Hello! Thanks for being here! Today I’m going to show you how to root plant cuttings in water. This is a great way of multiplying the plants you have and sharing the plant love with friends. I will say, it’s kind of hard to give away a plant that you’ve been nursing from its beginning. But, it’s so rewarding and so cool to get results! I just gave two Chain of Hearts cuttings away today to super awesome homes. I can’t wait to check in on their progress.
When I was in my early 20s I worked at a golf course that had a 30 foot Monstera deliciosa. You read that right…30 FEET! That’s where my love of plants began. It’s actually my favorite plant of all time (if you didn’t already know). Anyway, some of the leaves were 2 feet wide and absolutely beautiful! One day I saw this tiny leaf pop out of soil and when no one was looking, I brushed the dirt away from the shiny green stem and plucked it right out of there! I kept looking watch over my shoulders like I was about to pull a bank job or something. I mean, I guess technically it was stealing. But I didn’t see it that way. I was spreading the love! But let’s make something perfectly clear, IT IS STEALING WHEN YOU DO IT AT A STORE so don’t do that! I ended up telling my supervisor (it was weighing on my conscience) and he laughed, told me I was silly, and that it was totally fine! All this to say, I took it home, put it in water, it rooted, and it made me so happy! I was so in love with this amazing method of reproduction. Let’s talk about How to Root Plant Cuttings in Water.
Most common house plants can be propagated by water method. Right now my new subject is a tiny little stem from my big Fiddle Leaf Fig. So far no roots but there is a tiny green leaf!! If you’re not sure, just try it!
Let’s get started
- Identify the location where you will snip your cutting from the main plant. Not all cutting that will root in water have root nodes, but most of them do so find the root node on your plant.
- Carefully cut just below the node with a clean sharp knife or scissors. About 1/4″ below the node.
- Place the cutting in a clean glass. Poor enough room temperature water to cover the nodes of the cutting.
- Change out the water every 3-5 days with fresh room temperature water.
- Wait and watch as your roots grow! This can take weeks to months depending on the plant.
- Once your roots reach approximately 3″-5″ then it’s time to put the cutting in soil!
Need a visual? Watch my propagation tips on AM Northwest.
Place your rooting plants in an area with bright indirect light. You’ll also need patience…serious patience! If you are trying a new cutting and two weeks go by with no roots, it’s not always bad news. I know someone who stuck a fiddle leaf fig leaf in water and 3 months later she started to see roots.
When you change out the water, be sure to give the roots a little rinse and a little rub with your fingers. The roots can get a mucky film (that’s the technical term) and you want to wipe that away before placing them in the new water.
That’s all you have to do! It’s so simple. Now you can make your own plants and trade with your friends. It’s one of my most favorite things to do. Once you are ready to pot your rooted plant, check out my How to Repot a Houseplant post. I know you won’t be actually repotting but there are some good tips about potting in general. Thank you so much for visiting! See you next time!
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These are very clear instructions! I’ve never grown anything from a cutting before, but I will try it now with some of my favourite existing plants. I have a fig too that I’d like to propagate, as well as some hydrangeas. If I do the cuttings now, perhaps they will have long enough roots by the fall. Thanks for the excellent tips!
Thanks Mary Jane! The fig should work this way. The hydrangeas are done differently, look it up first before you start. But you can do herbs this way! It works amazingly 🙂
I’m currently trying this with my hibiscus. Im in Florida so i can keep outside year round. I have had the first cuttings in water for about 7 weeks and they have lots of short (1/8 to 1/4 inch long)thick roots growing. Are they ready to plant in pots at this point? I’d to see them die at this point by not planting correctly! Thanks for any advice!!!
Jill K
Look up how to propagate hibiscus that what I did. Great instructions. How long did it take to root?… Kim
Definitely, it is. I’m just in doubt about to plant in soil later. I’d like to keep some only in water.
Cheers
Shirley
Thank you for the clear instructions, I am looking forward to trying this with my chain of hearts.
It’s really quite easy Stacey! With the chain of hearts just cut right below a node and tear the leaves from that section and stick it in water! So easy! Have fun 🙂
Which way is ‘below’? Old growth? Or below as in closer to the ground?
Yeah, closer to the root (along the stem) so closer to the ground if the plant is in the ground!
how often should I change water in jar for cuttings
I am trying to root an old fashion pink Eugenia. It has beautiful white and green variegated leaves!
Wygelia
Thanks for the info! Going to try with my house plant!
I love the look of plants in water- so after the roots grow, do you HAVE to pot it? Wondering on your experience with just keeping them floating, so to speak. Thanks!
It is entirely possible to keep your plants growing in water (that’s hydroponics for ya). Just be sure to provide the plants with enough liquid nutrients to sustain them. I’d recommend going to a hydroponics store near you, if you have one, or looking more information up online. Since this is likely your first, I’d also recommend trying it out with some plants that aren’t super important to you. Your biggest issue will likely be algea, if you give the water access to sunlight.
Patience- that is what you just taught me! I have been trying to root a cutting (in water) from my Polka Dot plant (Hypoestes sanguinolenta) for a few weeks in vain. The mother plant has grown new stems and leaves since the cutting (the power of pruning), so I will try again- with more patience.
Hi Marlene! I am trying to root a cutting from my pink Polka Dot plant as well! How did your work out? This is my first time trying this and I am a little worried because I put the cutting in a jar this morning and already the leaves are wilting. 🙁
Mine are to jillsytsma
I’m starting to loose my Fiddleleaf. I have had 3 leaves fall off at the base of the plant. Do you think there is anyway those 3 leaves could possibly root? If so, would u use root hormone? Would you cut the very top off where it’s brown and dry before adding hormone? I broke one leaf in half and they are still green and firm. Thanks for any help!!!
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I have rooted lots of plants through the years. This spring I decided to root some sweet potato vines to help my 7 yr old nephew start a garden. I had 3 containers to use for the rather large cuttings. They all sprouted roots very quickly. The ones in the glass jars grew well beyond those 1st 1/4 inch roots. The vines in the antique copper vase sprouted 1/4 inch roots and then stopped. ? Some kind of metallic poisoning? Can you shed some light on this?
Thanks, Sue Carter
Unsolicited advice from me, but it could be the lack of light from the solid metal container maybe? I’ve only used glass personally but have a cousin who uses plastic, and both work. I’ve never tried metal containers before. Wishing you luck 🙂
Thank You for the tip on when to plant the cutting in soil. It was the exact information I was looking for.
My cousin gave me a cutting of a plant to root about 3 weeks ago and it hasn’t grown any roots yet. I just read your blog today. He didn’t cut it below the node. Does this make much difference? Should I cut it again?
I have this problem with my basil cuttings. After a few days in water, the bottom of the cutting starts to turn black. I change the water daily to avoid it. But No roots. What am I doing wrong? Help
Can I develop a monsters from its.leaf? It has no nodes but it’s a healthy leaf with stem?
Can you root an opuntia in water ? Thanx
Hi I just took some cuttings from a bush,but there were no nodes. Will it grow
roots? How long will it take? Can I just plant it in soil?
It has been my experience when cutting starts with no nodes that if you find a joint on the limb cut below the joint a bit and stick it into water so the joint is IN the water. First take off any leaves that might end up in the water that are close to the joint, as they will just rot anyway. My mom used to call this joint a Y and it always rooted for me. Good luck.
We’re you able to get an answer to your question? I want to root some cuttings from a bush as well. I supposed l need to study he stems to see where l could cut it..
Can you PLMK what your experience wads?
Crystalfisher912@gmail.com
I just clipped a plant from a bush with no roots,will it grow in water? It
had no nodes, should I plant it in soil? Either way, how long will it take
to grow?
I just clipped a plant from a bush with no roots,will it grow in water? It
had no nodes, should I plant it in soil? Either way, how long will it take
to grow?
So, what was your final decision and we’re you successful?
Hi, if you use a rooting hormone should you reapply it every time you refresh the water?
only use rooting hormone for soil propagations.
One of the easiest plants to start anew is Creeping Charlie. Just snip a cutting from the plant and stick it in water
Why when growing roots in water my leaves died?
Hi,
I have recently taken a cutting of a monstera cleaned it and placed it in water. I have been replacing the water and cleaning the root. However about a week ago the plant started developing brown and yellow edges and it’s been slowly getting worse. Any ideas on what’s going on? TIA
Often times when that happens, it may be an indication that the cutting will not root. Was it cut in the correct spot? Under a root node?
You mentioned using different method for rooting hydrangeas.
How do you root them?
have you used rooting compound mixed in the water to improve growth?
I will sometimes add a liquid fertilizer to the water but I typically just use tap water. 🙂
Rooting hormone is used in its concentrated form on the cut surface of the cuttings. If you just dilute it into the water, it will lose its potency and effectiveness.
I recently cut a long tendril from my philodendron and proceeded to root about 4 or 5 cuttings in water. I think a couple of he stems were turned upside down in transporting them and they rooted fine. As they grow they seem to be producing weird little bunches of leaves.
My question is can they be rooted upside down? Will the plant adapt? Or am i just a crazy plant lady?
Hmm…that’s an interesting question. If it has roots growing, then yes, I’d say it worked!
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I was given lots of clippings and have placed them in water, but the leaves are curling. What should I do?
Are they still in water?
Hi there! I have some tiny kalanchoe blossfeldiana leaves I snipped and am trying to propagate. I have them laying in a dish on top of some soil. They’ve been there for a few days now is it too late to try sticking them in water to propagate them that way? Or do you think this method I am doing is going to be just as good? Please help and answer me!!!! I need help desperately. I so hope this works!
A popularly expressed view is that by introducing willow shoots into the same water as for the other cuttings, you enhance the chance of roots forming.
This is based on the idea that as willow roots so freely, there must be a ‘hormone rooting’ chemical there that will pass into the water and help the other cutting.
This theory seems plausible, though my own attempts have shown little difference.
I was looking at how readily peppermint roots into water in my cuttings propagator and wondering if this might help to root other more difficult subjects (using green or semi ripe cuttings.)
Are you sceptical about this, or have you tried this method with any success?
I pulled some ivy out and saw tiny white roots on horizontal stem.put them in soil in sameposition..hope it works
Hello there! Have you ever tried propagating and an opaque container? I’m trying to figure out if I have to actually use a clear glass container or if I can use a solid ceramic vase? I mean do the roots need light or just the leaves? Thanks for your time! Alicia
do you have any experience with outdoors plants? I have a Lilac plant, Butterfly bush, Russian sage, a Hosta I hope to get seeds from but not sure I will,a variety of daylillies and a few herbs I have been thinking about trying this on just not sure it will work. I have a Rosemary plant I would love to start another with it but no idea how I would on it. I doubt it would work on bulb plants. Would love to find out I am wrong!
Great article. Tell me, if I have Potho’s that I have propogated in growing medium, once the roots have established, can I then wash off growing medium and transfer plant to vase of water?
Thanking you,
Hi, was hoping that somebody may know the answer to this,
Thanks
It probably depends on the plant. Just try it ! I have 4 sage cuttings sprouting roots.
This has to be the best and easiest to understand DIY I have ever read..it totally makes sense to me now. Great job.
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Why can’t I get sweet potatoes to grow in water HELP
Tammy Thacker
The actual sweet potatoes might be dipped into something to prevent them from rooting. Try it again. This time scrub the sweet potato very well. Then proceed with the old toothpicks in water to hold it up. It worked for me!
Crystal
Why can’t I get sweet potatoes to grow in water?
What plants can you root in water?
If I cut a stem below a node about five nodes up from the tip would I pull all the leaves off at their nodes or do I Male five extra stems to stick in water. Probably doesn’t make sense. Thanks
I bought my heart shaped philodendron in water. It was doing great and grew a new leaf. Now one of the original leaves is turning yellow.
Why is it turning yellow? I know some plants die off older leaves to give energy to new developing ones. Is that the cause or something else? I moved it closer to my bedroom window, thinking it may not be getting enough light (I have a dark space) but the leaf is getting even more yellow 🙁
just potted butterfly Bush with roots .. was wondering how often do I water?
thanks Lyn
Is it possible to propagate a cassula ovata in water. Everything I’ve read suggests not.
This was a really great post – super easy to follow and answered all of my questions!
I have an umbrella plant that is 2 feet tall and completely bare of it’s leaves except for a cluster at the very top. If i cut the stalk in half can i re-pot the top half with the leaves in soil or should i put it in water with a bag over it and hope for roots to develop. I was also going to leave the bottom half in the existing pot and place a bag over it too and hope for new leaf growth. Any advice….thank you
I have my cuttings in water, but the leaves keep turning yellow and the stems are mushy. What am I doing wrong? This has always worked well fro me in the past. Help please! I hate losing all these plant cuttings!!
I tried to make a cutting, but it didn’t have a root already, will it die or can I make it grow roots?
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Can I use miracle-gro quick start in water to start roots from cutting?
Thank you for this post!
I would like to link it with my blog, as your video clearly shows how it can be done, I don’t think I need to do another one 🙂
Hello, I have propagated a fig leaf and its been over a month with no roots, however the leaf is doing great i water. At what point can I plant?
Why is my ficus elastica has not rooted even its already 1 month. There is only white like cottage cheese that sticks to its node. ???
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