The Spruce / Adelyn Duchala
Waterpropagationis a fun and simple way to grow new plants at home.
However, if you’re struggling to make water propagation work, youre not alone.
Here are 12 common water propagation mistakes you may be making and how to correct them.
The Spruce / Adelyn Duchala
Propagating Everything in Water
Not all plants are well-suited to water propagation.
Some plants will root far more quickly in soil or by other methods, such as air layering.
prior to beginning propagating your plant, its essential to research which key in of propagation will work best.
The Spruce / Cori Sears
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However, some plants will root from any area of the stem, not just the nodes.
Ensure health and growth by researching how your plant grows its roots from propagation.
The Spruce / Adelyn Duchala
All stem cuttings should have at least one leaf left at the top that is not submerged in water.
Any foliage that touches the water will rot, contaminating the water and killing the roots.
Its essential to propagate your plants during their active growing season, usually in the spring and summer.
The Spruce / Adelyn Duchala
However, you dont technically have to use a glass vessel if you dont want to.
Placing Cuttings in Low Light
Water isnt the only thing that your stem cuttings need to root.
They also need sufficient light, so dont set them in a dark corner and forget about them.
Even hardy, sun-loving succulents will struggle in direct sunlight while rooting in water.
So, avoid placing your stem cuttings in direct sunlight, especially outside.
Instead, aim for a warm spot that receivesindirect or dappled light.
This helps combat the natural evaporation process and replenishes the water’s oxygen and nutrients.
Second, it can potentially burn the delicate new roots or cause algae growth and rot in the water.
For plants growing in water permanently, fertilizers designed forhydroponic growingare the way to go.
Cuttings that begin to rot are usually an indication that something is wrong with the growing environment.
Transplanting Too Early
Just because you see roots starting doesnt mean your cutting is ready to transplant.
Depending on the plant, this can take anywhere from a couple of weeks to a few months.
Cuttings that are transplanted too early are at higher risk of dying since their new roots arent well-established yet.
While some plants, likepothos, can grow in water long-term, most plants need soil.
The roots that grow while the cutting is in water are called water roots.
Put simply, these roots developed in water conditions and are not acclimatized to growing in soil yet.
Whether cuttings root faster in water or soil depends on the plant.
Always research the best propagation method for the plant youre working with before you begin.
Adding vinegar to the water will not help your plants root faster.
In fact, it could kill them.
While apple cider vinegarrooting hormoneis a popular at-home recipe, its designed for soil propagation, not water.
