How to Propagate Pothos in Water and Soil

Pothos is one of the easiest houseplants to propagate. A stem cutting with a single node placed in a jar of water roots within one to two weeks in most home conditions, and the whole process from cutting to an established potted plant takes four to six weeks. The technique is the same for golden pothos, marble queen, snow queen, cebu blue, and all other pothos varieties. It is also a useful introduction to propagation for new plant owners before moving on to slower or more demanding species.

What a Node Is and Why It Matters

A node is the point on a pothos stem where roots can emerge. On pothos, nodes appear as small, dark brown nubs or bumps on the stem, typically just below where a leaf attaches or has previously attached. There is also usually a small aerial root nub at each node. A cutting without a node will not produce roots and will eventually rot in water. Every cutting must include at least one node.

What You Need

Clean scissors or a sharp blade, a jar or glass for water propagation or a small pot for soil propagation, clean water, and a small amount of potting mix with perlite for potting up once roots have developed.

Water Propagation: Step by Step

Step 1: Select a healthy stem. Choose a firm, green stem on the parent plant. A stem with one to four leaves and at least one visible node is ideal. Longer cuttings with multiple nodes root faster and produce a fuller plant more quickly.

Step 2: Cut below the node. Using clean scissors, cut the stem approximately half a centimeter below the lowest node. A clean cut reduces the risk of stem rot before roots develop.

Step 3: Remove lower leaves. Remove any leaves that would sit below the water line in your jar. Submerged leaves decompose quickly, clouding the water and creating conditions that slow rooting. One to two leaves above the node is enough to support the cutting during rooting.

Step 4: Place in water. Place the cutting in a jar of clean water so the node is fully submerged and the remaining leaves sit above the water line. Position in bright indirect light. A clear jar allows you to monitor root development without disturbing the cutting.

Step 5: Change the water regularly. Replace the water every five to seven days to prevent bacterial buildup. If the water becomes cloudy or smells off between changes, replace it immediately.

Step 6: Wait for roots and pot up. Roots appear within one to two weeks in warm conditions. Allow them to reach two to three centimeters before transferring to soil. Pot into a small container with a well-draining potting mix, water lightly, and keep in bright indirect light for the first few weeks while the root system adjusts to the soil medium.

Soil Propagation

Soil propagation skips the water phase and produces roots adapted directly to growing conditions. Prepare a small pot with a 50/50 mix of perlite and coir. Moisten the mix thoroughly. Insert the bare node of the cutting into the mix, firm gently, and cover the pot loosely with a clear plastic bag to maintain humidity. Place in bright indirect light and check moisture every few days, watering lightly if the surface of the mix begins to dry. Roots develop in two to three weeks. Remove the bag gradually over several days to acclimatize the plant to normal air before treating as an established plant.

Propagating Multiple Cuttings

A single long pothos vine can yield many individual cuttings. Each section of stem that includes one node and one leaf produces an individual plant. Placing multiple cuttings in a single pot from the outset produces a fuller, bushier result than a single cutting, which tends to trail as a single vine for some time before branching. Three to five cuttings in a 10-centimeter pot produces a well-established looking plant within a growing season.

For care of the established plant, the golden pothos care guide covers light, water, and soil in full. For yellowing leaves on cuttings or established plants, the pothos leaves turning yellow guide works through the causes.