http://jksalescompany.com/ken/prop.html i found this site if anyone else could add anything i would appreciate it, thanks!

I never root anything in water, ymaddox. Though I know that some people like to watch the progress, it's not the best method in terms of what's good for the plant.

Cuttings should be fairly short in length; it takes too much work for the plant, otherwise. You need to learn where the stem's NODE is, because that is where the roots will grow from in most cases. Each cutting should be cut so that a node enters the soil first.

Most leafy stems have leaves growing from the node. After you make your cut just below the node, remove those leaves and insert into a good, moist potting medium.

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:81379}}

Though I know that some people like to watch the progress, it's not the best method in terms of what's good for the plant.

Unless the cutting will be grown out in hydroculture ;-)

I have a Heartleaf Philodendron that I started with just 3 leaf's from the mother plant. I put them in a cup with water for a month or so until they grew roots, then put them in a 4 inch pot together. I now have a beautiful plant. Each leaf grew into a vine that are now about 4 feet long. I wrap them around the pot and it looks beautiful.

{{gwi:81380}}

Dawn,

Your plant is a Pothos.

Jen

There was a recent discussion on the gesneriphiles e-list about water-rooting, and a number of the people there said they had really changed their minds about it. Used to be we were advised to change the water regularly if we did this. This group says they have learned to use 'live' water, like that from an aquarium, rather than the more sterile water from the faucet, bottled water, RO water, etc. Not really gunky, but something biologically active. There have been mentions of this for some time now, and I have begun to experiment a little--always thought water-rooting was a bad idea. It's important in my somewhat limited experience to pot them up before the roots get very long at all, but a couple people there said they just take sharp scissors and cut the roots back if they get too long! It's fun to experiment--and it's great you're getting your daughter interested too.

I've always had better luck with the water rooting method rather than just putting a cutting in medium and covering to increase humidity. Rot always sets in and alot of cuttings are lost. With the water method the plant has to adjust once it is back in soil but it always bounces back fairly quickly.

thanks for all your recommendations, i read alot of ways to start plants but thought at this point this would be a good place to start, especially for my daughter she can see the plants root. I went to the dollar tree and bought four little small see through vases that was very pretty and inexpensive and will start there. I do plan on trying other methods of propagation...i think the leaf propagation sounds really intriguing, have to find a good veiny flower to do that though- but how neat to cut along a vein 8 or 10 places and flowers shoot up from there, and we are already trying the tip cutting from the jade plant. Just lots of fun and before you know it, we will be outside with the vegetable and flower gardens. The spring itch is in the air :).

justaguy! I've been meaning to ask you something about that (hydraculture). Do you subscribe to a particular (branded) system or have you simply worked out something that is successful for you? I might be interested in experimenting this year, as I get ready to do my houseplant pruning. Email me, if you would like.

For those who have tried and failed at growing cuttings in a solid medium....I'd suggest that its the potting medium at fault. Maintaining the proper moisture level for cuttings can be daunting. Sticking your cuttings into pure perlite would solve that problem....it's pretty difficult to over water perlite, lol. I never cover my cuttings with anything, by the way.

Ymaddox,

If you're trying the tip cutting on the jade, make sure you let the cut end callous over before potting it up. It should take about a week or so to callous. Also, it would be interested for your daughter to see how one plant can develop from a leaf. Jades are really easy to do this with. Just take a leaf (no stem, just one healthy leaf) and pot it in soil, and roots will develop very soon after.
Good luck,
Gabi

justaguy! I've been meaning to ask you something about that (hydraculture). Do you subscribe to a particular (branded) system or have you simply worked out something that is successful for you? I might be interested in experimenting this year, as I get ready to do my houseplant pruning. Email me, if you would like.

It's not a branded method, but it pretty common. What I do is explained very well at waterroots.com

There are a few methods one can use. The method I like is using hydroton in a clear glass container with no drainage. I fill water (and nutrients as appropriate) to below the root level of the plant and let it wick up.

There are other techniques such as using non clear containers with an overflow hole so it isn't possible to everwater (semi hydro and well discussed in the orchid forum) and the pot in a pot method which uses an ornamental exterior pot and generally a hydroponic basket on the inside. A water level indicator is between the two to determine water levels.

I like the clear glass (or plastic) method as I find I like seeing the roots and being able to determine water levels and what's going on with a quick glance, but all the methods are quite workable.

I think you will take naturally to hydroculture since you are [rightly] a huge proponent of oxygenation of the root zone. With hydroculture there is even more oxygenation of the root zone than any potting mix. For those who have tried and failed at growing cuttings in a solid medium....Sticking your cuttings into pure perlite would solve that problem....it's pretty difficult to over water perlite, lol. I never cover my cuttings with anything, by the way.

This is interesting to me because it is basically hydroculture [inert, non organic media + water). I would think water roots would form, but haven't tried rooting in perlite to find out.

I am a novice when it's comes to houseplants and even more of a novice of hydroculture. So please don't criticize for the potentially stupid thing I've done. I wanted to have all my 10 plants in the hydroculture environment. I read all the info and then started to take my plants out of their soil and get the soil from the roots. Well, I couldn't get all the dirt and debris from the roots so I cut off all the roots and then stuck the plants in water so they could root water roots.

Did I kill the plants? Can plants that are simply put in water, grow more roots? These are 2 medium pothos and a medium sized peace lily. There are no roots at all!

Oh Tina, you never should have cut roots from the Peace Lily..Pothos should do fine..(S)
To rinse roots, remove as much soil as possible, then run hose/sink over roots to remove remaining soil..
Good luck, Tina. Toni

I grew my spider plant from a spider baby, that i took from someone else and stuck in water. The roots grew quickly in water, and then i stuck it in a small yogurt container with soil in it, in about 7 -9 months, the roots had grown so much there was barely any soil left, I lifted them out of the pot and it was only roots, in the shape of a yogurt container! So, now it's in a bigger pot. Seems happy.