How to take house plant cuttings

Crassula ovata (jade plant)

1 When selecting cuttings, take a careful look at the plant and remove material so that you don’t leave the shape uneven or create an obvious gap. You can use taking cuttings as a chance to even-up any lopsided growth on your plant.

2 Jade plants can be propagated from leaves or stem cuttings. Choose leaves that are healthy and pest-free. Stem cuttings work more quickly but mean removing more material. You can safely take away a quarter of the plant if you want to take a lot of cuttings in one go.

3 If taking stem cuttings, use a clean, sharp pair of scissors or snips to remove a section of stem just above a node (the point where the leaf joins the stem), then trim the cutting to just below a node. Leaves can be carefully twisted off.

4 It’s best to avoid taking cuttings when plants are in flower, as this can hamper rooting. Jade plants usually flower from December to February: spring to early summer is the best time to start cuttings.

5 If your jade plant has become leggy – which is often caused by insufficient sunlight – removing some of the stems for stem cuttings can help the plant to bush out again.

Take a look at the plant and remove material so that you don’t leave the shape looking uneven or create an obvious gap