Want to turn one pothos plants into TONS of new plants? Here is a step by step guide + VIDEO for how to root pothos cuttings in water!
Love plants? Plant propagation is an easy way to get free new plants. I love propagating plants and pothos is one of my favorites.
Pothos is a great plant to have around your house because it is super hardy and easy to keep alive.
It doesn’t need much sun (though it does grow faster in a sunny window).
It doesn’t need much water either – I water mine until water runs out the bottom of the pot once per week.
Because it is so easy to grow, I have pothos all over my house. Almost all of it was propagated from one starter plant! Propagation is a great way to turn one plant into many plants.
Click here for my complete Golden Pothos care guide!
Why should I take pothos cuttings?
The biggest reasons to take cuttings from your pothos plant are because it needs a haircut or simply to make new plants.
These plants can grow really long. If you are letting them hang down, you will eventually need to trim them back to keep them off the floor. Put those trimmings to use by propagating them!
You also might just want to propagate the plant. That’s fine too! Cuttings can be used to fill out your pot or make a new pot!
Pothos cuttings also make a great gift! Place 2-4 in a glass jar with a bow tied around it! Your friends will love watching the roots grow and then can add them to any pot of soil.
Here is my guide on how to propagate Satin Pothos!
How to propagate pothos
Tools needed:
- Scissors
- Jar of water
Steps to propagate pothos
STEP 1: Identify a node
To propagate pothos, you are going to want to take a cutting. Check out the stem of your plant.
See those raised bumps every 2-3 inches? Those are called nodes. Nodes are what will grow roots!
STE 2: Cut the stem
Use a sharp pair of scissors to cut right below a node. I like pieces that are at least 6 inches long, with 2-4 leaves.
STEP 3: Remove the bottom leaves
Cut any leaves that would fall under water on your stem. They’ll just turn brown and soggy from being submerged, and make your water foggy.
STEP 4: Place in water
Place the cutting in water. Place in indirect sun, like in a sunny window.
STEP 5: Change water regularly
Check once a week. Change the water as it becomes cloudy.
You will see fat white roots develop after a couple of weeks. I wait 6-8 weeks total to let roots get well developed. You want them about 2-3 inches long.
STEP 6: Plant in soil
You may now plant your baby pothos plant in soil.
How long does it take for pothos to root in water?
You should see the beginning of roots in about 2 weeks. I let my plants root from between 1-2 months, until the roots are 2-3 inches in length, before planting in soil.
Can you grow pothos in water?
You can easily root pothos in water. However, they grow best if you do transfer them to soil before the roots get much longer than 3 inches.
Can you propagate pothos in soil?
You can grow and root pothos clippings in soil. To propagate a cutting in soil, I recommend using rooting hormone. Follow the above instructions as if you were rooting in water and keep the soil moist.
Do pothos like to be misted?
No – Pothos do not need extra moisture and do not need to be misted.
Is pothos toxic to dogs and cats?
Yes – golden pothos is deemed toxic to dogs and cats (and humans) by the ASPCA.
How long does it take to propagate pothos in water?
It takes about a month for pothos cuttings to fully root in water!
When should I move pothos cuttings from water to soil?
Wondering when to plant propagated pothos? Move your cutting into soil after 3-4 weeks or when the roots are about 2 inches long. Place in bright indirect light and let it flourish!
Can you propagate pothos without leaves?
Yes, I have successfully propagated segments of pothos stem with no leaves. Once you plant them in soil they will grow new leaves eventually!
Where to cut pothos for propagation?
You want cuttings to be 6-8 inches long. Select a healthy branch of the plant, preferably one with active new growth. Roots will grow from the nodes (bumps where leaves grow) so be sure to cut off a couple of nodes.
You can cut so a node is at the bottom of your cutting, which will put roots at the end of your cutting. This means the remaining segment past the node on the mother plant will turn brown and die back, and new growth will come from the last node.
You can also cut just before a leaf node, so the node is the last thing left on the mama plant. This will make new growth grow right where you cut the mama plant, but roots on the new cutting will be a bit higher. Be sure that your water jar is deep enough to keep the node submerged.
Here’s how I made my DIY pothos moss pole!
How do I transfer a plant cutting from water to soil?
Prepare a pot by filling it about halfway with planting soil. Be sure your pot has proper drainage – either a hole in the bottom or at least an inch of pebbles under the soil.
Delicately pull the plant out of your jar of water so as not to damage any of the roots.
Place the plant in the pot of soil. Add more soil over the roots until they are fully buried and the plat feels secure. Water. Place in a light and bright area, such as a windowsill.
Can pothos grow in water?
Pothos can permanently live in water, it just might not grow as big or lush as it would in fresh potting mix soil.
Where to cut to propagate pothos
New roots are going to grow from the node of the plant. If you cut right below a node, roots should grow right at the bottom.
That being said, I have rooted pothos cutting any sorts of ways. The roots will grow from any node that is submerged under water during the growing process.
So, it’s good to keep nodes in mind, but you can have success wherever you cut the stem!
How to propagate pothos without rooting hormone
While rooting hormone can be used, you totally do NOT need it. Pothos roots really easily and will be fine without it.
Propagating pothos from leaf
You are going to need a segment of stem to successfully propagate your pothos. No node, no roots. You don’t need much, though!
Here is a list of other plants that grow from cuttings in water!
How to propagate pothos
It is easy to propagate pothos plants to create many more plants!
Materials
- Pothos plant
- Water
- Jar
Tools
- Scissors
Instructions
- Use a sharp pair of scissors to cut right below a node. I like pieces that are at least 6 inches long, with 2-4 leaves.
- Cut any leaves that would fall under water on your stem. They'll just turn brown and soggy from being submerged, and make your water foggy.
- Place the cutting in water. Place in indirect sun, like in a sunny window.
- Check once a week. Change the water as it becomes cloudy.
- You will see fat white roots develop after a couple of weeks. I wait 6-8 weeks total to let roots get well developed. You want them about 2-3 inches long.
- You may now plant your baby pothos plant in soil.
Pothos is a super fun house plant for beginners! Golden Pothos propagation is a great first plant to try to propagate.
I hope that this article helps you get started on your gardening journey.
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Hello, I’m Morgan, half of the creative force behind CharlestonCrafted.com! With a passion for DIY that dates back to 2012, I’ve transformed three homes and now I’m dedicated to helping others craft their dream spaces. Let’s turn your house into a home together!