My houseplant collection is never quite complete and I'm always looking for ways to get my hands on new plants. One of my favorite methods is propagating - it's a fun project to take on and multiplies your plants for free.
Sometimes, though, I don't have the patience to wait for even the easiest houseplants to grow from cuttings to root, so I often look for methods to speed up houseplant propagation. The best one I've stumbled across? Using pothos cuttings. Now my houseplant cuttings root in as little as a couple of weeks.
You may be wondering how exactly using pothos cuttings works to speed up houseplant propagation and how effective this method really is. That's why I spoke to plant experts to find out more about the science behind this hack, and exactly how to do it.
Why do pothos cuttings speed up houseplant propagation?
If you're a houseplant lover like me, it's likely you would have heard of rooting hormone and have perhaps even used products like this rooting hormone powder from Amazon. It's a substance that has nutrients and chemicals mimicking the rooting hormones of plants to encourage cuttings to root. When it comes to using pothos cuttings to speed up houseplant propagation, something similar occurs.
'Pothos plants release auxins, a natural rooting hormone, which aids in the quick development of roots in cuttings,' explains Alex Kantor, owner of Perfect Plants Nursery.
Auxins perform a range of tasks in plants, including root development. In fact, commercial rooting hormone powders and gels contain auxins for this reason. In this sense, pothos cuttings can be considered a natural rooting hormone.
'Pothos, being a fast-growing indoor plant that partially relies on axillary roots, produces an abundance of auxins,' explains certified botanist and plant expert, Lotte Berendsen. 'When paired with other cuttings, a pothos’ auxins can help encourage the other plant to root faster,' she adds.
How to use pothos cuttings to speed up houseplant propagation
In terms of how to use pothos cuttings to speed up houseplant propagation, it's a very simple hack to follow.
You'll need to be equipped with essential pruning tools, like these plant snips from Amazon, and familiarize yourself with how to take cuttings as if you were propagating a pothos.
Cut below a leaf node and remove all lower leaves. Then, 'simply place pothos cuttings in water with other plant cuttings to benefit from its rooting properties,' Alex explains.
It's wise to use clear vessels for water propagation so you can observe root development. Take care to also avoid water propagation mistakes by 'refreshing the water regularly to prevent algae and rot,' Lotte says. 'This will, sadly, also remove the auxins from the water, so I recommend only refreshing the water once every two weeks when using this pothos method,' she adds.
Of course, the time in which it takes for your cuttings to root alongside pothos cuttings will vary between plants. 'Just remember to be patient as roots develop because it can take some time,' Alex advises.
Make sure to avoid plant cutting mistakes like using dirty and blunt tools - luckily, there a few a different ways to clean garden tools before taking your cuttings.
Try this houseplant propagation hack with these essentials
This minimalist and stylish propagation station houses five cuttings at a time. With clear vessels, it's easy to observe root development.
This is a dazzling pothos, featuring bright, chartreuse-green leaves. Use cuttings to aid the propagation of other houseplants.
These micro-tip snips are made to reduce hand fatigue. They're ideal for pruning houseplants and taking cuttings.
FAQs
Which type of pothos is best for speeding up houseplant propagation?
It's possible to use any pothos variety to speed up houseplant propagation as all pothos varieties release auxins and act as a natural rooting hormone for other houseplant cuttings. However, golden pothos (from Walmart) is often a popular choice because it is known for it's fast-rooting nature.
Can you use pothos cuttings as a rooting hormone in soil?
Using pothos cuttings as a rooting hormone in soil is generally considered to be less effective than a water propagation technique. While it's true auxins from pothos cuttings will be released into a soil medium, it's much easier and quicker for other houseplant cuttings to absorb auxins released into water.
I'll certainly be using this houseplant propagation hack from now on, especially considering it can be used successfully for a wide range of plants. 'It works particularly well for those that root well from cuttings, such as propagating philodendrons, propagating snake plants, and propagating spider plants,' Alex says.
