How to Propagate Pothos From Cuttings

Pothos is one of the easiest houseplants to propagate, which makes it perfect for beginners. A few snips from a long, trailing vine can become a brand-new plant to keep, gift to a friend or tuck back into the original pot to make it look fuller. All you need is a healthy plant, clean scissors and some patience.

Find the Nodes

The secret to successful cuttings is the node, the small bump on the stem where a leaf joins the vine. Nodes often have a tiny brown nub called an aerial root. New roots grow from nodes, so a cutting without one won’t root. Look for healthy, green vines that are not yellowing or damaged, ideally during spring or summer when the plant is actively growing.

Take Your Cuttings

1. Wipe the blades of your scissors or pruners with rubbing alcohol to avoid spreading disease.
2. Cut a section of vine 4 to 6 inches long with at least two or three nodes and a few leaves.
3. Make each cut about a quarter inch below a node.
4. Remove the leaf closest to the bottom so that node is bare and can sit in water or soil.

Pothos sap can irritate skin, so consider wearing gloves and wash your hands afterward. The plant is also toxic to cats and dogs if chewed, so keep cuttings, trimmings and jars of water out of reach of pets and small children.

Rooting in Water

Water propagation is popular because you can watch roots form. Place the cuttings in a clear glass or jar of room-temperature water so the bare nodes are submerged but the leaves stay above the waterline. Set the jar in bright, indirect light, away from hot direct sun. Change the water every few days, or whenever it looks cloudy.

Roots usually appear within a couple of weeks. When they are 1 to 3 inches long, plant the cuttings in a small pot of fresh potting mix. Keep the soil slightly moist for the first couple of weeks while the roots adjust from water to soil.

Rooting Directly in Soil

You can also skip the water stage. Fill a small pot with moist potting mix, make a hole with a pencil and insert the cutting so at least one node is below the surface. Firm the soil gently around it. Keep the mix lightly moist and the pot in bright, indirect light. After about four weeks, give the cutting a very gentle tug; resistance means roots have formed.

Caring for New Plants

• Plant several rooted cuttings together for a fuller look.
• Wait about a month before feeding new plants with diluted houseplant fertilizer.
• Let the top inch of soil dry before watering once plants are established.

Final Tips

If cuttings rot instead of rooting, the water may not be changed often enough, or there may be no node below the surface. Try again with fresh cuttings. Regular trimming also encourages the mother plant to grow bushier, so propagating is good for both plants.