A Step-By-Step Guide on How to Propagate Any Philodendron

Propagation is a great way to get more plants for free, and it's especially useful if you're looking to grow your collection, create a bushy plant, or give a living gift to a friend. If you're wondering how to propagate your Philodendron successfully, there are a few things you should keep in mind.

First, you need to identify whether your Philodendron is a trailing or non-trailing type. Trailing Philodendrons dangle downwards and need a totem or trellis to grow upwards, while non-trailing Philodendrons reach for the sky and can support themselves for a few years without interference.

The #1 rule of propagation is to only propagate healthy plants. If your plant is disease-free, pest-free, and stress-free, it has the best chance of thriving after propagation. Avoid propagating a plant that has recently been repotted or is recovering from chronic underwatering. Let a few months go by before propagating.

For trailing Philodendrons, you can propagate using either water or soil. If you're using water propagation, snip a segment that has 3-4 leaves, remove 1-2 leaves off the end, place the segment in the water so that 1-2 nodes are submerged, and wait 4-6 weeks for the roots to grow 1 inch long. Then, plant your cutting in a moist, well-draining potting mix. If your goal is to grow the fullest vine possible, place your rooted cuttings in your ‘mama plant’ on watering day!

For soil propagation, chop a long vine to your desired length, snip the long vine into smaller segments with 1 leaf per segment, place the segment node-side-down into pre-moistened soil, and continue the process until you've used the entire vine. Water when the topsoil is crumbly for 3-4 weeks, so the roots can establish, then water normally.

Propagating non-trailing Philodendrons can be done through division or stem cutting. Division is the least invasive way to propagate a healthy, mature Philodendron. At repotting, offshoots can be divided from the parent and repotted in containers that are 1-2 inches larger than their existing roots. For stem cutting, you need a stem cutting with a few nodes and aerial roots. Calculate your cut before making a diagonal cut below the segment. Then, place your cutting in a jar of room-temperature fresh water with the nodes submerged, change the water every few days, and plant in moist, well-draining soil once your roots are 1-inch long.

Finally, you may be wondering whether you have to pot your Philodendron cutting. If you're attached to your windowsill propagation, you can keep it in water indefinitely, but it won't grow as well as a plant in soil.