The best pots for cuttings and propagation
Propagating is the cheapest way to fill a house with plants. The only real skill is knowing when to move a cutting out of water and into compost.
What do you need to propagate a cutting?
A clear vessel, clean water or free-draining compost, and good light. Glass propagation stations let you watch roots form and spot rot early. Once the roots reach 4 to 5cm, pot the cutting into a small nursery pot so it can establish before moving to its final home.
- Pot on once roots reach 4 to 5cm, not before
- Clear pots let you watch roots and catch rot early
- Change the water every few days while rooting
- Start small - a huge pot drowns a new root system
What we would use
Pots and kit for cuttings & propagation
How to choose
- Use a vessel narrow enough to hold the cutting upright
- Keep the cut end in water, the leaves out of it
- Bright but indirect light speeds rooting
- Move into a 7 to 9cm nursery pot first, not a display pot
Questions
Cuttings & propagation pots - FAQs
How long do cuttings take to root in water?
Most common houseplants root in two to six weeks. Pothos and tradescantia are quickest; monstera and rubber plants take longer. Warmth and bright indirect light speed everything up.
When should I move a cutting from water into soil?
Once the roots are 4 to 5cm long. Left in water much longer, the plant grows water roots that struggle to adapt to compost.
Why are my cuttings rotting instead of rooting?
Usually stale water or a leaf sitting below the waterline. Change the water every few days and strip any leaves that would be submerged.
What size pot should a rooted cutting go into?
A small one, 7 to 9cm. A new root system in a large pot sits in wet compost it cannot use, which is how young plants are lost.