Pls don't tug on your rooting plants even lightly, as it breaks the tiny root hairs one is trying to develop. The surest sign that something has rooted is the appearance of new growth.

No pic, no info, on if indoor or outdoor, hard to know how to help you.

Withholding water doesn't speed up root development; don't know why/where you'd get that idea.

Pls post pix if you wish folks to try & help.