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Turn a single indoor or outdoor houseplant into several
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Not all plants have to be grown from a seed. If you have an existing plant that you like, you can grow a new plant from one of its branches. Growing a plant from a cutting will take a couple of weeks, but is fairly easy to do as long as you follow the right steps. First, you'll need to cut off a young stem with a new shoot, then you'll have to grow a new root system using a bottle of water or a porous soil mixture. Once the roots have formed, all you need to do is transplant the cutting to soil and wait for your new plant to grow.
Steps
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Determine if your species of plant can grow from a cutting. Not all plants can grow from cuttings. Popular plants to grow from cuttings include rosemary, mint, basil, tomatoes, roses, English ivy, Chinese evergreen, and red and yellow dogwood plants. Check online or in a gardening guide to confirm that the plant you want to propagate can grow from cuttings. [1] X Research source
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Cut off a branch from the existing plant. Choose a healthy, disease-free branch from the top of the plant. Use gardening pruners and cut off the branch at its base. [2] X Research source Each cutting should be approximately 4–6 inches (10–15 cm) long. [3] X Research source
- Look for a young, thin branch, ideally one with new growth or shoots on it. These will grow best when transplanted.
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Cut off big branches and 2/3 of leaves from the branch. Leaves and offshoot branches will inhibit new root growth, which is necessary to grow a plant from a cutting. Use your pruners to cut away offshoot branches and 2/3 of all the leaves on the cutting. [4] X Research source
- If the remaining leaves on the branch start to die while the roots are growing, it means that your new plant is dying.
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Cut the bottom of larger, woody branches on a 30-degree angle. Make an angled cut on the bottom of your cutting. This will help you remember which side is the bottom and will help you push the cutting into soil later. If you are growing herbs, you can skip this step. [5] X Research source
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Decide whether to grow your cutting in water or soil. The roots of larger plants with thick woody branches are known as hardwood cuttings and grow better in soil. Smaller herbs like basil, mint, and rosemary can initially be grown in water. Choose the method that best applies to your situation. [6] X Research source
- You can use the soil method for herbaceous and hardwood cuttings.
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Scrape off the bark on the bottom of hardwood cuttings. Scrape off the top layer of bark near the bottom of your cutting with your pruners. Make sure not to cut too deep or you may damage the branch. Doing this will help the roots grow at the base of the new plant. If you are planting herb cuttings, you can skip this step. [7] X Research source
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Dab the end of the cutting in a root hormone, if desired. Purchase a gel or powder root hormone from a gardening store or online. Dabbing the bottom of the cutting into the hormone may speed up growth. [8] X Research source
- If you don’t want to use rooting hormone, you can dip the cuttings in cinnamon, instead. Cinnamon naturally keeps disease away from cuttings as they mature.
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Transplant your cutting into a pot filled with a potting medium. The porosity of sand and perlite makes it a great medium to grow cuttings. You can also use a potting soil mixed with perlite or vermiculite. Push a pencil into the soil to create a hole for your cutting, then place the bottom half of the cutting into the soil. [9] X Research source
- Purchase a potting medium at a gardening or hardware store.
- Use a pot that has drainage holes in the bottom of it.
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Water the medium thoroughly. Thoroughly saturate the soil so that it’s completely wet. Your new cutting will require a lot of water initially before roots begin to form. [10] X Research source
- The soil should not pool on the top of your pot. If it does, it means you aren’t using the right potting soil or your pot doesn’t have drainage holes.
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Secure a plastic bag over the top of the pot. Tape or tie a plastic bag over the top of the pot, making sure that the bag doesn't touch the plant. This will increase the humidity around the cutting and will encourage growth. [11] X Research source
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Wait for 2-3 weeks for roots to form. Keep the cutting in a bright area, but away from direct sunlight. In 2-3 weeks, roots should have formed on the bottom of the cutting. Carefully feel under the cutting with your fingers to see if roots have started growing. If they have not developed, you'll have to make another cutting and restart the process. [12] X Research source
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Transplant the cutting once roots have formed. Once roots have grown out of the bottom of the cutting, it's ready to be moved to its permanent growing location. Use a small gardening shovel and dig around the cutting, making sure not to sever any of the new roots. Extract the plant from the pot and put it into new soil. [13] X Research source
- Search online to see how to care for and maintain your particular plant.
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Place the end of the cutting in a root hormone if desired. Root hormone can promote the growth of a new plant. Purchase either the gel or powder form of the hormone from a department or gardening store and dip the bottom end of the cutting in the hormone. [14] X Research source
- Do not inhale powdered root hormone.
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Place the cutting into a bottle of water for up to 2 weeks. Place the bottom of the cutting into a bottle or glass of water. Over the span of a week or 2, new roots should start to grow out of the bottom of your cutting. [15] X Research source
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Transplant your cutting to soil after roots start to develop. Take your plant out of the water and place the bottom of the cutting into well-ventilated soil like perlite or vermiculite. Keep the cutting in a dark place for 2-3 days so that the plant doesn’t have to expend energy on photosynthesis. [16] X Research source
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Place the plant in a sunny area and water it, if necessary. If you are growing your plant inside, you should water it every 2-3 days. If you are keeping it outside, make sure to put it in an area that gets adequate sunlight. Look in a gardening guide or online to find the proper way to maintain your new plant.
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Expert Q&A
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QuestionWhen is the best season to start a cutting?Lauren Kurtz is a Naturalist and Horticultural Specialist. Lauren has worked for Aurora, Colorado managing the Water-Wise Garden at Aurora Municipal Center for the Water Conservation Department. She earned a BA in Environmental and Sustainability Studies from Western Michigan University in 2014.Whatever season your original plant starts to produce new growth. This is usually spring time.
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QuestionCan I root sedum spurium dragons blood using water as a medium?Lauren Kurtz is a Naturalist and Horticultural Specialist. Lauren has worked for Aurora, Colorado managing the Water-Wise Garden at Aurora Municipal Center for the Water Conservation Department. She earned a BA in Environmental and Sustainability Studies from Western Michigan University in 2014.Yes. However, you may have more success putting your sedum cutting directly into soil or into damp sand to propagate.
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QuestionCan you take a cutting from any plant?This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.wikiHow Staff EditorStaff AnswerMany plants can grow from cuttings, but not all. Before taking a cutting from a plant, do some research to find out the best and easiest way to propagate it.
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Things You'll Need
Making the Cuts
- Pruners
Soil Method
- Pruners
- Root hormone (optional)
- Sand and perlite potting mix
- Plastic bag
- Rubber band or string
- Gardening Shovel
Cuttings in Water
- Root hormone (optional)
- Bottle or glass
- Water
- Potting soil
- Perlite
- Gardening shovel
Tips
- If the leaves die on your cutting or roots haven't grown in 2-4 weeks, you'll need to take a new cutting and start the process over.Thanks
- If you’re going to grow cuttings inside, you must “harden off” the cuttings by slowly introducing outdoor elements in stages. If you just take the cuttings right outside, they may die.Thanks
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References
- ↑ https://deepgreenpermaculture.com/2010/11/16/propagating-herbaceous-plants-from-cuttings/
- ↑ https://youtu.be/9Oo5FH7CoyI?t=51s
- ↑ https://deepgreenpermaculture.com/2010/11/16/propagating-herbaceous-plants-from-cuttings/
- ↑ https://youtu.be/9Oo5FH7CoyI?t=1m37s
- ↑ https://youtu.be/fzwVKZ6UoGM?t=3m9s
- ↑ https://www.purdue.edu/hla/sites/yardandgarden/extpub/new-plants-from-cuttings-text-only/
- ↑ https://youtu.be/9Oo5FH7CoyI?t=2m2s
- ↑ https://youtu.be/fzwVKZ6UoGM?t=3m27s
- ↑ https://youtu.be/fzwVKZ6UoGM?t=3m50s
- ↑ https://youtu.be/9Oo5FH7CoyI?t=2m48s
- ↑ https://www.purdue.edu/hla/sites/yardandgarden/extpub/new-plants-from-cuttings-text-only/
- ↑ https://www.purdue.edu/hla/sites/yardandgarden/extpub/new-plants-from-cuttings-text-only/
- ↑ https://www.purdue.edu/hla/sites/yardandgarden/extpub/new-plants-from-cuttings-text-only/
- ↑ https://youtu.be/bpk3Ukbtnt0?t=1m35s
- ↑ https://youtu.be/bpk3Ukbtnt0?t=1m51s
- ↑ https://youtu.be/bpk3Ukbtnt0?t=2m8s
About This Article
Article Summary
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To grow cuttings from established plants, cut healthy, disease-free branches from the top of the plant. Make the cut at a 30° angle to the plant. Each cutting should be 4-6 inches long, and ideally should have new growth or shoots on it, as these will grow best when transplanted. Trim any big branches and about 2/3 of all of the leaves off of the branch, then either place your cutting in water or soil, depending which type of plant you’re trying to grow. To learn which plants grow best in soil and which prefer water, keep reading!
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"I've been interested in learning about how to start cuttings from plants for a while now. This was just enough information to get me started. Easy instructions, short and to the point."
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"Thanks for the awesome job you do. Also this article tho may not be complete still possesses a wealth of knowledge and more than basic practices to get started."
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"First time in years I have taken a cutting in order to grow. Couldn't remember if placing cutting in water was correct. Checked here about plant to make sure."
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