Besides pothos, philodendrons are among the most popular indoor plants. They look great along shelves or hung from a windowsill and are the perfect addition to your indoor plant collection.
In addition, they are extremely easy to maintain and do not worry too much about their condition.
With so many benefits, it’s hard not to crave as many of these wonderful plants as possible.
Fortunately, growing tons of philodendrons doesn’t have to be expensive or time-consuming. Hanging or climbing philodendrons are easy to propagate via stem cuttings, giving you twice the plants absolutely free.
Follow these easy steps that also apply to other hanging houseplants like pothos. In just a few months, you will have more philodendron plants in bloom than you can handle.
Related Reading: 3 Steps to Propagate Pothos
Contents
Varieties of Philodendrons
Before starting, it is important to understand what type of philodendron we are dealing with. Philodendron It is a genus that contains hundreds of different plants, each with its own structures and characteristics.
When it comes to indoor plants, there are a few species of philodendron that are common in indoor garden centers. The most common type, however, is undoubtedly the heart-leaved philodendron – philodendron hederaceum. Also known as philodendron scanner either philodendron cordatum through some botanical indecision, but the structure is the same.
The heartleaf philodendron is the one you’ve seen emerging from hanging baskets or nestled among books on your Instagram feed. It is also very similar to pothos, with many confusing the two species.
Philodendrons are incredibly easy to care for. It may even be harder for you to kill them than to keep them alive. These plants are very hardy, tolerating low light, dry soil and a crowded pot for months before showing signs of complaint.
The stems grow quite quickly to several meters in length, especially in spring under good conditions. Those long stems can overwhelm the plant if left alone, but luckily the problem can be solved simply by taking cuttings and propagating them.
Before you start
It is best to propagate in the spring. This is the best time for rapid root growth and gives your cutting the best chance to grow. However, you can propagate almost any time of the year except winter (unless you’re willing to look beyond incredibly slow-growing roots).
Propagation from cuttings requires little or no equipment. Sharp pruning shears are recommended, but clean pruning shears will also work. Disinfect any tools you use before you start to prevent the spread of disease and bacteria to your new cuttings and the mother plant.
find a stem
Start by choosing the stem you want to cut. Long stems are often the first choice, which prunes the plant and keeps it tidy. However, the long stems can also become jagged depending on growing conditions, making root growth from a new cutting less likely.
Rather than choosing by size, take a cutting from the healthiest stem with the strongest growth. Large, succulent leaves with little space between them indicate a strong stem with a good bearing system that is likely to develop roots quickly.
Avoid stems with damaged or diseased leaves. Since there are only a few leaves left on the cutting, they must be strong enough to give the plant enough energy for root growth.
If there is a section with leaves that are too small or less healthy than the others, you can always lengthen the cut to allow the remaining leaves to do their job properly.
Avoid stems with brown marks or weak spots, as this indicates possible damage or disease. These stems are normally kept intact by the proper functioning of the rest of the plant and will not root successfully if placed in water or soil.
make a cut
Once you find the right stem (or stems), cut a piece about four inches long from the end of the stem. If your stem is longer, you can remove 10cm pieces until the remaining stem is the desired length.
Each cutting should have at least two sets of leaves, but preferably three for stronger growth. Remove the cut just below one of these sets of leaves, known as the node. These small bumps on the stem are the point where the roots emerge and should not be damaged.
Do not cut too close to the node or too far, as the remaining part of the stem will rot and prevent water absorption.
When cutting a long stem into four-inch pieces, remember which side of the cut was up. A stem planted upside down cannot develop upside-down roots, rendering your propagation efforts useless.
If you cut in the right place, just below a node on each stem, use that as a guide to know which side to plant in the ground.
remove foliage
Carefully remove all leaves from the lower half of the cutting to avoid damaging the node. This lower half is placed in water or soil and any leaves left on this half will rot, which will promote disease.
carrot in water
Now let’s move on to the easiest part: rooting the cutting. Philodendrons are one of those beautiful plants that root easily in water and offer the easiest way of propagation. Simply place the bottom half of the cup in a glass of room temperature filtered water and let it do its thing.
Tap water is fine, but the chemicals it contains can inhibit root growth, not giving your plant the best start. If you don’t have filtered water on hand, the best option is to boil your water and let it cool completely before using it. For rapid growth, room temperature or warm water is much better than ice.
While any beaker will work, specialty culture beakers are an ideal choice. These turn your outreach efforts into a design feature in their own right.
Your cuttings can be used as decorations as they grow, prevent unsightly glass from clogging your windowsill, and make your kitchen look like a crazy botanical lab.
I recently rounded up some of the fanciest plant propagation stations and you can see my top picks in this article here.
carrots in the ground
You can also skip the water rooting step and go straight to soil. This is a more time-consuming process, but it ensures stronger root growth on your cuttings.
Indeed, the roots of plants that grow in water are finer and more fragile than those in the ground. Rooting in the ground limits your chances of transplanting and is likely to give you healthier plants overall.
Start by preparing a propagation medium. This mix should be airy and well-drained, allowing the roots to grow freely without choking or soaking.
I used a combination of two parts coir, one part perlite and one part vermiculite, but you can also buy substitutes at your local nursery.
Fill a jar with the mixture a few centimeters from the edge. Water well and empty the pot to pre-moisten the soil before planting. Then root the cuttings in the pot towards the edges to prevent them from bunching up in the center. At least three or four cuttings will fit in a standard pot.
Philodendron Cut Care
Your cuttings need plenty of indirect light and warm temperatures for best root growth. High humidity is also ideal, as these plants are tropical, but if all other conditions are met, they won’t be too crowded.
If you are rooting in water, watch the water level and top it off when it starts to evaporate. If the water looks dirty or cloudy, replace it every few days as the oxygen is depleted.
Make sure that the leaves of your cuttings never fall into water, as this will cause them to rot.
If rooting in soil, keep soil evenly moist. It is ideal to moisten the soil with a spray bottle, as this will not disturb the delicate growth of the roots, but a regular watering can will do.
Your cuttings can stay in the same pot for several months while they develop roots, indicated by new growth and rooted cuttings.
Transplantation
If their roots have grown several centimeters after a few weeks, the cuttings are ready for transplanting.
Don’t wait too long to transplant, especially for water-rooted cuttings. They may have difficulty adapting to ground conditions if left in water for long periods of time.
For a smoother transition, slowly add coir to the cup a few days before transplanting until it completely replaces the water.
Fill a pot with a mixture of potting soil, perlite and coco. The potting soil provides nutrients, while the coconut fiber and perlite improve drainage, aeration and water retention.
Gather several cuttings and plant them in a pot for a bushy plant that will fall everywhere. Fill any remaining holes with more soil and press down to secure.
Water well after planting and let your new philodendron grow happily in a bright spot with indirect light.
Do you have the propagation error? Here are some other plants you can propagate at home using cuttings:
- How to Propagate Basil from Cuttings in Soil or Water
- How to propagate rosemary from cuttings: step by step with photos.
- 3 Steps to Spreading Pothos and 7 Mistakes Most People Make
- How to propagate lavender from cuttings: step by step with photos