{"id":271,"date":"2024-04-03T13:45:48","date_gmt":"2024-04-03T13:45:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dee-signlandscaping.com\/blog\/?p=271"},"modified":"2024-04-03T13:45:48","modified_gmt":"2024-04-03T13:45:48","slug":"making-plant-babies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dee-signlandscaping.com\/blog\/houseplants\/making-plant-babies\/","title":{"rendered":"Making Plant Babies!"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Early spring is the perfect time to repot your houseplants to prepare them for the growing season. It is also an ideal time to make baby plants by taking cuttings or dividing, so that you can share or trade your favorite plants with friends and family. Because who doesn&#8217;t need more plants?!<\/p>\n<p>Here is a helpful guide explaining the different ways to propagate plants. This will help you through the process of encouraging your house plants to multiply and prosper!<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>CUTTINGS<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><b>Stem Cutting<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Good for many herbaceous houseplants, especially trailing\/vining varieties<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b><i>Pothos, philodendron, tradescantia, smaller monstera varieties<\/i><\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">New growth will arise from exposed leaf nodes, stem cutting will become part of new plant<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cut a 3\u201d-5\u201d section of stem that includes leaves &amp; nodes. Best on stems &lt;1yr old<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keep track of which side of the stem is the top and bottom!<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Remove leaves from lowest \u2153<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rooting hormone generally not necessary for stem cuttings, but can be applied to the nodes where the lower leaves were removed if desired.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stick the bottom \u2153-\u00bd of the stem cutting into moist potting media *AT LEAST ONE leaf node must be burried<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>Leaf Cutting<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Good for plants with short\/no stems, and when there is limited parent plant material to work with.\u00a0<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b><i>Use for Snakeplant, African violet, Peperomia, Christmas cactus, Jade plant, larger monstera varieties<\/i><\/b><b><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-272 alignright\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" src=\"https:\/\/dee-signlandscaping.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/plant-prop-1-210x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"210\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dee-signlandscaping.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/plant-prop-1-210x300.jpg 210w, https:\/\/dee-signlandscaping.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/plant-prop-1-126x180.jpg 126w, https:\/\/dee-signlandscaping.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/plant-prop-1-267x381.jpg 267w, https:\/\/dee-signlandscaping.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/plant-prop-1.jpg 541w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 210px) 100vw, 210px\" \/><\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">New growth will arise from the base. Leaf cutting will not be part of the new plant<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cut one leaf + petiole (leaf stem). Include &lt;1.5\u201d of petiole <\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">-For plants with NO petiole (ex: Snakeplant): Cut the leaf into 3\u201d-4\u201d sections. Make a mark on each section to help yo<span>u <\/span><b>remember which side goes up!<\/b><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dip the bottom of the petiole (or leaf section) into rooting hormone, and stick into moist potting media<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>DIVISION<\/b><\/p>\n<p><b>Crown Division<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Useful for most plants that grow in a clumping habit,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> with many shoots emerging from the crown. This includes:<\/span> <b><i>Asparagus &amp; Boston fern, Tradescantia, Peace lily, Chinese evergreen, Jade lant, Parlor palm, many more<\/i><\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Can create 2 (or more) decent sized, fully rooted plants from a single parent plant<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Carefully remove the plant &amp; root ball from it\u2019s pot<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Using a soil knife or sharp spade\/trowel, cut through the roots and crown of the plant, so that each side has equal roots and crown\/leaves.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Re-pot each section separately, and water in.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>LAYERING<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">New plant grows while still attached to the parent plant! Less stressful for baby plants.<\/span><b> Especially useful for plants that are woody or difficult to root, and for plants that produce runners or offsets.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>Simple Layering<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b><i>Useful for vines\/trailing plants like Philodendron, Pothos, English ivy, Spider plant, Jasmin<\/i><\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bend a stem down to the soil, WITHOUT CUTTING THE STEM, bury a section that includes at least one node<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">May need to secure stem under the planting media with a staple or weight<\/span><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-274 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/dee-signlandscaping.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/plant-prop-184x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"184\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dee-signlandscaping.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/plant-prop-184x300.jpg 184w, https:\/\/dee-signlandscaping.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/plant-prop-110x180.jpg 110w, https:\/\/dee-signlandscaping.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/plant-prop-234x381.jpg 234w, https:\/\/dee-signlandscaping.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/plant-prop.jpg 474w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 184px) 100vw, 184px\" \/><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Roots &amp; leaves will form at the buried node to create a new plant. Once this happens, the parent stem can be severed.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b style=\"text-align: right;\">Natural Layering<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Natural layering refers to the ability of some plants to perform simple layering naturally, with\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b><\/b>the use of runners or offsets.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> runner<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a baby plant that forms on a specialized stem, which will root when it has contact with soil (ex: <\/span><b><i>Spider plant, strawberries)<\/i><\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Offsets<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are common in plants that grow in rosettes (think <\/span><b><i>bromeliads and succulents like aloe<\/i><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">)&#8211;baby plants form and root\u00a0 at the base of the main rosette<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Runners and offsets can be rooted while still attached to the parent plant, or they can\u00a0 be cut from the parent plant and *rooted as a cutting\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>Air Layering<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Useful for woody\/semi-woody plants including: <\/b><b><i>Ficus, Rubber plant, Schefflera, Hibiscus, Croton, Dieffenbachia, Dracaena<\/i><\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is the most complicated method we will cover.. Fastest way to get a fairly large new plant when crown division isn\u2019t an option.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unlike other forms of layering, air layering basically turns a fairly large existing section of the parent plant into a new plant with it\u2019s own roots (rather than encouraging an entirely new plant to form)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Select a section of the plant where the stem is about \u00bd\u201d-3\/4\u201d in diameter.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Using a sharp knife, carefully the remove about 1\u201d of bark, all the way around the stem (this is called girdling)\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Apply rooting hormone to the girdled branch<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Using roughly two handfuls of sphagnum moss (which has been soaked in water and wrung out), enclose the entire wounded area.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Use twine or string to secure the moss in place if necessary.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Use a square of plastic wrap to completely encase the moss.\u00a0 Use twine to secure the plastic wrap to the moss ball,\u00a0 and tie off at the top and bottom, to keep moisture from escaping<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wrap the moss\/plastic wrap in aluminum foil to keep light out<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Roots will develop from the part of the stem that was girdled. Once a decent amount of roots have formed, make a cut BELOW the moss ball to remove the new plant from the parent.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Remove the foil, plastic wrap, and twine. Plant your new, rooted plant in potting media and water in.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>GENERAL TIPS FOR TAKING SUCCESSFUL PROPAGATION<\/b><\/p>\n<p><b>(<\/b><b>+<\/b><b>EXCEPTIONS FOR SUCCULENTS)<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Always use clean, sharp tools!\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Clean your tools<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> with rubbing alcohol between uses<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Air temperature <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">should be between 68-85 degrees<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Planting media<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> should be between 65-80 degrees. Ideal temperature=72-75 degrees<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A bottom heating mat may be useful during colder months<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Planting media should be loose and well draining.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Look for soilless mixtures that combine perlite, vermiculite, peat moss, and\/or coco coir.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Planting media should be kept consistently moist, but not soggy\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Until roots begin to develop (first couple of weeks), misting with a spray bottle is often a good method to keep the top layer of media moist, without adding excess moisture<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Maintain high humidity<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &gt; 75% until roots begin to form\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2013Cover cuttings with plastic wrap or a sandwich bag, use a mini greenhouse, a jar, an aquarium<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once roots form and you see the first signs of new growth on the cutting, slowly reduce humidity and increase airflow until baby plant is in open air<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">-Open mini-greenhouse vents, loosen or poke holes in plastic wrap<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Avoid harsh, direct sunlight;\u00a0 <\/span><b>filtered light<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is perfect for baby plants as they develop roots and become established<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b><\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Be patient! If at first you don\u2019t succeed, try again! Have fun!\u00a0<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>EXCEPTIONS FOR SUCCULENTS<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When taking cuttings of succulents, let the cutting sit out on the counter for a few days (<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">after<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> it\u2019s been clipped from the parent plant) before sticking into potting media. This allows a callous to partially form over the cut, which helps prevent rot issues<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Well draining soil is especially essential for succulents<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>More Resources:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>General propagation info + plant list<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.missouri.edu\/publications\/g6560\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">https:\/\/extension.missouri.edu\/publications\/g6560<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>More info about different types of leaf cuttings: <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/content.ces.ncsu.edu\/plant-propagation-by-leaf-cane-and-root-cuttings-instructions-for-the-home-gardener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">https:\/\/content.ces.ncsu.edu\/plant-propagation-by-leaf-cane-and-root-cuttings-instructions-for-the-home-gardener<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Early spring is the perfect time to repot your houseplants to prepare them for the growing season. It is also an ideal time to make baby plants by taking cuttings or dividing, so that you can share or trade your favorite plants with friends and family. Because who doesn&#8217;t need more plants?! Here is a [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":273,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[10,47,46,45,49,48],"class_list":["post-271","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-houseplants","tag-house-plants","tag-leaf-cutting","tag-plant-babies","tag-plant-propagation","tag-repotting","tag-stem-cutting"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dee-signlandscaping.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/271","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dee-signlandscaping.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dee-signlandscaping.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dee-signlandscaping.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dee-signlandscaping.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=271"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/dee-signlandscaping.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/271\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":275,"href":"https:\/\/dee-signlandscaping.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/271\/revisions\/275"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dee-signlandscaping.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/273"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dee-signlandscaping.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=271"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dee-signlandscaping.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=271"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dee-signlandscaping.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=271"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}