Ask Martha: How Do You Divide and Propagate Houseplants?

Question: Hi Martha, How do You propagate a houseplant?

Martha: Houseplants are among the wild cards of interior design because they are changing all the time, and the changes are not always for the better. Regular care works wonders, but every houseplant occasionally needs more thorough refurbishment.

Of all the plant tune-ups you can perform, dividing and propagating are among the most rewarding since they incite new development. Young, fast-growing plants need annual upsizing of pots so their roots can spread to support their tops and take in moisture and nutrients. But don’t forget older plants languishing in small containers. The more tightly stuffed the pot, the more frequently it needs water. The longer the plant stays in that pot, the greater the likelihood that the salts and mineral residues from water will build to harmful levels in the potting mix.

A large pot-bound plant with several stems at the crown can be divided and the pieces transplanted into other pots. As long as each division has its share of healthy roots, it will take off quickly.

This is one of the simplest (and least expensive) methods I know to increase the number of your favourite houseplants. Share them amongst friends and family. Just follow these steps:

I always enjoy growing my own plants, but there’s something even more exciting and gratifying about propagating them - producing plants by dividing, grafting, or taking the cuttings from existent stems. It’s an interesting and very easy-to-follow process.

There are different methods for propagating houseplants, depending on the type of plant, all described below.

STEM CUTTINGS – Vining, tropical plants such as philodendron, pothos, monstera and fiddle leaf fig.

1. With a clean, sharp knife (or clippers) cut the stems or vines close to the soil.
2. Cut the main vines into small sections including a leaf stem and part of the main vine.
3. Submerge the cut ends in water and place in indirect sunlight. New roots should appear within a couple weeks. Propagation stations are a good way to grow and display your cuttings. Gather multiple vessels such as small vases, jars, or unique glasses to make your own. Consider using grow lights if you don’t have a sunny location.
4. The cuttings will actually survive just fine in water, but to repot, wait until the roots are at least an inch long and then bury the roots in moist Miracle-Gro® Indoor Potting Mix and keep out of direct sunlight.

ROOT DIVISION - Bushy plants such as ferns, peace lilies, and snake plants.

1. Gently remove the entire plant from its pot and shake to loosen the soil from roots.
2. With a clean, sharp hori hori or knife, cut the root-ball in half and replant each half into separate pots.
3. Water and keep the plants moist in a spot with bright indirect light.

OFFSHOOTS - Self-propagating plants such as dieffenbachia and snake plants as well as some types of succulents.

1. Allow the new shoots, or "pups," to grow to at least 3 inches. Then use clean, sharp clippers or scissors to cut them as close to the parent plant as possible (it's fine if you lose some leaves).
2. Pot the new plants and keep moist and in bright but indirect light.