Why Am I Struggling with Plant Propagation?
Asked by PlantEnthusiast84
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?
Answers
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!
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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!
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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!
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CuttingGenius2021: That's interesting! I've always read to avoid direct sunlight for rooting, but maybe a little bit of indirect light could actually help.