How to Propagate Houseplants Two

You can grow new plants by starting them from seeds or you can increase your indoor garden through propagation. There are several ways to propagate your houseplants. We looked at propagation by using stem cuttings here and here we ill take a closer look at using leaf cutting to create new plants.

You begin by removing, cutting with a sharp, clean knife or scissors is best, a whole leaf from the parent plant. You then grow the new plant by inserting the leaf into a rooting mix; sometimes water is used.

You put the leaf into the mixture at a 45 degree angle and can rest it against the edge of the pot for support.

Step-by-step

1- Remove the whole leaf from the parent and trim the stalk to a length of 4-5 centimeters.

2- Plant the leaf cutting into a slightly moist rooting mixture and cover the pot with a plastic bag.

3- When new plantlets emerge at the base of each leaf you then cut the parent leaf away.

Using water:

1- Remove a healthy leaf be sure to leave stalk attached and trimmed to 4-5 cm

2- Cover a water filled jar with plastic and insert leaf through holes that you have punched in the plastic

3- Roots and small plantlets will form underwater and these can then be separated and planted into a potting mixture.

Rooting leaf sections in potting mix.

1- remove the parent plant from its pot; select a healthy, mature leaf and cut leaf off at base.

2- Cut the leaf crosswise, use a sharp knife, at 5-8 cm intervals.

3- Plant the leaf cuttings together at a slight angle in the potting mix. You can sue plant labels to support them or rest the cutting on the side of the pot

4- 4 New roots will develop from the buried cut edge of each leaf section. When they are well developed you can put them in their own pots.

Potting Mixture Suggestions:

It is not a good idea to use garden soil for your houseplants as there is too much life in it such as disease, insects and weed seeds for it to be safe for your indoor plants.

For large and established plants you can make a mixture that consists of one-third sterilized loam, one-third medium grade peat moss, leaf mould or tree bark and one-third perlite or coarse sand.

Useful additives:

Leaf mould or humus retains nutrients.

Manure be sure it has been composted and is used as a dried powder.

Dolomite limestone powder will reduce the acidity of potting mixes.

Eggshells can reduce acidity and aid drainage.

Rockwool holds moisture and allows air to enter.

You can see that you can readily increase the number of plants that you have without buying any simply by using the propagating method that best suits the circumstances. Plant cutting make excellent house warming gifts when people move into a new home.

It can be easy to get carried away when making new plants so before you create a new one stop and make sure that you have a place to put it or someone who can give it a good home.