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How do I best root pothos cuttings?

BlueberryBundtcake - 6a/5b MA

2 years ago

Hello!

My Pothos 'Cebu Blue' is in need of a trim (before the dog starts getting interested in it). I want to root the trimmings, so I can plant them back into the pot with the existing plant, or in more pots if I need to (Maybe a mixed planting with some swedish ivy cuttings ...)

How do I best go about this? Do I stick the cuttings in a vase of water and wait for roots? Do I just stuff them in the dirt like I do with jades? Something else? How big should cuttings be to do well?

Thanks!

Here's my pothos, if it helps:

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Comments (4)

Tiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL
2 years ago
Beautiful! I usually wait for the older leaves to fall off so there is a naked length of stem, so there is no need to remove existing leaves. Either way, you would want to devote at least 2 (leafless) nodes to forming roots under soil or in water. I like the results much better when starting in water.

https://garden.org/plants/photo/211307/

https://garden.org/plants/photo/520489/

Alternatively, you could curl the stem back toward the pot and use a small rock to hold a promising node (or more than one) onto the soil surface to take root while still connected.
BlueberryBundtcake - 6a/5b MA thanked Tiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
2 years ago
i take a quart pot.. moisten some media ... pack it in.. STICK some 3 to 5 inch cuttings ... and then but it in a quart bag with the top open facing up.. and left open .... just a little humidity trap ...

in the alternative.. in a glass of water.. but... AS SOON AS YOU SEE TINY ROOTS .... do the above ...

dont grow long water roots... and then try to convert them to dirt roots .. if you will ...

check out some of these ...

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=rooting+pothos&t=ffab&iax=videos&ia=videos

i would not bother trying to incorporate them into the old pot.. unless in spring.. you bare root all of them ... take more cuttings.. and then repot them all together ...

this is so easy.. its one of those things that if you fail at it.. just give up gardening .. lol ... and i know you arent a newb.. or going to fail... so do the right thing .... [does anyone get that reference???]

ken
BlueberryBundtcake - 6a/5b MA thanked ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
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I don't see any roots on this cutting in the picture. I see what look like adventitious roots, the little nubs that can turn into roots. But I see no new roots. The new roots should be bright white. I would wait. Pothos create huge root systems in water normally. But if you choose to plant them, you just need to make sure the media stays consistently damp. Not soaking but just lightly moist. That's how nurseries propagate. They don't root in water. They just stick the cuttings in soil and keep the soil moist and the greenhouse has high humidity. You could put them in a container or ziploc bag to mimic that type of humid environment.
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getgoing100_7b_nj
2 years ago
I use water just because it is easier - no need to provide humidity for the foliage. Contrary to popular advice and belief, I have potted up after the roots were several inches long and they haven't missed a beat. OTOH, my luck with any kind of cuttings in potting media has been abysmal- too much water, too little water, not enough humidity...
popmama (Colorado, USDA z5)
2 years ago
Cebu Blue tends to grow very leggy and need frequent haircuts. I just gave mine a huge haircut too. I find the cuttings root easily in any of the aforementioned methods.

Also, the leafless nodes have a decent chance of rooting and growing leaves as well. I put a bunch of dampened perlite in a box, cut the stem/vine into single-node pieces and lay them on top of the dampened perlite. You can bury slightly. Then mist the box and close it up and put it in a bright warm location. Open it once a week, let some air in, ensure the perlite is still damp, mist again and close up. Takes some patience but it works. Once they root and produce a leaf, you can pot a bunch of them in soil and make a whole new plant.

Here's my magical prop box. I think it was originally for storing CDs. Got it at a thrift store.

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