Houseplants have become increasingly popular in recent years as more and more of us fill our homes with natural foliage. In addition to adding a touch of nature to our interiors, houseplants also bring many other benefits. Houseplants can reduce stress and lift your mood, Reduce air pollutionAnd Beautify your home in winter.
If you enjoy caring for your houseplants and keeping them healthy by avoiding them Mistakes That Kill Your Houseplantsit is very likely that you will be able to successfully propagate your plants.
Here is Jo Lambell, founder of Beards and daisiesTom's Guide shares 5 easy plants to take cuttings from and how to turn them into new plants.
1. Chinese money plant
The Chinese money plant (Pilea peperomioides), is one of my favorite houseplants. You can easily double your yield if you take a cutting from a Chinese money plant. I find it is so productive that I literally have to give my plants away.
Lambell describes the plant as having “perfectly round, coin-shaped leaves that sit on thin stems, making it a unique addition to your home.”
Additionally, she adds, “It's easy to care for and is said to bring good luck,” with the added benefit that “it's also pet-friendly and thrives in bright, indirect light.”
Why it's easy to take a cutting
Lambell explains that the plant produces “offspring,” or baby plants, around its base that can be easily separated and grown into new plants.
What to do
1. Wait until the young are about 5 to 7 cm tall and have a few leaves of their own.
2. Carefully remove the plant from its pot and find where the baby plant is attached to the main plant.
3. Using a clean, sharp knife or scissors, cut the pup, making sure there are some roots attached.
4. Plant the puppy in fresh potting soil, water lightly and place in a warm, bright location.
2. Spider plant
The spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum), known for its long, spider-like leaves that cascade from the base of the plant, is another easy houseplant to propagate. Lambell says: “With drooping, arching leaves and striking green and white stripes, the spider plant is a beautiful focal point in any room.”
It is also an easy-care plant that acts as an air purifier and thrives in a variety of lighting conditions.
Why it's easy to take a cutting
Spider plants produce small plants called “spiders” that “dangle from the mother plant like tiny parachutes,” according to Lambell.
What to do
1. Cut off a “spider” if it develops small roots underneath.
2. Place the plant in a glass of water, making sure the roots are submerged.
3. Once the roots are about 1 to 2 inches long, place them in a pot of fresh soil.
3. Snake Plant
The leaves of snake plants (Sansevieria) take on a sword-like shape, with Lambell describing them as hardy, drought-tolerant houseplants that make great air purifiers. So if your watering schedule for your plants is not perfect, a snake plant is the best choice for you.
Why it's easy to take a cutting
It may seem strange when you first take cuttings from your houseplants, but you can increase your snake plant harvest by using pieces of their leaves. Alternatively, you can also divide the plant.
What to do
By leaf cutting
1. Cut a healthy leaf into 3-4 inch sections.
2. Allow the cuttings to dry for one to two days to prevent rot.
3. Place the cuttings upright in new, moist potting soil, making sure the base is in contact with the soil.
After division
1. Remove the plant from the pot and carefully separate the root clumps.
2. Make sure each section has at least one healthy leaf and some roots.
3. Replant each section in fresh soil.
4. Philodendron
Lambell describes Philodendron as an easy-care houseplant, which is a big advantage if you're new to keeping houseplants. Although they prefer bright light, they survive in darker conditions and can handle some neglect.
“This houseplant has shiny, heart-shaped leaves and cascading tendrils,” she says. “It's perfect for adding a touch of green to shelves or hanging planters.”
Why it's easy to take a cutting
“Philodendrons form long tendrils with small roots in certain areas, which makes it very easy to grow new plants from them,” says Lambell.
What to do?
Find a healthy trunk with at least two nodes (these are the small bumps from which leaves or roots grow).
1. Using clean, sharp scissors or the best pruning shears, cut just below a node.
2. Place the cutting in a container of water, making sure the nodes are submerged.
3. Once the roots are 1 to 2 inches long, plant the cutting in soil.
Top tip
Make sure your scissors or secateurs are clean and sharp to ensure a hygienic cut. Dull blades can crush plant tissue and increase the risk of disease. Ragged, uneven cuts are less likely to heal effectively.
5. ZZ facility
ZZ facility
Just the name of the ZZ facility (Zamioculcas zamiifolia) makes me want to own one! But what makes it even better, according to Lambell, is that this attractive plant with broad, dark green leaves is easy to care for. “Its waxy, smooth leaves reflect light and brighten rooms,” says Lambell, adding, “It’s also an excellent air purifier.”
Why it's easy to take a cutting
There are two ways to take a cutting from a ZZ plant. Lambell says you can divide its thick, potato-like roots or use its leaves.
What to do
By leaf cutting
1. Cut off a healthy leaf and insert the cut end into moist soil.
2. Be patient. It can take months for new growth to appear.
After division
1. Remove the plant from the pot and carefully separate the roots
2. Plant each root in its own pot with well-drained soil.