Sometimes, propagating your houseplants can be an absolute nightmare to get right! Whether you just can’t get those first roots to form or your new plant-babies keep dying as soon as they’re in soil, there’s plenty you can do to increase your propagation success rate!
At Oxy-Plants, we’re dedicated to making sure propagating your houseplants is a simple and easy process! If you’re able to make the most of your plant-care routine, you can give your new plant babies away to friends, or even keep them for yourself!
The Basics of Propagating Your Houseplants
Propagation is the art of breeding specimens from the parent stock of plant using natural processes. Or, in plainer English, you’re taking an offshoot of growth from one houseplant and aiming to grow it on it’s own.
You can propagate almost any houseplant you own, but some will produce more successful results than others. Generally, Spider Plants, Snake Plants, and Chinese Money Plants are the easiest houseplants to propagate.
Propagating your houseplants is quite a simple task to get the hang of. There are two methods that gardeners and plant-lovers have used to get the most out of their new cuttings. These two methods are called the “water method” and the “powder method”. Both have their benefits and drawbacks.
The “Water Method”
The water method is, by far, the most popular propagation method plant-lovers use today for their new cuttings. In this process, a small cutting is taken from your houseplant and placed in a small container, or test tube that is filled with water.
Over the course of a couple of weeks, roots from your cutting will begin to form, where you can then place your cutting into soil. Whilst this method certainly makes for a fantastic school project, it can sometimes be quite time-consuming.
The “Powder Method”
The other method is called the powder method. The key benefit of this method is that it is a much quicker process and develops stronger roots than the water method. The only drawback is that this method requires a small amount of money to purchase some rooting powder.
After taking your cuttings, place some rooting powder in a small container (enough to cover the bottom of the roots) and then add your cuttings. Over the course of a few days, you will then begin to see your plant cuttings grow and flourish!
Our 5 Tips for Propagating Your Houseplants
Take Cuttings from the right place!
This may sound basic, but it is one of the most important factors in propagating your houseplants! Making sure you’re taking your cuttings from the correct place is paramount to ensuring your cutting will stay alive.
When you find a healthy shoot, cut just below the leaf joint (this is the point where two leaf stems meet). Make sure you use a sharp pair of scissors, secateurs, or knife for this job. This will help your plant when it comes to time for absorption. Why not buy some new pruning shears?
Recycling Always Helps!
Using the powder method is one of the best things you can do to maximise the growth of your new cuttings. You’ll be able to grow your cuttings quicker and easier.
There are a whole host of different rooting powders on the market, with each suggesting they offer something unique and different. At Oxy-Plants, we sell our own rooting powder, that is sustainably sourced and comprised of naturally occurring plant extracts.
With this in mind, there are plenty of things you could use as a propagation container. From empty jam jars to GÜ desert pots, there are plenty of containers you could use that are the perfect size for propagating your plants, providing they’re clean!
Invest in a Good Rooting Powder
Using the powder method is one of the best things you can do to maximise the growth of your new cuttings. You’ll be able to grow your cuttings quicker and easier.
There are a whole host of different rooting powders on the market, with each suggesting they offer something unique and different. We sell several different soil substrate mixes, that are sustainably sourced and comprised of naturally occurring plant extracts.
Don't Over or Under Water!
This is crucial if you’re trying out the powder method for the first time! For many, it’s difficult to get the powder method right the first few times you do it. Cuttings may die during powder rooting if they are under or over watered.
Underwatering may cause your baby roots to burn, whilst overwatering may lead to root rot. Most rooting powders will come with a recommended watering dose, so it is always best to follow that. This is the same for any powder or liquid rooting hormones.
If you really want to be precise, be sure to use some measuring cups (or even a pipette) if you want to be precise. We’re sure you’ll get the hang of it!
Choose the Right Soil Type!
Again, this may sound obvious but always be sure to place your plant in soil when the roots have fully developed. If you do not do this at the right time, then your baby plant may struggle to survive.
The signs of a healthy root is one that is strong, well developed, and look fairly strong. In most cases, they should be an opaque white, or beige, colour and not translucent. If you’re struggling to work out when they’re ready, you should probably leave them another day!
If you’re wondering what soil to use, have a look at the plant care guides on our blog!
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