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How to Propagate a Pothos Plant

pothos plant propagation
pothos plant propagation

To propagate a Pothos….

1. Select a green leaf, and cut it off.

2. Leave it in a small pot of water for 3 weeks, for roots to emerge

3. Move it to larger and larger pots to allow it to grow into a big, beautiful Pothos plant.

4. Ensure the temperature, sunlight, and soil/water conditions are as perfect as you can get them.

5. Do what you like with your new Pothos. Sell it, give it away, or keep it.

Here’s all of that in a bit more detail….

Why Propagate a Pothos Plant?

To save money

If there is one thing that I think most of us DON’T like doing, it’s spending money. Of course, most of us like the things we spend money on, but if we could have them without spending the money, that would be even better.

By propagating a plant, you can have a plant without having to spend money. Rather than buying two Pothoses, you can just buy one and turn it into as many as you like.

Let’s say they are $5 each. Instead of spending $15 on three, you can pay $5 on one and turn it into three.

To give them away

Not only do most of us like not spending money, but we may also enjoy it when our friends also don’t spend money.

A lot of people who propagate plants will give away the clones to their friends. Perhaps you want to save money on presents, or maybe you have a friend with similar interests to you. Whatever your reason, I’m sure many people in your life can appreciate a Pothos.

They are reasonably easy to look after, and they would look just as great in your friend’s home as they do in yours.

To make money

Perhaps you’re not just looking to save money, but to make money. By selling your plants, you can make a small profit from them.

Let’s say you buy a plant for $5 and create 2 more which you also sell at $5 each. That right there is a $10 profit (minus the cost of growing them).

Whether you want to start your own business or just have a bit of side hustle is up to you. But no matter what you choose, selling the propagation results can earn you a nice bit of cash.

How to Propagate a Pothos Plant

Picking and Trimming

The first step will be selecting the perfect leaf and turning it into your “trimming”.

To pick a good leaf, you need to look out for signs of health. The healthiest leaves will make the best plants. Make sure the colour is green. If it’s yellow or brown, it won’t grow. And also, be sure to avoid any leaves with horrible brown spots.

Once you’ve found a beautiful green leaf, you will need sharp, clean tools! At the end of the leaf, trim it off, trying to make the cut as clean and effortless as you can. This is the first step to cloning your Pothos.

First Roots

The next stage will be waiting for the roots to come about. But these won’t come about by magic. The first thing you will need to do is put your leaf into a small pot of water, making sure the open cut is fully submerged.

For this, Yogurt pots are ideal because of how small they are.

Now, you will need to wait for about three weeks for the roots to emerge. At this stage, they won’t be the big, beautiful roots that you’re used to. But they will be one day.

Moving to a bigger pot

Once the roots have come, it will be time for a bigger pot.

In the pot, add the water or soil and a bit of fertilizer. If you’re growing it in water, try to use a vase with a slightly darker cue to prevent algae.

As the plant grows, it will outgrow its pot. When the plant gets too big for the pot, simply move it to a bigger pot. It will take a few months to grow into the biggest plant it can.

At this stage, the propagation will be done, and you can have a cup of tea to celebrate.

Ideal Conditions for propagating Pothos

Light

All plants LOVE sunlight. When you’re growing Pothos, it’s super important that you keep it in the sunlight. The more it can absorb, the healthier it will become.

Remember, no sun, no Photosynthesis. No Photosynthesis, no plant.

To avoid sunburn (and yes, it can happen to plants), try keeping it out of direct sunlight. You can do this either by blocking the window with some kind of filter (such as a net curtain) or moving it to a room that doesn’t get direct sunlight.

And no, a lamp is not the same as the sun.

Temperature

The temperature is also another crucial part of propagating Pothos. The perfect temperature will be somewhere between 27-32C. For the best results, make sure it’s always at a constant temperature.

If you’re in a room with a heavy draft, block that draft to stop the wind making the room colder. And if you’re keeping your Pothos next to an A/C or heater, you will need to move it to another room right away!

To make sure that the room is at a constant temperature, be sure to use a thermometer. Temperature changes that we don’t even notice can have a considerable impact on a plant.

Soil/Water

Whether you’re growing it in water or soil, you will need to make sure that whatever it is, is both wet enough and contains enough nutrients.

If it’s in water, you won’t need to worry about “wet enough”. However, if you want to prevent algae, you may wish to place it in a darker vase that sunlight will not go through.

In soil, make sure to water it often. Pothoses love water. These are not the kind of plants that can easily be overwatered.

No matter what you’re keeping it in, make sure that every 4-6 weeks, you’re giving it a bit of extra fertilizer.

Pot Size

The pot size is another vital part of propagation.

If the pot is too small, the roots will outgrow the pot, and come to the surface. They won’t be able to absorb any nutrients if they’re not even in the pot anymore. But, you also need to be sure your pot isn’t too big.

When the pot is too big, the nutrients will be too spread out, and the roots won’t be able to grow quickly enough to absorb them.

The best way to avoid these issues is to move the pot up by just one size once the plant becomes root-bound.

Water vs Soil

We’ve already mentioned a few times that you can choose between growing a Pothos in water or soil. But which will be better?

I’m afraid there is no single answer.

If you’re growing it in water, you may need to clean the vase out to prevent algae. And in soil, you need to water it very often. However, in both, you will need to ensure you’re giving it enough fertilizer.

And of course, sunlight is also essential in growing Pothos.

You will need

Physical

Scissors. These need to be both clean and sharp. If either one of these factors is missing, the chances of your cut causing an infection will increase. Make sure to always wash your scissors before and after using them on your plan.

Pots. During propagation, you will need pots of varying sizes. In the beginning, a yoghurt pot will be ideal. But a big plant pot may be needed when it becomes the final plant.

Fertilizer. Your plant will absorb the nutrients via its roots. To have these nutrients, you will need to add them to the soil. Most houseplant fertilizers will be fine on Pothos.

Mental

Patience. Propagation takes a long time. If you’re looking for something to do for the day, this might not be for you. Be prepared to wait around a year for a leaf to grow into a complete plant.

Determination. Not everyone has it in them to propagate. You need to want it.

Don’t give up-ness. You will make mistakes along the way. Instead of allowing them to bring you down, learn from them. If you put your plant in the wrong spot, move it. Forgot to water it? Water it more often!

You won’t get it 100% right on your first try.

Conclusion

And that is how you propagate a Pothos. If you follow the advice we’ve given to you today, you too can go from having one Pothos to 2. What you do with the second will be up to you. Keep it, sell it, give it away, we don’t mind.

Propagation is part of “level 2” of plant keeping. If you’re bored of just “keeping them alive” and fancy a bit more of a challenge, propagation can be the ideal challenge for you.

The only other way to grow any plant other than propagation is by the seed. Unlike propagation, growing from seed won’t create a clone. But that’s an article for another time.

Photo by Lasma Balode on Unsplash

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