How to Propagate Pothos in Water
Looking for ways to grow your indoor garden on a budget? Propagating plants is the easiest way to grow your garden for free! Learn how to propagate pothos in water in 7 easy steps.
Pothos is one of the easiest houseplants to grow and care for.
They are low maintenance, resilient, can tolerate different levels of light, boosts the mood, and purifies the air.
But did you also know that they are super easy to propagate in water?
It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of easy-care houseplants.
My plants grew so much while summering outdoors.
So it’s time to clean them up and cut some of them back.
But what to do with the cuttings?
I’m going to grow more plants!
Here’s how to do it.
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How Long Does it Take For Pothos to Root in Water?
It takes roughly 7-14 days.
I’ve had some plants root quickly.
And others take a bit longer.
So just be patient.
And wait to pot them up until they are about 4 inches long.
Is It Better to Propagate Pothos in Soil or Water?
I don’t think one way is better than the other per se.
However, if you propagate pothos in water, you want to make sure the roots are long enough to be potted.
Can Pothos Stay in Water Forever?
Pothos can live a very long time in water as long as you provide it with fresh water and nutrients as needed.
How Long Should Pothos Roots Be Before Planting?
A good rule of thumb is about 4 inches.
But the roots can be longer if you choose.
How to Propagate Pothos in Water
Several easy care houseplants can be propagated in water.
And pothos are one of the easiest houseplants to propagate.
You can pot them up after they form roots or continue to grow them in water.
My pothos was growing out of control in the kitchen.
So I gave them a haircut and started rooting them in these cute bud vases.
I started my pothos cuttings about two weeks ago and already have some roots.
This is how I did it.
Supplies Needed to Propagate Pothos
- pothos
- sharp scissors or pruners
- bud vases, glass jars or something similar
How to Propagate Pothos in Water Directions
Propagating pothos in water is one of the easiest things to do.
And at the end of a few weeks to a few months, you’ll have new plants to pot up and keep or give away to friends and family.
- Determine where to cut from the main plant. If possible, find the root node. Look for a mature vine and find a small brown bump before making any cuts. Try to keep a node or two with the cutting.
- Using clean, sharp scissors or pruners, cut about 1/4″ or so below the node.
- Remove any leaves that are below the root node or that will be in water.
- Fill a jar or bud vase with room temperature water and drop the cutting in. Be sure to covers the nodes with water because that is where the roots will grow.
- Place in an area that gets bright indirect light. I have been growing mine on my kitchen ledge near the windows.
- Replace the water every few days or top it off if its running lower. If the water looks dirty, change it.
- It can take a few weeks to a few months for roots to grow, so keep an eye on the cuttings. As long as the cutting looks green and healthy, leave it be.
- Pot up the cutting when the roots grow about 3-5″.
Propagating Pothos in Soil
While I prefer to propagate pothos in water, it’s just as easy to propagate them in soil too.
Simply cut pothos like above and remove the first few leaves above the cut stem.
Using a pencil, make a hole in a small pot filled with half peat moss and half perlite
Dip the cutting in rooting hormone.
Then gently plant the cutting in the pre-made hole.
Be careful not to knock off the rooting hormone.
Gently cover the hole around the stem.
Place in a location out of direct sunlight and keep it moist.
Within a month or so, roots should develop and the plant will be ready to pot up a few months after when roots are longer and more substantial.
How to Pot Up Your Cuttings
- When the roots are ready, pot them in fresh potting mix.
- Water well
- Keep in bright indirect light.
- Let soil completely dry out between waterings. And don’t go by what the soil looks like. Follow this test to determine whether you need to water or not or use a moisture meter like this one.
And the best place to pot up new plants?
A potting bench.
Do you have one yet?
If not, you NEED ONE, and here’s why.
Is It Better to Propagate Pothos in Water or Soil?
Pothos is so easy to propagate, it can really be done with either way.
So it’s a matter of preference.
That said, when propagating pothos, it’s important to pick which lane you choose and stick with it.
Pothos prefer their mediums not be switched while propagating them.
More Easy Care Houseplants that Propagate Easily in Water
Here’s a great list of some easy-care houseplants to propagate in water.
I’ve propagated several of these with great success.
- Pothos
- Swiss Cheese Plant
- Philodendron
- Monestera
- ZZ Plants
- Coleus
Not sure if a particular plant will root in water easily?
Try it anyway!
What do you have to lose?
Half the fun of gardening is experimenting with different plants.
Next on my propagating list is this swiss cheese plant!
More Posts You May Enjoy
- The Secret to Keeping Houseplants Alive
- What You Need to Know About Easy Care Houseplants That Purify the Air
- Why You Need a Potting Bench
- 7 Ways to Keep Houseplants Alive
- How to Propagate Aloe Plants
- Dividing Perennials
- Potting Bench Idea
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