How to Propagate Pothos – Ultimate Guide

Want to propagate pothos? Don’t know where to start from? If you are looking for ways to propagate pothos, you are at the right place. This article will help you on how to propagate pothos in all the ways possible. Keep reading to know more about it. 

Pothos is a popular in-house plant, very easy to grow and care for. The bountiful plant is known for its beauty and ease of growing nature. It’s exciting to see how a plant propagates in various ways.  

If you’re thinking of propagating pothos in your garden or house, then here is the step-by-step guide. In addition, this blog will discuss propagation methods, after-care tips, and other dos and don’ts of propagating Pothos. So, let’s get started. 

Other indoor plant that you can easily propagate is snake plants and prayer plants.

Why do you Propagate the Pothos Plant? 

There are several reasons for the propagation of the Pothos plant. Some of the reasons are as follows: 

1. Extend the Shelf Life of Pothos Plant 

Propagation of the Pothos plant is the best way to extend the shelf life and cultivate the plant. By using the propagation methods, you will be able to regain the healthy plant. 

2. Recover the Healthy Plant 

The plant may encounter diseases and become unhealthy. With the propagation method, you’ll be able to recover a healthy plant from disease. 

Also Read: How to Grow and Care for Philodendron

3. Trimming can Result in New Plant

If your plant is growing unstoppable, you can cut them and use the cuttings to grow other plants. Moreover, you can use cuttings, leaves, and stems for making compost. 

These are some of the reasons for which you need to propagate pothos from time to time. Let’s move on to another section that will help you to get the things ready for the pothos propagation. 

How to Propagate Pothos?

There are various methods that will help you to propagate pothos. We have provided a definitive guide that will help you propagate pothos through water, soil, layering, and root division. You can choose the one at your convenience. 

So, let’s not waste more time and find out all the ways that will help you to propagate pothos starting with the water method. 

Method 1: Propagate Pothos in Water

This is the easiest method to grow the Pothos. You can grow Pothos in a glass jar and even test tubes with the method. When you are using the water propagation method for the propagation of Pothos, you need the following things: 

• A healthy Pothos plant 
• Sterilize scissor 
• Regular or distilled water 
• Mason jar or pot with drainage hole 
• Potting mix 

Here is the stepwise guide to follow and grow Pothos in water. 

Also Read: How to Propagate Succulents [Easy Steps]

1. Collect all the Supplies

Before proceeding with the method, keep all the necessary equipment and supplies with you that we have mentioned above. Take a sharp knife and sterilize it properly. Keep a glass vessel in which you grow the roots of the plants and fill them with fresh water. You can use distilled water to grow roots because regular water may have heavy elements which can damage the plant. 

2. Select the Cutting and Trimming 

Always choose the young stem and vine for propagation. When proceeding with the propagation, take three to five healthy and young stems. The cuttings should be 2-5 inches long, depending on the mother plant size. Hole the vines gently and cut the stem right below the nodes, making 45 degrees. 

Remember that the cutting you use must have the nodes because this is the region where the roots propagate. Once you trim the cutting, wrap it into the paper towel. 

3. Dip into Rooting Hormone 

You can dip the end of the cutting into the rooting hormone before you transfer them into the clean water. However, it is optional; you can even transfer the cutting directly into the water. 

4. Transfer Cutting into Water

Place the stem into the water. You can group multiple stems to provide support and get more plants. However, make sure that the container doesn’t overfill with stems. Maintain some space so that air can circulate properly.

5. Keep the Cutting on a Bright Light Location 

Pothos is a tropical plant that requires enough warmth to grow properly. So, you can keep them where they can receive bright light. However, make sure to avoid keeping them under the sun’s direct heat because it can damage the plant and may burn the foliage. 

6. Track Growth 

Now, wait for a few weeks and look for the growth signs. It may take four weeks to grow the roots. Once the cuttings show roots, you can transfer them into the soil. When the plant grows in water, frequently change the water and add fertilizers. 

These are all the steps that you need to follow while propagating pothos in water. Ensure you follow all the steps above as mentioned and you will see the healthy roots in some time. 

Method 2: Propagate Pothos through Root Division 

Pothos plant can reach its maximum height once it starts growing. So, if you need to trim, the best method is to divide the roots. First, take the parent plant out from the container and pull it out gently to expose the roots. Next, clean excess soil and find the point of root separation within the root crown. 

Once you locate the spot, gently tease it down and start loosening the stems and roots. You can use a garden knife to split its roots. Place the parent plant back into the container and take another container and fill it with potting mix or soil. Now, take the teased part and place it in another container. Fill it with soil and water at regular intervals. 

Method 3: Propagate Pothos through Layering 

You can easily propagate Pothos by following the layering method. Sometimes, layering happens naturally by the Pothos. However, when the vines have nodes that encounter the soil or touch the ground, they may start rooting. If you want to grow with this method, take the container and fill it with soil or potting mix. 

Now, choose longer vines having leaves nodes from the parent plant. Leave the tip of the vine and cover the node region with the soil. Do not detach the vine from the parent plant at this stage. Add water and essential nutrients into the soil. Let the nodes grow properly. Make sure the soil doesn’t dry off. 

Keep checking if the nodes start producing roots. You can pull the plant and see the roots. Tuck the plant back into the soil in a similar way. You can wait for longer if the roots don’t appear. Once the nodes start producing roots, cut the vine from the parent plant and let them grow naturally. 

Method 4: Propagate Pothos in Soil

Pothos can be grown successfully into the soil. The method is best suited for gardeners who don’t want to use the water to cultivate the roots and then grow them into the soil. Propagating through soil doesn’t allow you to track the growth of the roots as you see in the water.

For propagation, take the cuttings from the parent plant and follow the same cutting method you followed for propagation through the water. Next, take a container and fill it with soil. Be sure that the soil is well-drained and aerated. You can add cocoa coir into the soil for proper drainage. 

After filling the pot with soil, place the cutting into the soil and hold them carefully when you are filling the soil. Leave the tip of the cutting and water your plant regularly. Keep the plant where it can receive bright light but doesn’t come in contact with the sun directly. 

These are all the methods you can use to propagate pothos that is easy to follow and have greater results. You can choose any of these that you find suitable for your conditions. 

There are a few instances where pothos cutting didn’t root and there could be some reasons for that. We will discuss those in our next section. Have a look! 

Reasons Why Pothos Cuttings Didn’t Root?

There are several possible reasons why Pothos cuttings didn’t produce roots. A few of them are listed below. Check those and make sure you are not doing the same mistakes. 

1. Late Transplantation

One reason that stem cutting is not resulting in roots is you have done later transplantation. Keep in mind that roots grow differently in water and soil. The plant takes time to adapt to a new environment, especially when transplanting from water into the soil. 

The more you take time for transplantation, the harder it will be for the plant to grow into the soil. Later transplantation may end with transplant shock. The cutting is not able to survive in the soil and dies completely. So, ensure to transplant the roots when it grows at least two or one inches long. 

Don’t keep them in the water for a longer time. Alternatively, you can try adding growth medium into the water. This helps to adapt naturally and helps the cutting grow into the soil properly. 

2. Temperature/Warmth is not Sufficient

Pothos is a tropical plant that requires warmth and an ideal temperature to grow properly. It also needs high humidity to grow successfully. If the condition is not ideal, you may expect stunted growth, and the possibility is there you don’t see the roots. 

If you’re trying to grow Pothos in the winter season, keep them indoors and use glass pots. Maintain ideal temperature and environment to support their growth.

3. Stem Cutting is Wrong 

Roots of the Pothos plant grow from the nodes present on the stem. These are the areas where leaves emerge. Therefore, if you want to grow roots, then you have to cut the stem below the nodes so that stem has the nodes and leaves. 

Many people make this same mistake and cut the stem without nodes and suspend them in the water. It doesn’t produce roots no matter how long you care for it and water. 

4. No Sufficient Light

Pothos need bright sunlight to propagate and produce energy. If you want to propagate plants faster, provide them with sufficient sunlight. However, avoid keeping them under the sun’s direct heat for long hours. It may damage the plant.

5. Stem Cutting is From Damaged Vine 

The Fourth common mistake people make is taking stem cuttings from the damaged vines. The dead vine doesn’t result in rooting. Therefore, it is advised only to remove the cutting from a healthy vine. Avoid using cuttings from the plant that are damaged. 

6. Not Changing Water

Pothos cutting doesn’t produce roots by using the same water. This is because the stem uses oxygen dissolved in water for propagation. After a few days, the oxygen dissolved in the water depleted. Therefore, if you don’t change the water, the plant stem will suffocate and may die. 

Moreover, standing water, many invited bacteria growth and stunted growth. So, it is advised to change the water after a couple of days. 

7. Late Transplantation

The next possible reason that stem cutting is not resulting in roots is you have done later transplantation. Keep in mind that roots grow differently in water and soil. The plant takes time to adapt to a new environment, especially when transplanting from water into the soil. 

The more you take time for transplantation, the harder it will be for the plant to grow into the soil. Later transplantation may end with transplant shock. The cutting is not able to survive in the soil and dies completely. So, ensure to transplant the roots when it grows at least two or one inches long. 

Don’t keep them in the water for a longer time. Alternatively, you can try adding growth medium into the water. This helps to adapt naturally and helps the cutting grow into the soil properly. 

8. Stem Need Time

Propagation of the Pothos is easy with cutting. But it is not so quick to grow and may take two to four weeks to reach the stage of transplantation. It may sometimes take longer than a month to show growth. So, have patience and wait for longer and let them grow. 

Some big leaf pothos needs extra care sometimes. Check the tips on how to take care of big leaf plants.

Also Read: 9 Reasons for Yellow Leaves on Plants and How to Fix Them

FAQs

Would you Propagate Pothos?

Now, you know how to grow Pothos successfully. It is time to wrap out our propagating tips. When you cut the stem, use the sterilized knife only and regularly change the water for ideal growth. Use a highly nutrient-rich coil or potting mix to support the growth of the Pothos. 

During the growing season, keep tracking the growth and diseases. Eliminate the diseased part of the plant to protect the healthy plant. Do not overwater irrelevantly; it may invite fungus that damages the root. Most importantly, follow all the tips and tricks mentioned in the guide and grow pothos in a healthy condition.