’ll want to do some research on where to make specific cuts for the best results, they are fairly fool proof. Take a healthy cutting from your chosen plant, and rest the stem in the water. Make sure your propagation station is set in a sunny spot, like a window sill. Depending on the plant, roots may start to go within a few days or a few weeks. Change the water occasionally while you wait. When the roots reach at least 4 inches they’ll be ready to pot. 

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Herbs

With many herbs, you can simply take a clipping of it and put it directly into potting soil. For example, take a lavender clipping (longer stems without blooms stand a better chance), remove the leaves at the bottom of the stem, and simply stick it firmly into a pot of soil. You can also do the same technique but put them stem in a jar of water instead of soil. Your herbs will start to root, and soon you’ll have the beginnings of your very own herb garden. 

This new baby plant will need some help stabilizing, so make sure it has a healthy pot of soil. Add a tablespoon of Clean Water GROW All-Purpose Plant Food to your soil to assure that it gets all the nutrients it needs. Remember, just a tablespoon will last all season!

 
Kiana Pontrelli