Two heart-shaped green cutting leaves rooting in a clear glass vase of water on a bright white surface

Propagate How-To

Get a second plant from the one you already own

Cut a node, set it in water or soil, and follow the numbers. Guides for pothos, snake plant, monstera, and the other houseplants people actually try.

Concrete numbers for home jars and pots. No grow-room stories.

2–4nodes on a vine cutting
1–2×water changes a week
~1–3 inroots before you pot
$8–$25starter kit range (USD). Grow lights

Tools

Calculators for light on the leaf and water in the jar.

Cuttings rot when the steps skip the numbers

You drop a pothos in a jar and hope, or you watch a long video that never says how many nodes to take, how often to change the water, or when roots are long enough to pot. These guides put those numbers next to the steps.

How to start

  1. Pick the plant on your shelf

    Open the guide for that species.

  2. Use one method

    Water, soil, or air layering. Pick one path for this cutting.

  3. Wait for the number, then pot

    Usually 1–3 inches of root, then move to mix.

What you get from these guides

  • Guides use node counts, water-change cadence, and root length before potting.
  • Each guide is for one plant or one method, so you open the one that matches the job.
  • Indoor houseplants only. We skip ponds, foraging, and medical plant advice.

Pick the plant on your shelf

Featured guides below. See all guides for every plant and method.

Method12 min

How to Divide Houseplants

Divide a crowded houseplant by unpotting it, splitting the root ball into pieces with leaves and roots, and potting each piece in fresh mix.

Species18 min

How to Propagate Satin Pothos

Propagate satin pothos (Scindapsus pictus), also called silk or silver pothos, from stem cuttings in moist mix or water. Not Epipremnum aureum.

Species17 min

How to Propagate Cast Iron Plant

Propagate cast iron plant (Aspidistra elatior), also called bar room plant, by rhizome division, then pot each piece in fresh mix in a drained pot.

Species7 min

How to Propagate String of Dolphins

Propagate string of dolphins (Curio peregrinus) from stem cuttings or by layering trailing stems. A Curio trailer, not pearls, bananas, or hearts.

Species8 min

How to Propagate Sago Palm

Propagate sago palm (Cycas revoluta) from seed or from suckers and offsets. Not a true palm. All parts are highly toxic, especially the seeds.

What these guides leave out

Indoor ornamental propagation only. No toxicity-treatment advice, no foraging ID, no outdoor landscaping. If your plant is not in the guides yet, start from a close relative or the water, soil, or air-layering method that fits the cutting.

Start with pothos, or browse every guide