15 plants that are easy to propagate from cuttings

The advantage of being addicted to houseplants is that you don't have to break the bank to satisfy that craving. If you want to expand your collection for free or get new plants to trade, here are 15 varieties that are easy to propagate from cuttings.

#1 Money Plant (Pilea peperomioides)

One reason Pilea peperomioides is found everywhere is that the plant propagates easily – Photo by Spurekar / Flickr

Chinese money plant practically produces cuttings on its own. It quickly produces offshoots that you can separate from the main stem. When separating an offshoot, be sure to keep part of the root attached. It'll take root faster that way!

Some people place the cutting in water until the root system develops. But I prefer to plant the cutting directly in soil. I use the same potting mix as in the original pot. This makes for a smoother transition and ensures success.

#2 Zebra Spider Plant (Tradescantia zebrina)

You can also root your spider plant in water before replanting it – Photo by Laura Blanchard / Flickr

Inch plant tends to become sparse after a few years. Its long stems become thin and bare at the base, while the tips are adorned with vibrantly colored leaves. But fortunately, you can rejuvenate your Tradescantia zebrina by taking stem cuttings!

Cut a section at least three centimeters long from the end of a stem and remove the leaves from the lower part. This prevents them from rotting and spreading disease. Plant your cutting either next to the main plant to rejuvenate it, or in its own pot.

#3 Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)

Of all the Pothos varieties, the botanical variety is one of the easiest to propagate from cuttings. Photo by Francis Chung / Flickr

Pothos grows quickly and needs to be pruned regularly. When you trim its vines, save them to propagate the plant. They form cuttings easily in a glass of water.

The success of a Pothos cutting depends on the choice of the cutting. It must have at least one node and two pairs of leaves. Also make sure the nodes are submerged. These are what will produce roots after a week or two. When the roots are four centimeters long, repot the cutting in a substrate for houseplants.

#4 Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)

Place your cuttings in a bright spot but out of direct sunlight – Photo by Neudorf Media Library / Wikipedia

Chlorophytum comosum is as easy to propagate as it is to care for. The spider plant spontaneously produces offshoots—young shoots that can survive on their own—at the ends of long stolons.

Once your Chlorophytum comosum has offshoots, you can choose from several propagation methods. You can layer the rosettes by burying them in soil and separating them once they've rooted. You can also cut the offshoot flush with the stem using a clean knife or pruning shears and grow your cuttings in water or in substrates.

#5 Ficus elastica

When new leaves appear, it means your cutting has taken root – Photo by Maja Dumat / Flickr

You can find Ficus elastica seeds online. But if you want to expand your houseplant collection quickly, it's best to skip starting from seed. You'd have to wait months for the seeds to germinate. To grow a new plant more quickly, try taking stem cuttings.

Start by cutting a 10- to 15-centimeter section from the tip of a branch. The cut will cause latex to ooze out, but you can stop this by running the cutting under cold water. Then plant your cutting in a seed-starting mix and place it in a warm, sheltered spot, such as a clear plastic container or a mini greenhouse.

#6 Daigremont's Kalanchoe (Kalanchoe daigremontiana)

Small seedlings will grow big! Photo by Maja Dumat / Flickr

The mother of thousands is so easy to propagate from cuttings that English-speaking countries call it “Mother of Thousands.” It bears its offspring— dozens of seedlings just waiting to be repotted—on its leaves.

Once the seedlings are mature, they fall off. After a few weeks, when they measure two to three centimeters and have formed their first roots, gently dig them up. Plant them in seed-starting and potting mix and care for them as you would adult plants, following the advice in the Monstera app.

#7 Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata)

Sowing fern seeds is best left to the pros. Instead, divide the rhizomes to propagate your plants – Photo by Juline G / Flickr

Nephrolepis exaltata is a rhizomatous plant. From its rhizome, it develops underground stems on which roots and buds grow. These allow boston Fern to spread and multiply.

Once the rhizomes have produced ferns that are five to ten centimeters tall, gently separate them. Repot them in a pot with drainage holes filled with potting mix for houseplants and sand.

#8 Monstera deliciosa

Cut just below a node to encourage root growth – Photo by FarOutFlora / Flickr

Does your neighbor drool with envy over your Monstera deliciosa every time she visits? Give her a little piece of your favorite plant! Like other Araceae, the Monstera deliciosa is easy to propagate from cuttings, even for beginners.

You have two options for propagating your Monstera deliciosa: separate the offshoots that appear at the base, or take a stem cutting that includes two leaf blades, a node, and, if possible, aerial roots. Place your cuttings in water until they develop roots. Don't wait too long before repotting! The longer the young shoot gets used to the aquatic environment, the harder it will be for it to adapt to growing in soil.

#9 Heart Chain (Ceropegia woodii)

With a caudex, your cutting is sure to take root! Photo by Laurent Houmeau / Flickr

If string of Hearts can thrive in the arid deserts of South Africa, it'll have no trouble multiplying in the warmth of your living room.

You can propagate Ceropegia woodii from stem cuttings, first in water and then in soil. However, if you take a cutting with a caudex (a tuber that serves as a water reservoir), plant it directly in potting soil. Feel free to place several cuttings in the pot to create a fuller plant.

#10 Begonia maculata Wightii

You don't have to dip the end of your cutting in rooting hormone – Photo by G. Cornelis / Wikipedia

Do you love the spotted foliage and flowers of your Begonia maculata 'Wightii'? Why not share it with all your friends by taking cuttings? The plant propagates so easily that a single leaf is enough to grow a new plant. But if you're in a hurry or don't want to take any risks, take stem cuttings instead.

Choose a stem without flowers and cut it just above a bud. Always use a clean, sharp tool to prevent the spread of disease and help the cut heal. Place the stem in a glass of water until roots appear, then perform repotting in a potting mix for flowering plants.

#11 Mosaic Plant (Fittonia albivenis)

Plastic pots retain moisture better than terracotta pots – Photo by Derk29 / Flickr

Indoors, the Fittonia albivenis act like divas and require regular care. But they're much easier to manage when it comes to propagation.

The mosaic plant can be propagated from cuttings in potting soil mixed with a little sand. But you can also root them in a jar filled with water before repotting. If the air in your home is dry, feel free to place your cuttings in a mini greenhouse or cover them with a clear plastic bag to create a humid environment. By increasing the humidity, you'll improve your chances of success.

#12 The ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia)

Dividing the rhizomes allows you to grow a plant identical to the parent plant – Photo by Krzysztof Ziarnek / Wikipedia

You don't need a green thumb to grow and propagate zZ plant. Even the Raven cultivar, with its dark foliage reminiscent of a gothic high school senior's heart, doesn't require much care.

Would you like to have plenty of Zamioculcas zamiifolia to give to your loved ones? Divide the clumps when repotting. You can also take stem cuttings in water or air or take leaf cuttings. Have you decided to try propagating ZZ plants? Do it in the spring! Your young shoots will grow even faster.

#13 Cape Violet (Saintpaulia ionantha)

Always in bloom, easy to care for and propagate, the Cape violet is the perfect plant! Photo by Roberto MM / Wikipedia

My sociology professor in college told us the story of a widow who was terrified of dying alone and being devoured by her cats. On the advice of her therapist, she decidedto give Saintpaulias as gifts at every baptism, funeral, or wedding that took place in her parish—even if she didn't know the people involved. Years later, when she passed away, she had become a local celebrity and was featured in a newspaper article.

If you want to follow her example, there's no need to spend a fortune at the garden center. Buy a few plants and take cuttings from the leaves to root them in potting soil. Plus, indoors, you don't have to wait until spring. You can take cuttings from your African violet all year round, even during the blooming season.

#14 The Christmas Cactus (Schlumbergera truncata)

By giving a cutting as a gift, you can be sure your present won't end up on a secondhand marketplace! Photo by Downtowngal / Wikipedia

Did you break a branch off your Christmas cactus? Don't throw it away! If it has at least three segments (the leaf segments), it could grow into a new plant!

Remove the flowers and let the stem dry for 24 to 72 hours. With succulents, you need to wait for a callus to form at the cut site before planting the cutting. This step helps prevent rot. Then replant it in a mixture of sand and potting soil.

#15 String of Pearls (Senecio rowleyanus)

You can also take cuttings from several stems in the same pot – Photo by Maja Dumat / Flickr

Growing these “pearls” is child's play. No need to farm oysters or harvest parasites to end up with dozens of pearl necklaces.

To grow a lush Curio rowleyanus, a single stem is all you need. Plant the tip in the center of the pot and lay the rest of the cutting flat on the substrate, coiling it like a snail. Each leaf will take root and develop into a new stem.