Learn How to Root Indoor Plant Cuttings fast with the step-by-step instructions and expand your plant collection.
If you want to expand your plant collection or share with friends, this method allows you to propagate many plants, such as spider plants, pothos, and succulents. The process involves taking cuttings and planting them in soil or water; now, let’s learn the details of how to root indoor plant cuttings in detail with this post.
How to Root Indoor Plant Cuttings
1. Use Rooting Hormone
The rooting hormone assists in root formation and defends the plant from bacteria and fungi. It helps in root development at a fast rate and prevents transplant shock. You can use aloe vera as a rooting hormone to boost root development.
You can also use honey, apple cider vinegar, and cinnamon.
2. Bottom Heat
Keep the base of the cuttings warm and the top around the foliage cool; bottom heat promotes cell division at the base of a plant cutting.
The following methods can be used to encourage bottom heat:
- Heating cables were implanted in the benches.
- Electric heating cables embedded in a bed of sand.
- Concrete benches heated water or hot air fleeting from pipes under the benches.
Note: The growing media temperature needs to be slightly (5-8 F) more than air, so roots grow faster than shoots.
3. Discard the Lower leaves
After taking the stem cutting, snip off the lower leaves before propagation; ensure no leaves submerge in water. If you propagate the plant in the soil, the bottom foliage can make the task difficult.
4. Make a Cut below the Node
The nodes are brown circular rings on the stem. From this junction, new leaves and roots emerge. For successful results, take a stem cutting with many nodes. If you are propagating the plant in the soil, cover the nodes entirely with soil.
5. Make a Solution of Aspirin Water
To promote root growth, prepare a rooting solution by crushing aspirin tablets in water and dipping the ends and root cuttings in water or soil. Aspirin boosts vitamin C content and promotes plant growth. It also contains an active ingredient, salicylic acid, that raises plants’ immune systems.
6. Light
The cuttings require sufficient light for foliage to conduct the process of photosynthesis and make food that breaks down through respiration to provide energy for root development.
Note: The cuttings need a lot of sunlight for the process of photosynthesis, but not direct sunlight, as it causes water loss.
7. Use a Well Draining Growing Medium that Holds Some Water
Use a growing material that has good drainage and air space, is free from pests and diseases, and holds water. You have several options, such as peat, coarse sand, or pumice. A regular mix you can use is 50 percent peat and 50 percent pumice. The sand provides aeration and drainage while the peat retains water to avoid wilting.
Note: A good supply of oxygen and aeration at the base of the cuttings is essential for the development of roots so they carry out respiration.
8. Protection
Place the cuttings in a sheltered area; strong light and winds can move the delicate plants that have not developed roots yet.
9. Protect from Diseases
Fungi and diseases like botrytis can affect the stem and cause wilting.
You can prevent fungal diseases on cuttings by following these measures:
- Use clean, sanitized, dry tools or equipment.
- Take stem cuttings from a mature, healthy plant.
- Cut at a 45-degree angle and not crushed or jagged.
- Use a clean container and aerated growing media.
