How to Propagate Philodendron

You will need clean scissors or a sharp knife, a glass jar or vase, and room-temperature water.

1. 1 Identify a healthy vine with several nodes — the small bumps where leaves and aerial roots meet the stem. Philodendrons often have visible aerial roots at the nodes, which gives cuttings a head start on rooting.
2. 2 Cut a stem section with at least one node and 2–3 leaves, making the cut about 1/4 inch below a node using clean tools.
3. 3 Remove the lowest leaf if it would sit below the water line — submerged leaves will rot and foul the water.
4. 4 Place the cutting in a jar of room-temperature water, ensuring the node is submerged but no leaves touch the water.
5. 5 Position the jar in bright indirect light.
6. 6 Change the water every 5–7 days to prevent bacterial growth, rinsing the jar each time.
7. 7 Watch for white, thread-like roots emerging from the submerged node — they typically appear in just 7–14 days, making philodendrons one of the fastest-rooting houseplants.
8. 8 Once roots are 1–2 inches long (typically 3–4 weeks total), transplant into well-draining potting mix.
9. 9 Water the newly potted cutting thoroughly and keep the soil consistently moist for the first 2 weeks as the plant transitions from water roots to soil roots.
10. 10 After 2 weeks, resume normal watering when the top inch of soil is dry.

This method eliminates the water-to-soil transition and produces sturdier root systems from the start. You will need clean scissors, a small pot with drainage holes, pre-moistened potting mix, rooting hormone powder (optional), and a clear plastic bag or propagation dome.

1. 1 Take a cutting as described above, with at least one node and 2–3 leaves.
2. 2 Dip the cut end in rooting hormone, tapping off excess — this is optional for philodendrons but speeds up root formation by about a week.
3. 3 Make a small hole in the moist potting mix with a pencil or chopstick.
4. 4 Insert the cutting so the node is buried about 1 inch deep, and gently firm the soil around the stem.
5. 5 Water lightly to settle the soil.
6. 6 Cover the pot with a clear plastic bag or propagation dome to maintain high humidity.
7. 7 Place in bright indirect light and keep the soil consistently damp (not soggy) for the first 2–3 weeks while roots develop.
8. 8 Remove the humidity cover once new growth appears in 3–4 weeks, gradually acclimating the plant to ambient humidity over 3–4 days.
9. 9 Resume normal care — water when the top inch of soil is dry.

You can root stems while they are still attached to the parent plant to create a bushier appearance.

1. 1 Identify a long vine that can reach the soil surface.
2. 2 Find a node along the vine and remove the leaf at that point.
3. 3 Pin the node down into the soil using a bobby pin or U-shaped wire, burying it about 1/2 inch deep.
4. 4 Keep the soil consistently moist at the pinned point.
5. 5 After 2–3 weeks, give the vine a gentle tug — if you feel resistance, roots have formed.
6. 6 Either snip the vine to create an independent stem, or leave it attached for a naturally fuller plant.