Starting Plants from Cuttings

Expand your indoor and outdoor garden by taking cuttings from your favorite plants. 

Use a hand pruner, garden scissors, or a sharp knife and take cuttings about 3 to 4 inches long. I like to make my cutting right above a set of healthy leaves so the remaining stem and plant looks nice.

Once you have your cutting, remove the lower leaves, any buds, and flowers that may be on that cutting. If you’ve had trouble rooting in the past, try using rooting hormone. They contain fungicides to fight disease and hormones to encourage root development.

Dip the cut end in the rooting hormone and stick it in vermiculite or a well-drained potting mix to root. Cover it loosely with a plastic bag and move it to a bright location and out of direct sun for several weeks to root.  Move the rooted cutting to a container filled with well-drained potting mix and water as needed.

You’ll be amazed at the many plants you’ll have to add to your garden and share with your friends.

A bit more information:  Those looking for a bit of a challenge may want to try starting a snake plant from a leaf cutting.  Use a sharp knife and cut one of the long leaves into several 3 inch long pieces.  Notch the bottom end of the cutting (cut end that was closest to the roots).  Stick the notched end about an inch deep into moist soil.  Water often enough to keep the soil moist but not wet.  In about a month or two you will see a tiny snake plant begin to grow at the base of the leaf cutting.

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