How to take cuttings from house plants

in Home : Projects: The basics

You will need

  • Plectranthus house plant
  • Scissors
  • Jar of water
  • Plant pots
  • Multi-purpose compost
Do it: all year round
Takes just: an hour

Project categories

Overview

The process of rooting cuttings in water is an effective method of propagating many types of house plant. Once cuttings have developed a good root system, they can be potted up in compost. In addition to house plants, various tender perennials and summer bedding plants can also be propagated by this method.

How to do it

Cutting the stem below a leaf joint

1Choose healthy shoots of new growth and cut lengths of roughly 10-20cm. Cut below a leaf joint with a sharp knife. Remove lower leaves to ensure a clean stem is submerged into water.

Roots growing from the base of submerged stems

2Push the base of the cuttings in a jam jar or glass of water. Top the glass right up to its rim with water and stand in a warm, bright position.

Cuttings placed in a jar of water

3Keep the water topped up. Within a few weeks you should see white roots emerging from the stem.

Roots showing from the base of each stem

4Once a good root system has developed, pot the cuttings in compost. Keep the compost moist and pinch out tips to encourage branching of plants.

Adam's tip

You can root many house plants in water, including African violets, cane-stemmed begonias, coleus, cyperus, impatiens, ivy, rubber plants and verbena.

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Talkback: How to take cuttings from house plants
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Whippet 24/11/2011 at 15:29

Sorry, I have asked this before but cannot find the reply.
I planted some Lemon pips and three grew. They are now quite large and sitting on the kitchen windowsill. They need to move!
I'm bothered that I might kill them by doing the wrong thing.
Can they stay inside and if so how large would they grow? Do they need sunshine or would they be happy without it?