I've been really into plants for about three years now and I've amassed a collection of over 200! I've read a ton and participated in various groups, but I'm having major issues with propagation from cuttings. For instance, I've had heart leaf philodendron cuttings in water for a month without any roots, and moss/perlite isn't working for my monstera standleyana either. My satin pothos cuttings in fluval/perlite have been sitting for over six weeks, all without success. Plus, I can't seem to propagate rex begonias at all—the stems just rot away.
I battle constant root rot. I've never managed to propagate neon pothos; they always rot on me. It's baffling because some cuttings grow roots but then end up rotting later. Can anyone help me understand what I'm doing wrong?
3 Answers
For your water propagation, using a pothos cutting can really boost your success. As for begonias, it might be a watering issue if the stems are rotting. Have you tried propagating just the leaves? I’ve had great luck with that method! When I do it, I spray the soil, cut the leaf veins, and place them on top, covering the veins just enough with soil to hold them down. Then I mist it a couple of times and cover them with a bag for humidity. High humidity can help almost everything root better!
Are you placing your cuttings in a bright spot like a windowsill? They need plenty of light to kickstart root growth. Also, the size of the container matters—something small like a shot glass is ideal because it concentrates hormones in the water. Remember to change the water every 7-10 days; not doing so might lead to root rot!
I’d suggest getting a 7-inch vented dome and tray setup with rapid rooters. It really transforms the propagation process into something much easier and gives you nearly 100% success. Trying to propagate in water on a windowsill can be slow; I once had a tropical hibiscus sit for a year in water but it took only a few weeks in the proper setup. If you can get a handle on light, temperature, humidity, and moisture levels, you’ll likely see a huge improvement in your success rate!
That's interesting! I've always read to avoid direct sunlight for rooting, but maybe a little bit of indirect light could actually help.