Propagating Pothos plants is an easy job that anyone can do. You only need a mother plant, shears or scissors, and a jar to propagate. Pothos, known as ‘Devil’s Ivy,’ can be propagated through stem cuttings.
But propagating houseplants can surely test your patience. If you check your cuttings daily, eagerly waiting for roots to form, you may wonder, “How long does it take to propagate Pothos?” The answer is that it depends on many different factors!
How Long Do Pothos Cuttings Take To Root?
Even though Pothos propagations are low-maintenance, waiting for roots to form takes forever. Did you know that the speed at which roots form on your Pothos depends on the medium you use to propagate the plants?
Propagation Time in Soil
You can propagate pothos very easily by using plain potting soil. It can take 4-6 weeks for your Pothos cutting to develop roots when you plant it in soil.
When using soil propagation, using a well-draining potting mix is necessary. To grow healthy roots, oxygen must be available in the soil. Airy, well-drained soil will provide a good balance of moisture and oxygen and allow your Pothos to take root quickly.
When the potting medium is too dense and lacks airflow may hold on to too much water. When the soil gets soggy, the newly grown roots on your Pothos cutting may quickly fall prey to root rot.
It’s essential to keep the soil moist but never allow it to get waterlogged. Wait for the top of the soil to dry out, then water the soil.
Plant your cuttings in a pot with drainage holes in the bottom. This will help prevent the soil from remaining too wet by allowing excess water to drain from the pot.
Propagation Time in Water
When you choose to use water propagation for your Pothos, it will grow roots quicker than other methods. On average, you should see roots starting to grow between the first 7-14 days.
Propagating your Pothos in jars of water is the easiest way to grow new plants from your original Pothos vine. Plus, the propagation vases can act as beautiful home decor!
Change the water with fresh tap water to provide oxygen for your Pothos’ new roots when propagating in water. Within a few weeks, you can transplant the cuttings into the soil when the roots are about 3-5 inches long. Always ensure to keep the leaf node submerged in water!
A bonus of water propagation is seeing the roots on your cutting develop! Seeing your cutting’s roots grow over time is not only fun to watch, but it makes it easy to see when the roots are ready to be transferred to soil or when there is an issue with the roots.
Propagation Time in Perlite or Peat Moss
When propagated in moss or perlite, your Pothos will develop roots within a month. Perlite and peat moss (sphagnum moss) provide a good balance of moisture and oxygen, so the roots will develop quickly and remain healthy.
If you use perlite, always keep a layer of water in the bottom of the jar. Moss should never be allowed to dry out completely! If you let the medium dry out too much, the roots may dry up, causing yellow or brown leaves, leaf loss, or even the death of your cutting.
These methods require a bit more maintenance than water or soil propagation, but you will be surprised at how your cuttings will thrive in these mediums when you keep up with the necessary care.
However, beginners may find water or soil propagation a better place to start.
How To Speed Up Pothos Propagation: 4 Ways
After you’ve learned how to propagate pothos plants, you can use these four tips to speed up the process.
1. Provide the Best Sunlight
Like mature plants, propagations require ample amounts of sunlight. Growing new roots takes a lot of energy, so it’s important that the cutting has access to plenty of indirect sunlight so that it can adequately photosynthesize.
Place the cuttings in bright indirect light for the fastest results. Avoid direct sunlight because the harsh sun rays may burn the cuttings.
2. Use a Rooting Hormone
While it is unnecessary, using a rooting hormone can significantly increase the speed at which your Pothos cuttings grow. To use the rooting hormone, dip the cut end of your propagation in a rooting hormone powder.
3. Propagate at the Right Time Of Year
The best time for plant propagation is in spring or summer. In winter, the sun often hides behind clouds, and temperatures drop. If you’re a houseplant owner, you will notice that your plants grow much slower, or not at all, during the winter months!
For plants to grow, they need sunlight and warmth! Taking your cuttings amid the cold, dark winter will lead to slowed root development and an increased risk of failed propagations.
4. Provide the Right Nutrients
Your Pothos cuttings may benefit from additional nutrients if you propagate the plant in water or perlite. You can use a heavily diluted liquid fertilizer (a few drops in an 8-ounce cup) to provide the cutting with some additional nutrients, which can help to boost the root development.
However, please do just what is necessary. The newly grown, brittle roots may get burned by the fertilizer quickly. Add no more than 4-5 drops of fertilizer to your water vessel, and you should be fine.
Faq
Does Pothos Root Faster In Water Or Soil?
Pothos cuttings will take root faster in water. However, the water roots will need extra time to adapt to the soil after being transplanted into a potting medium, so it will take longer to see new leaves and vines grow on your Pothos plant!
Can I Propagate Pothos From One Leaf?
No, your Pothos needs a part of the stem with a node attached. A node is the thick part of the stem where leaves and aerial roots grow from. The node is also where the new roots will emerge.
If you are curious about this, consider propagating your Pothos in water. Water propagation will allow you to see the roots grow from the node.
Does the variety change the length of time?
Pothos plants come in many varieties. Some of the most popular include Satin Pothos, Marble Queen Pothos, Neon Pothos, and Golden Pothos. Typically, they will all propagate in similar time frames. However, slower-growing cultivars like Pothos N’Joy will take a bit longer.
Davin is a jack-of-all-trades but has professional training and experience in various home and garden subjects. He leans on other experts when needed and edits and fact-checks all articles.