Philodendrons can be one of the most elegant plants you could have in your household, especially the heartleaf-shaped ones. However, philodendrons tend to become long and leggy which takes up a lot of space. Luckily, it’s very easy to propagate a philodendron if you’re wishing to scale it back or start over! Pruning back some of the leaves and branches of your philodendron will also help it to grow back bigger and bushier.
Where Should You Cut Your Philodendron
When you are ready to propagate a piece of your philodendron, you will have to find a decent node/joint to cut. A node on a philodendron will be obvious as it may already be sprouting aerial roots from the jointed area. Be sure that you cut just above the node leaving a little stem for you to root it with. It’s also important to note that you don’t want the piece you’re cutting off to be too long, otherwise it will be difficult for the plant to root properly. 5 inches with 2 to 3 leaves should be a good start!
How To Propagate Philodendron In Water
One of the best ways to propagate a philodendron is by fully submerging the nodes you’ve collected into a jar of water. The reason why you want your new philodendron vines to be 5 inches is so that they aren’t heavy enough to fall out of the jar. Nothing will be holding the vines in place other than resting on the lip of the cup. However, if you are able to keep them submerged, new roots will begin to sprout relatively fast!
Place your jar in a spot where the philodendron can get direct sunlight. Additionally, be sure that you change the water every couple of days. After a few days to weeks, you should begin to see new roots developing! It’s best not to live your new philodendron in water forever – plan to transplant it into soil shortly after it has developed a decent amount of roots.
Propagating Your Philodendron In Soil
Propagating your philodendron into the soil is also just as good. Just be sure that you have a well-draining pot or container that you can pour water into. Make a few holes that will fit your philodendron vines firmly so they don’t fall out of the pot. Before placing your vines in the soil, dipping the cut area of the vine in cinnamon may aid in the growth of your philodendron as well as protect them from fungal problems. If you want something a little more powerful, any kind of rooting hormone should be fine too.
Place your philodendron into direct sunlight and be sure to keep the soil moist but not overwatered. Within a few weeks, you should begin to see your philodendron start to sprout new growth as well as deeper roots. You have now successfully propagated your philodendron!
