How to Propagate Chinese Evergreen

You will need a clean sharp knife, pots with drainage holes, and fresh potting mix.

1. 1 The best time to divide is during spring repotting when the plant is entering active growth.
2. 2 Water the plant thoroughly the day before to make the root ball more pliable.
3. 3 Remove the plant from its pot and gently shake off excess soil to expose the root structure.
4. 4 Identify natural division points where clusters of stems have their own root systems.
5. 5 Using your hands, carefully pull the root ball apart into 2–3 sections, each with several stems and a healthy root mass. For tightly matted roots, use a clean sharp knife to cut through.
6. 6 Dust cut surfaces with cinnamon powder to prevent fungal infection.
7. 7 Plant each division in its own pot with fresh well-draining soil at the same depth as before.
8. 8 Water thoroughly and place in a warm, shaded spot for a week to recover.
9. 9 Resume normal care after 7–10 days.

You will need clean scissors or a sharp knife, a glass jar for water propagation or a small pot with moist soil, and optionally rooting hormone.

1. 1 Cut the top 4–6 inches of a growing stem, making the cut just below a node (the ring where a leaf was attached). Include several leaves on the cutting.
2. 2 Remove the bottom 1–2 leaves to expose the node.
3. 3 For water propagation, place the cutting in a jar of room-temperature water with the node submerged. Change the water every 5–7 days. For soil propagation, dip the cut end in rooting hormone (optional), then plant in moist potting soil, burying the node about 1 inch deep.
4. 4 Keep in bright indirect light at 65–75°F (18–24°C). For soil cuttings, cover with a clear plastic bag to maintain humidity.
5. 5 Watch for roots in water — they typically appear in 2–3 weeks. Soil cuttings root in 3–4 weeks.
6. 6 Once water roots are 2–3 inches long, transplant into potting soil and keep consistently moist for the first 2 weeks.
7. 7 The parent plant will grow new shoots from the node below the cut, making it bushier.

If your Chinese Evergreen has grown tall with a bare lower stem, you can cut the cane into segments to produce multiple new plants.

1. 1 Cut the bare stem into 3–4 inch segments, each with at least one node (the ring marking where a leaf was attached).
2. 2 Note which end was pointing up — planting upside down will fail.
3. 3 Let the cut ends dry and callus for 1–2 hours.
4. 4 Plant segments vertically in moist potting soil, burying the bottom half with the node facing up, or lay them horizontally on moist soil and press lightly.
5. 5 Cover with a clear plastic bag to maintain humidity.
6. 6 Keep in bright indirect light at warm temperatures (70–80°F).
7. 7 New growth emerges from the node in 4–6 weeks.

1. 1 Select a healthy section of stem.
2. 2 Make an upward diagonal cut about one-third through the stem.
3. 3 Insert a toothpick or small pebble to keep the cut open.
4. 4 Wrap the cut area with moist sphagnum moss, then cover with plastic wrap, securing both ends with twist ties or tape.
5. 5 Keep the moss consistently moist by opening the plastic and misting every few days.
6. 6 Roots will develop inside the moss in 6–8 weeks.
7. 7 Once you see substantial roots through the plastic, cut the stem below the rooted section and pot it up.
8. 8 The parent plant will continue growing from the section below the cut.