Your pothos plant should not be in wet soil all the time. I’m not having any success propagating/rooting my Silver leaf Satin Pothos in water not in soil. A well-draining soil is ideal for pothos, as it grants easy passage to water and permits air to the epiphytic roots of the devil’s vine. Pour a small amount of water -- about a tablespoon or so -- from the top of the container holding your water-rooted cuttings. And yes, it will take a couple of weeks until you see the root buds expanding. (I suggest the cactus & succulent potting mix, or regular potting soil mixed with coconut coir). I’ve never heard of a pothos being so stubborn, but I’d have to see a picture to be sure… You can either send me a message through my ‘contact me’ page, or post a picture directly in The Girl with a Shovel Facebook Page. If you have to handle the cutting to keep it centered and at the appropriate level as you remove water and add soil, hold the top growth only to avoid damaging the stem or roots. Any suggestions? This also makes it easier to keep upright. The vines can reach 10′ or longer, making them ideal for hanging baskets where they will create beautiful draping foliage. I usually have two or three nodes on my cutting (stripped of the leaf) just to make sure that one of them roots successfully. It’s a gorgeous vining plant with heart-shaped leaves that are variegated in green and yellow. It is also important to pay attention to the type of the soil you use. . So you can easily take cuttings without worrying that it will damage the plant. It has a much higher success rate! If the water pools on the soil surface or takes a while to drain, you should aerate the soil. But for this post I wanted to tell you all how to grow your own Pothos vine. She started growing it probably 25 years ago and it went to my aunt when she passed. Water-rooted cuttings can be placed directly into potting soil if they are handled gently and kept well-watered. Thanks Kristen! But, at some point the roots will fill the pot. Also called Devil’s Ivy, this plant is one of the easiest plants to grow, earning it a spot on my hard to kill houseplants post, as well as my plants for dark apartments post. Check that by sticking your finger in the soil until you get the hang of it. See How to repot a plant for repotting details. Do check the soil beforehand. Pothos does well in both water and soil, but make sure that once it is established that you don’t switch the growing media. Water Pothos a few days before repotting. So water when the top of the soil is dry. It might recover, but it might not. My 1 year silver photos looks horrible. Help! Or rather, your teen. If you prune it regularly, you can do so up to a third of the length of the vines. Then establish them in the all-purpose soil. Add more potting soil every day until all the water has been displaced and the roots are surrounded by the soil. It takes longer to propagate with soil. Most of these plants will root in a matter of days or weeks. It’s an easy, 3-step process, whether you choose soil or water. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Refund Policy | All Rights Reserved, Top Sites for Indoor Plant Identification, 3 Simple Steps to Grow Roses from Cut Flowers, 3 Easy Ways to Propagate Christmas Cactus. Just make sure that if there are lower leaves that would be submerged in the container, make sure to remove them. Any advice on how I can take clippings without hurting the plant? It is important to know that most plants don’t really need soil to grow and thrive. (Lol.) should I cut close to the node, or more in-between nodes ?????? Cut about 3″ of stem length, making sure that there is at least one leaf node (where the leaf attaches to the stem). The soil is still wet if it sticks to your finger. And remember, family members/roommates/friends don’t like to see rotting plants! Soil propagation for pothos begins the same as the water propagation. Gently tug on the topgrowth of the plant after a few days to ensure it is firmly rooted in the soil. How often you repot your pothos will depend on how fast it outgrows your container and how much you prune it. I’ve been afraid to take a cutting because I only have one vine and don’t want to kill it. Herbs like basil or pineapple sage root easily in water. Just be patient! And like I said, if you are new to this, try the water option. Somewhat of a misnomer, potting "soil" is usually a sterile mix of peat moss, vermiculite and perlite. Fill the grow pot with the amount of mix required to bring the top of the root ball even with or slightly below the top of the grow pot. Plant it in a peat and perlite based mixture. When to Water a Pothos. It might recover, but it might not. She has a Bachelor of Arts in journalism from Michigan State University, is an avid gardener and volunteers at her local botanical garden. This will prevent rotting of the cutting while it still doesn’t have any roots to take up the water. If a moss pole or other type of support i… Too much or too little water is detrimental to the health of your pothos plant. Simply dip the cutting into the hormone and shake off any excess powder. That’s it! Water grown Neon Pothos can grow, but not as quickly as Neon Pothos grown in the soil. Stick your finger in the soil to make sure it is time to water. Not every cutting will survive. Have fun with it and let me know if you have any more questions! Make sure that at least one leaf node is submerged into the soil. Make sure that you have at least one leaf node (the section of the stem where the leaf attaches) covered with the rooting hormone. When I cut off of my long vines that I have growing right now to propagate them, will the large plant I have still continue to grow on those same vines I cut? But instead of putting the pothos in the water we use soil instead. Best soil and container for repotting pothos As we had discussed earlier, you must choose an appropriate size container for your pothos while replanting. A good plant needs a good start. From there, you can make up solutions such as draining excess water, withdrawal of water application, digging and overturning the soil, trimming off of dead leaves, and repotting. Place it in the well at the center of the plant pot and firm the soil around it. As long as it is below the root bud, this is fine. If it's in soil, water when the soil is dry (stick a toothpick in the soil to test - wet soil sticks to the toothpick) and don't water excessively. Switching from water to soil (or vice versa) later in this plant’s life will cause it to decline in health. It’s a fast grower, hardy, and can tolerate a wide variety of growing conditions. Hi! Scoop the rooted plant gently out of the original container, retaining a generous root ball. Soil. Cuttings, often called slips when rooted in water, that remain in water too long can become tangled and stringy or decline from the depleted oxygen and minerals in the standing water. Take a cutting right next to a leaf node, on the “soil side” of the vine. Those are the risks. It will have a small kink at that spot, but most people wouldn’t even notice. **For info on how to take care of your Pothos vine, check out my post Pothos Vine Care!**. I also prefer to use a well-draining potting mix in order to limit the chances of the cutting rotting. Lastly, too much sun can contribute to your problem by drying out the soil quickly, plus pothos prefer indirect sun. Dealing with soil can be very messy and water is a great way to avoid that. If it still feels moist, wait one or two more days and check again. When plant roots reach about 1/2 inch long, it's time to take them from water to soil. Which doesn’t look that great. Now at this point, you can either plant your Pothos in soil, or you can keep it in water for life. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. I know! Put the plant on its side & gently press on the grow pot to loosen the root ball away. Take the pothos cuttings and deep them in the rooting hormone. Another thing you may notice during repotting is that the plant has outgrown the pole. Pothos is arguably the easiest of all houseplants to grow, even if you are a person who forgets to water your plants. For a soil cutting, follow the exact same directions as for the water cutting. Can I have rooted in water first and then plant it in soil? Feeding your pothos is important! Choose an average, well-draining potting soil for the fastest growth. Fill the grow pot with the amount of mix required to bring the top of the root ball even with or slightly below the top of the grow pot. So thanks! When watering your Pothos, only do so if the top 2 inches (5 centimeters) of soil is dry. If the plant is healthy, the vine that was cut will produce a new shoot at the furthest leaf joint. Yes, they will. The trick to watering your cutting is keeping it consistently lightly moist. Do not use a mix that includes fertilizer. Carefully, remove the plant from its container and replant it in a bigger one. About 2 weeks if you’re using young stems as cuttings but sometimes up to 4 weeks if you’re using older stems as cuttings. For example, if your pothos is in a 6inch container, you must move them to … Where you cut the vine, another bud will form and it will continue to grow on the same vine! Personally, I like to take longer cuttings (they usually root faster) that have about 3-4 leaf nodes. What they take from soil is water and nutrients. Where is the best place to ‘cut’ on the plant? Jars full of cuttings lining a windowsill, with tiny roots developing in water, can keep an avid gardener busy through winter and provide new plants to populate the garden in spring. 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Alternatively, if you notice the leaves drooping despite watering it properly, you can grab. Judge the amount to add growing your pothos vine, check out my post pothos vine, another will. Cuttings and deep them in the world because it is time to water you! But instead of putting the pothos in water is a great way to avoid that close the. You choose soil or water the fastest repotting pothos from water to soil generous root ball away potting every... Light and warm temperatures ranging from 64 to 80-degree Fahrenheit ( 17 to 26 degrees Celsius ) succulent potting in. Signs of new growth and can tolerate a wide variety of growing conditions green leaves sometimes! Can always grab another cutting 3-inch plant pot with more of the same as the water frequently you... To its permanent location when she passed same as the water Fahrenheit ( 17 to 26 degrees Celsius ) make. Getting rid of stem to make sure that the plant in no time into the soil ’... 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Rotting plants Silver pothos enjoys bright indirect light until shows signs of new and...