Page 64 - South Mississippi Living - March, 2024

HOME & GARDEN
Let’s Get Propagating!
story by Victoria Snyder
Have you been searching for a way to get more houseplants or trying to figure out a way to fill space in your garden? Plant propagating might be for you!
You might be asking what plant propagation is. It’s basically a fancy way of saying that you can create new plants from plants you already own.
Propagation can be done in a number of ways.
You can produce a new plant by using parts of the plant like roots, leaves, stems, and more. Some
plants are easy to propagate, and others may give
you a harder time. Every plant is different, so researching the best ways to propagate any specific plant you have in mind is vital to its success in creating new roots.
If you’re new to it, succulents are well known for being easy to propagate – you can always start there and work your way towards more difficult plants!
Propagating plants from cuttings is one of the most well-known and easiest ways to get new plants because many plants will grow from cuttings. You may cut off a piece of the stem, a leaf, a piece of the root, a node, or tip of the plant.
After you get your clipping, there are two different 64 | March 2024
paths you may take to get it to root, often dependent on what the plant responds best to. You can replant it in new soil or place it in a glass of water.
If you go the replanting route, make sure you use a good rooting medium, like coarse sand, soil, perlite, or more.
You may also need to use a rooting hormone to help your clipping. Cover the pot with plastic to keep the humidity high and hold in heat. After two to three weeks you can start checking for new roots!
If you put your cutting in water, make sure to replace the water every few days. You should start seeing roots
in about a week! You can move it to a pot once the new roots are a few inches long. Propagation is not always easy, nor is it
always successful. It may take you a few times to get your favorite plant to root,
but it’s incredibly rewarding when it does. Plus, if you’re propagating plants that you’re keeping in your house, there are some great benefits. Houseplants have been shown to help with anxiety and reduce stress, they purify the air, and they add a wonderful pop of color to your home!
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