HOW TO PROPAGATE

there are several methods you can use to create your new plants.

Method 1: In water

Put your cuttings in a clear jar or similar, half-filled with water, and place in a warm spot out of the direct sun – indirect bright light is desirable, or even in the partial shade if not too cold. there are some quirky propagation vase setups now available, but whatever you choose, make sure the neck of the vessel isn’t too narrow as you will want to be able to get the root mass out without breaking it. ideally, the water should be free of additives, such as chlorine, which can inhibit rooting.

When your cutting is in the water, make sure there are no leaves under the water level as this can foul the water. opinions are divided on how often you should change the water – some say frequently, but i never seem to manage to do that. do it when you think about it, and definitely if it starts to go green, though hopefully your cuttings will have grown roots by then.

If you find yourself having to deal with algae, remove the cuttings, give the container a scrub, replenish with fresh water and then put the cuttings back in.

Root-appearing time will depend on the variety of plant, the time of year and the environment in your home. have patience, but if you are losing faith, take some more cuttings and put them in water again – or you could try the next method.

A word about roots grown in water. they can be more fragile than roots grown in soil as they won’t have had any resistance to push against while they were forming, and so they are less robust. it may take longer for them to transition to soil when potted up. i don’t like to let my roots get too long in the water before potting, as i feel the long, skinny roots that form in water are more likely to break off when taken out.