How to propagate plants from cuttings

The first thing you need is a healthy parent plant with green new growth. Once you have found a suitable plant, follow these steps to reliably propagate new ones. You can also watch our reel where Dilhan explains how to propagate.

How to propagate plants from cuttings

1. Cut the plant below a node, about 1cm from the joint, at a 45 degree angle (see the diagram).
2. Optional: use a rooting gel or hormone to seal the cut and boost rooting.
3. Trim any excess leaves. The more leaves on the stem, the more water and nutrients the cutting needs to survive. If it needs too much, the leaves and stem may shrivel before roots grow. Trimming gives you a better chance of strong root development. It gets easier to judge how much to trim with experience.
4. Insert the cut and trimmed node into your propagation vessel, keeping the leaves out of the water.
5. Drain and replace the water once a week. Plants take up oxygen from the water, and as oxygen levels fall the roots are more likely to fail.
6. Place the cutting under a grow light or in bright, indirect sunlight.
7. Rooting can take 2 to 4 weeks.
8. Once the roots are 3 to 5cm long, they are most likely strong enough to support the plant. You can leave it in the vessel as a display, or transplant it into rockwool cubes or soil.

Top tips for propagating plants

• Always use sharp scissors or a scalpel for the cleanest cut without damaging the plant. A stainless steel garden cutter works well.
• The ideal environment is around 21 degrees with high humidity.
• Take cuttings from newer growth, which has a better chance of rooting.
• Use filtered water or rainwater if possible. It avoids fluoride and chlorine, which can harm beneficial bacteria, and prevents mineral build-up on your propagation vessels.
• Most of the time the leaves should not be immersed in water.

What kind of light do propagations need?

Cuttings thrive in bright, indirect light. A grow light that emits light between 400 and 500nm (blue light) gives your cuttings the light they need to grow.

If you are looking for a new hobby, our replant and propagation supplies have what you need to get going.

More in the propagation series

• Why should I propagate?
• How to transplant propagations into soil
• What plants can I propagate?

What we would use

Grow roots in water or rockwool and move cuttings into a Heirloom Planter.

Written by the gathera team. Last reviewed October 2026.