16 Easy Plants You Can Grow from Cuttings
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How long has it been since you’ve looked at your garden routine? Buying new plants or trying to keep up with seasonal trends can quickly add up, stretching your budget and causing unnecessary stress.
At a time when gardening supplies and plants are becoming more expensive, having some creative, low-cost planting ideas can make a huge difference in how you approach your garden.
According to the National Gardening Association 2023 Survey, spending on lawn and gardening activities rose to an average of $616 per household in 2022, up from $74 compared to 2021. Hence, growing your plants effectively reduces long-term gardening costs and creates a lush outdoor space.
Ready to save cash and grow? Continue reading!
Spider Plant
Plantura Magazine explains that spider plants are known to be one of the easiest plants to propagate. To do this, cut off one of the plant’s “pups,” or the small offshoots that grow at the end of the long stems. Place the pup in water or soil, and you’ll see new roots forming within a few weeks.
The plant thrives in indirect light, making it an excellent choice for indoor environments. Spider plants are incredibly resilient and can be grown from cuttings with little effort, making them ideal for beginners.
Pothos
Pothos, also known as Devil’s Ivy, is one of the most popular houseplants to propagate because of its hardiness and rapid growth, says Penn State Extension. To propagate pothos, cut a healthy stem just below a node—the small bump from which leaves or roots grow.
Place the cutting in water or directly into moist soil, and it will quickly begin to root. Pothos prefers low to medium light, which makes it ideal for homes or offices. With consistent care, these cuttings will grow into lush, trailing vines.
Coleus
Coleus is one of the ornamental plants famous for their colorful foliage. The University of Minnesota Extension highlights that it is very easy to propagate from cuttings, for its roots quickly and surely both in water and soil.
Take a healthy coleus plant, take a 4-6 inch cut, remove some leaves from the bottom, and place it in water. In some weeks, it will develop roots, after which you can plant it in a pot in good drainage soil.
Begonia
The International Plant Propagator’s Society says that for propagation, take a healthy leaf, leaving part of the stem with it, or take a small stem length. Place in moist soil or water and wait until roots begin to form.
Begonias prefer humidity and partial shade, which can be grown indoors and out. They also vary in type, flowering, and non-flowering, thus giving the gardener a great deal of variety.
Fuchsia
Fuchsia plants boast bright-colored, hanging flowers that are easy to propagate using softwood cuttings. To propagate the fuchsia plant, RHS recommends sectioning a stem just below a node, removing the leaves from the lower part, and setting it in a pot of well-draining soil.
Fuchsia prefers bright, indirect light; cuttings usually root in about two to three weeks. After rooting, the plants grow very fast, showing great blooms throughout the season. They can be used as containers, hanging baskets, or placed on garden beds.
African Violet
African violets are great indoor plants that do best under indirect light. The African Violet Resource Center notes that to propagate, attach a healthy leaf with a small stem and put it in a jar of water or soil.
The roots of African violets develop best in warm, humid environments; to maintain moisture levels, put them in a plastic bag or greenhouse. Plants produce small, rosette-shaped clusters of leaves that can bloom in quite vibrant colors.
Snake Plant
The International Journal of Environment, Agriculture, and Biotechnology highlights that snake plants, also called mother-in-law’s tongues, are among the easiest houseplants to propagate from cuttings. To propagate, cut a healthy leaf into 2-3 inch sections and plant them upright in well-draining soil.
Snake plants are very hardy and can survive under poor light conditions, so they are ideal for most beginners. They are also recognized for their air-purifying features, adding beauty and health benefits to your home. The cuttings will root within a few weeks and grow into new plants.
Geranium
The UGA Cooperative Extension found that geraniums are tough plants, and their stems are easily propagated by taking cuttings. To do this, take a healthy stem, about 4 inches in length, just below the node.
Remove the bottom leaves, place the cutting in moist soil, and it roots relatively fast, usually in weeks. Geraniums prefer full sun for best growth. These plants produce bright, cheerful blooms and work well in garden beds, hanging baskets, and containers.
Sweet Potato Vine
Sweet potato vines are fast-growing ornamental plants that can be easily grown from cuttings. To propagate, simply take a 4-6-inch cutting of vine and drop it into a glass of water.
Roots will start to develop, in about a week or two and you can transplant that into soil. Sweet potato vines need full sun and good drainage soil. These plants are nice for giving lush and trailing greenery in gardens, patios, or containers.
Philodendron
Philodendrons are an excellent choice for indoor plant propagation. To propagate, cut a healthy stem just below a node and place the cutting in a jar of water. Within a few weeks, roots will form, and you can transfer the cutting to the soil.
Philodendrons thrive in indirect light and are forgiving when it comes to watering. These plants are popular for their attractive, heart-shaped leaves and low-maintenance care.
Mint
North Dakota State University reports that mint is an aggressive herb that grows quickly from cuttings. To propagate, simply take a 4-inch cutting from a healthy mint plant, strip the leaves from the bottom, and place the cutting in a jar of water. Mint grows very fast and roots out quickly, often within a week.
Once the roots are established, transplant the cutting into well-draining soil, and your mint plant will thrive. The ability to grow mint from cuttings ensures the continuous use of this fragrance herb for every culinary purpose.
Chrysanthemum
Chrysanthemums can be propagated during the growing season using cuttings. Take 4-6 inches of a cutting from a healthy stem and remove the lower leaves. Plant the cuttings in a well-draining potting mix.
Keep the cuttings in a warm, humid environment, and they will root within a few weeks. The chrysanthemums grow very fast to produce beautiful blooms in all colors.
Aloe Vera
BMC Research found that Aloe vera is an incredibly easy plant to propagate from cuttings. To propagate, cut off one of the plant’s pups or offsets and allow the cutting to dry for a few days before planting it in well-draining soil.
Aloe vera does well in bright sunlight with minimal water, making it a low-maintenance addition to your garden. It’s also known for its medicinal properties, particularly for treating burns and skin irritation.
Lavender
Lavender is a fragrant herb that can be propagated from cuttings reports the USU Extension. Take a cutting of about 4-6 inches, ensuring it includes a portion of the stem with at least two leaves. Remove lower leaves from the stem, and place the cutting in a well-draining potting mix.
Lavender cuttings like warm, sunny conditions and take a little time to root, so patience is needed. Established lavender plants are rewarding for your garden’s beauty and aromatic flowers.
Tomato
You can grow tomatoes from cuttings to ensure rapid growth and early harvesting. Al-Kindi Center for Research and Development recommends taking a healthy 4-6-inch cutting from any tomato plant. Place it in water until roots are sufficiently developed, and transplant the cutting into the soil.
Plants require a lot of sun, yet caring for them is easy. Propagating with cuttings produces several tomato plants in a short period.
Rose
Rose bushes can be propagated from cuttings by taking a healthy stem about 6-8 inches long, according to Texas A&M University. Remove the leaves from the bottom half of the cutting and dip the cut end in the rooting hormone before planting it in the soil.
Roses prefer well-draining, slightly acidic soil, requiring plenty of sunlight to thrive. The cutting will take several weeks to root, but your rose plant will grow into a beautiful flowering shrub once established.
Disclaimer – This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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