If you’re like most of us and have a small space, growing your own pothos might be the solution to adding greenery without taking up too much room. Sure, you could go out and buy some plants at the store and they would look great! But sometimes it’s fun to take matters into your own hands and create something spectacular using plant propagation. If this is something you want to do with pothos, here are our tips for propagating pothos from seed or cutting.
What are pothos?
Pothos is a houseplant with heart-shaped leaves and an airy, tropical feel. It’s one of the most popular plants for indoor gardens because it requires very little maintenance, making it perfect for novice gardeners. The plant is native to tropical Asia and has been used for centuries in traditional medicine as well as in home decorating.
Pothos plants grow best between 70°F and 80°F (21°C – 27°C), so if your room temperature isn’t quite right for them, you can use an artificial heating source like a thermostat or pack of seeds inside a paper bag full of gravel until they start growing again!
Propagating pothos with stem cuttings
This technique works well in the spring and summer, but it’s also possible to root pothos stems year-round if you have access to bright lights.
- Take a rooting medium and place it around each cutting with one end facing downward into the soil. Make sure that all of your cuttings are covered with about an inch of rooting medium before placing them in their pots.*
- Place your pothos stem(s) on top of the potting mixture so that they are just below ground level.
- Place these new plants somewhere warm but out of direct sunlight until they begin growing new roots.
- When this happens, water lightly every other day until there is no more moisture leaking through from below, and then wait another two or three weeks before transplanting them into larger containers or outdoors again.
How to root a pothos branch in water
There are two ways to root a pothos branch in water:
- Cut the top off, place it on top of your container and let it sit there for several days until roots form around the cut end. The longer you let this happen, the more likely you’ll have success with this method. If you don’t see any signs of new growth within a few weeks, remove the branch from its container and try again at another time (or move onto step 2).
- Trim off about an inch from both ends of each leafy stem before planting them in water—this will help prevent discoloration once they’ve been transferred into soil later on down the line! Once planted out in their own containers (with soil), wait until new growth appears before removing any dead leaves or flower buds.
When to plant your rooted cuttings in the soil
When to plant your rooted cuttings in soil:
- Wait until the plant has grown roots. This can take up to two weeks, so don’t panic if you see no sign of growth during this time! Once the root system starts forming, it is safe for you to transplant your pothos into the soil.
- Wait until the plant is about 4 inches tall before planting it in soil—you want at least some support from the ground below as well as some structure from above (like a trellis). The wider its leaves grow outwards and downwards, the better!
Tips for growing your new pothos plants
Growing pothos plants is easy. You just need to follow a few simple steps and they will do all the work for you.
- Give your pothos plants plenty of room, as they grow quickly and can get large!
- Water your plant regularly (at least once every two weeks) so that it doesn’t dry out completely. A good rule of thumb is to make sure that the soil around each leaf feels moist but not soggy—this way, your plant will be able to absorb moisture from its roots without losing any more than necessary through evaporation in between watering times (which could result in root rot).
- Pinch off any dead leaves before putting them into the water; these are just extra weight on top of what’s already there!
Pothos is an easy-to-grow, trailing, indoor houseplant
The Pothos is an easy-to-grow, trailing plant that can grow in hanging baskets and other containers. Pothos plants have heart-shaped leaves that range from solid green to variegated shades of green, red, and yellow.
Pothos plants are also suitable for indoor use because they don’t require much light or water to thrive. They can survive low temperatures as long as they have enough water on hand (they’ll even survive with no water!).
Conclusion
There are several factors to consider when propagating pothos, but it is a rewarding process that can bring you great joy. It will also make your house feel extra-lively with the scent of fresh air and greenery!
With so many great reasons to grow this plant, I hope we’ve convinced you that it’s worth taking the plunge into plant propagation! If not now then perhaps sometime soon.