The Easiest Houseplants to Propagate

Propagating houseplants is a rewarding and cost-effective way to expand your indoor greenery. It’s also a great way to share your favorite plants with friends and family. But with so many different houseplants to choose from, it can be hard to know where to start or know which houseplants are easiest to propagate.

If you’re a beginner to propagation, don’t worry! There are plenty of easy-to-propagate houseplants that are perfect for even the most inexperienced green thumb.

10 of the Easiest Plants to Propagate

There are plenty of easy-to-propagate houseplants that even beginners can handle. Here are a ten of our favorites:

Pothos

Pothos is one of the most popular houseplants for a reason. It’s easy to care for, tolerates a wide range of light conditions, and is incredibly easy to propagate. Pothos are easiest to propagate with stem cuttings in water.

How to Propagate Pothos

To propagate pothos from stem cuttings, simply take a cutting that is 4-6 inches long and has at least two leaves. Remove the bottom leaves from the cutting, and then place the cutting in a jar of water. Place the jar in a bright location, and change the water every few days. The cutting should root in a few weeks.

Scindapsus

Scindapsus are very easy to propagate from stem cuttings. It is a popular house plant due to their ease of care and their ability to tolerate various conditions. They are also very forgiving plants, even if you make some mistakes during the propagation process.

How to Propagate Scindapsus

To propagate, select a healthy stem cutting from your scindapsus plant. Make a clean cut just below a node, which is the point where a leaf grows from the stem, with at least two leaves. You can place the cutting in a glass of water or root it directly in soil. Place the cutting in a warm, bright location out of direct sunlight and it should root within 2-4 weeks.

Spider Plants

Another easy-to-care-for houseplant that is also very easy to propagate is the spider plant. Spider plants produce small plantlets, or spiderettes, that can be easily removed and propagated.

How to Propagate Spider Plants

To propagate spider plants from spiderettes, simply remove the spiderette from the parent plant and either place in a glass of water or pot it up directly in its own pot of well-draining potting mix. Spiderettes will root quickly and start to produce new growth within a few weeks.

Snake Plant

Snake plants are known for their tolerance of neglect, and they are also very easy to propagate. These plants can be propagated from division or leaf cuttings.

How to Propagate Snake Plants by Leaf Cuttings

To propagate snake plants from leaf cuttings, simply take a leaf from the plant and allow it to callous over for a few days. Cut a V into the bottom of the leaf. Place in a glass of water unter roots form or you can try potting directly in a pot of well-draining potting mix. The leaf should root in a few weeks.

How to Propagate Snake Plants by Division

To propagate snake plants from division, simply remove the plant from its pot and divide it into sections, each with its own roots. Pot up the divisions in their own pots of well-draining potting mix.

ZZ Plant

Another hardy houseplant that is very easy to propagate is the ZZ plant. ZZ plants can be propagated from division or stem cuttings.

How to Propagate ZZ Plants by Division

To propagate ZZ plants from division, simply remove the plant from its pot and divide it into sections, each with its own roots. Pot up the divisions in their own pots of well-draining potting mix.

How to Propagate ZZ Plants by Stem Cuttings

To propagate ZZ plants from leaf cuttings, stem from the base of the plant and allow it to callous over for a few days. Then, place the stem in a glass of water. The stem should root in a few weeks.

Tradescantia

Tradescantia is a fast-growing and easy-to-care-for houseplant. It comes in a variety of colors, including purple, green, and white.

How to Propagate Tradescantia

Tradescantia is very easy to propagate by stem cuttings. Simply take a cutting of a healthy stem with at least two leaves. I prefer to place directly in soil, but you can place it in water, as well. Make sure the soil stays moist. Within a few weeks, the cutting will develop roots.

Pilea Peperomioides

Pilea Peperomioides, or commonly known as Chinese money plants, are a popular choice for indoor gardeners because of their unique round leaves and easy-care nature. They are also very easy to propagate from stem cuttings.

How to Propagate Chinese Money Plants

To propagate Chinese money plants from stem cuttings, simply take a cutting that is 2-3 inches long and has at least two leaves. Remove the bottom leaves from the cutting, and then place the cutting in a jar of water. Place the jar in a bright location, and change the water every few days. The cutting should root in a few weeks.

Peperomia Obtusifolia

Peperomia obtusifolia, or the baby rubber plant, are a popular houseplant known for their glossy, attractive leaves and ease of care. These plants in the peperomia family are easy to propagate specifically, making them a great choice for beginners.

How to Propagate Peperomia Obtusifolia

Peperomia Obtusifolia, propagates well in water. Simply take a cutting that is 3-4 inches long and has at least two leaves. Remove the bottom leaves from the cutting, and then place the cutting in a jar of water. Place the jar in a bright location, and change the water every few days. The cutting should root in a few weeks.

Monstera

Monsteras are easy to propagate, with a few different methods. They are fast-growing plants that can produce roots within a few weeks. Monsteras can be porpagated either by stem cuttings, or you can try air layering.

How to Propagate Monsteras by Stem Cuttings

Select a healthy stem cutting from your Monstera plant. The cutting should be about 6-8 inches long and have at least two nodes, which are the points where leaves grow from the stem. Remove the leaves from the bottom 1-2 inches of the cutting and place in a glass of water. Roots should form in a few weeks.

How to Propagate Monsteras by Air Layering

To air layer a Monstera, select a healthy stem on your Monstera plant that is at least 6 inches long. Make a clean cut about halfway through the stem, just below a node. Wrap the cut area with moist sphagnum moss or peat moss and secure in place with plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Make sure to moisten the moss regularly. Roots should start to grow through the moss within a few weeks. Once the roots are well established, you can cut the stem below the rooted area and pot it up in a well-draining potting mix.

Philodendrons

Philodendrons are popular houseplants because they are relatively easy to care for and they come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. They are also some of the easiest houseplants to propagate with stem cuttings.

How to Propagate Philodendrons

To propagate, select a healthy stem cutting from your philo plant. Make a clean cut just below a node, which is the point where a leaf grows from the stem, with at least two leaves. You can place the cutting in a glass of water or try rooting directly in soil. Place the cutting in a warm, bright location out of direct sunlight and it should root within 2-4 weeks.

More Easy to Propagate Plants

If you’re looking for more of the easiest houseplants to propagate, you can also try Marantas. These prayer plants are easy to form roots in water. Most strings of things, like string of pearls and string of hearts, and succulents in general are all easy to propagate directly in soil.

These are just a few of the many easy-to-propagate houseplants that are available and those that I have had success with personally in the past.

Tips for Successful Propagating

Here are a few additional tips for successful houseplant propagation:

• Use a sharp knife or pruning shears to take cuttings.
• Make sure your cuttings are healthy and free from pests and diseases.
• It is optional, but you can use rooting hormone to encourage root growth.
• Always remove bottom leaves so the propagation doesn’t rot.
• Keep your cuttings warm and moist.
• Be patient! It may take a few weeks for your cuttings to root.

With a little care and attention, you can easily propagate your own houseplants and enjoy the satisfaction of growing your own greenery.