Propagation is the creation or growing of new plants. When houseplants get large or more plants are desired, many can be easily propagated using cuttings.
Propagation by cuttings involves taking a vegetative piece of the plant (stem, leaf, root) and placing it in environmental conditions that allow new roots or shoots to develop and grow into a new plant.
Propagation by cuttings creates genetic clones of the parent plant.
Not all houseplants have the growth habit that allows for cuttings to be successfully taken (philodendron vs. fern). For plants without the vegetative structures necessary to take cuttings a different form of propagation, like division, must be used.
Large plants that need to be pruned back are good candidates for propagation by cuttings.
When to Propagate | How to Propagate by Cuttings | Species Best Propagated by Cuttings | More Information
When to Propagate
Early spring is the ideal time to propagate by cuttings. Although, most houseplants can be successfully propagated any time of the year.
How To Propagate by Cuttings
Several factors have to be considered to successfully propagate houseplants by cuttings.
The type of cutting best used depends on the species of plant. Many houseplants are successfully propagated from stem, stem section, leaf petiole, leaf vein, and/or leaf section cuttings.
More information about how to propagate houseplants utilizing different types of cuttings can be found in the links below.
Houseplants Best Propagated by Cuttings
| Stem/Tip Cuttings | Cane Cuttings | Leaf Petiole Cuttings | Leaf Vein Cuttings | Leaf Section Cuttings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Begonia masoniana, B. rex (Iron Cross Begonia, Rex Begonia) | * | ||||
| Citrus species (Citrus) | * | ||||
| Codiaeum variegatum (Croton) | * | ||||
| Coleus scutellarioides aka Solenostemon, Plectranthus (Coleus) | * | ||||
| Crassula argentea (Jade Plant) | * | * | |||
| Dieffenbachia species (Dumb Cane) | * | * | |||
| Dracaena fragrans (Corn Plant) | * | * | |||
| Dracaena trifasciata, aka Sansevieria trifasciata (Snake Plant, Mother-in-Law's Tongue) | * | ||||
| Echeveria (Echeveria) | * | ||||
| Epipremnum aureum (Devil's Ivy, Pothos) | * | ||||
| Euphorbia lactea (Candelabra Plant) | * | ||||
| Euphorbia tirucalli (Pencil Cactus) | * | ||||
| Ficus benjamina (Weeping Fig) | * | ||||
| Hedera helix (English Ivy) | * | ||||
| Hibiscus species (Hibiscus) | * | ||||
| Hoya carnosa (Wax Vine) | * | ||||
| Monstera deliciosa (Swiss Cheese Plant) | * | ||||
| Peperomia species (Peperomia) | * | ||||
| Philodendron hederaceum (Heartleaf Philodendron) | * | ||||
| Pilea peperiomoides (Chinese Money Plant) | * | ||||
| Saintpaulia species (African Violet) | * | ||||
| Schefflera arboricola (Dwarf Schefflera) | * | ||||
| Schlumbergera species (Holiday Cactus) | * | ||||
| Sinningia speciosa (Gloxinia) | * | ||||
| Streptocarpus hybrida, S. saxorum (Cape Primrose, False African Violet) | * | * | |||
| Tradescantia species, Zebrina species (Inch plant, Wandering Dude, Tradescantia) | * | ||||
| Zamioculcas zamiifolia (Zz Plant) | * | * |
A complete list of plants well-suited for propagation by cuttings can be found in this article: Propagating Houseplants
More Information
- How to Propagate Houseplants by Stem Tip Cuttings
- How to Propagate Houseplants by Stem Section (Cane) Cuttings
- How to Propagate Houseplants by Leaf Petiole Cuttings
- How to Propagate Houseplants by Leaf Vein Cuttings
- How to Propagate Houseplants by Leaf Section Cuttings
- Propagating Houseplants
- How to Propagate Houseplants by Division and Offsets
- How to Propagate Houseplants by Air Layering and Simple Layering
- Propagating Succulents
- How to Care for Houseplants
- Indoor Plants (publication)
- Growing Indoor Plants Under Supplemental Lights
- Home Propagation Techniques (pdf)