Your pothos has grown so long it’s starting to trip you in the hallway, or maybe the top of the pot is looking a little sparse while the vines are reaching for the floor. Research shows that regular pruning actually stimulates "auxins", plant growth hormones, which encourages the mother plant to branch out and become bushier.
But what to do with your pothos clippings? Make more pothos plants by propagating them in water!
To propagate pothos in water, you simply snip a healthy vine below a node, place it in a glass of water, and let light do the rest of the work. Let's dive into our simple guide to propagating this super-hardy, low-maintenance house plant.
The TLDR: How to Propagate Pothos Fast
Don't have time for the full deep dive? Here is the "cheat sheet" for success:
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Where to cut: Snip a vine about 1/4 inch below a node (the small brown bump where the leaf meets the stem).
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Water Prep: Place the cutting in clean, room-temperature water, ensuring the node is submerged but the leaves are not.
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Light: Keep the cutting in bright, indirect light. Using a dedicated grow light can speed up root development by up to 50% in darker rooms.
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Wait: Roots usually appear within 2–4 weeks. Move to soil once roots are 2 inches long.
Where to Cut Pothos to Propagate in Water?
To find the right spot, look for the node. This is the small, brownish bump on the vine. This little bump contains undifferentiated cells, essentially "blank slate" cells, that can transform into roots once they sense moisture.
The most common mistake beginners make is cutting a leaf without a node. If you just put a leaf stem (called a petiole) in water, it might stay green for months, but it will never grow roots.
The Pro Tip: Always cut about a quarter-inch below the node. You want the node to be submerged in the water, as that is exactly where the roots will sprout.
Step-by-Step: The Water Propagation Method
Propagating in water is a favorite method because it's simple, but there’s also something so therapeutic about watching the roots grow in a glass vessel on a bookshelf.
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Select Your Vine: Choose a healthy vine with at least 3-4 leaves.
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Make the Cut: Using clean, sharp scissors or pruning tool, cut at a 45-degree angle just below the node. The angle increases the surface area for water intake.
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Prep the Cutting: Remove the bottom leaf. You don’t want any leaves submerged in the water, as they will rot and create bacteria.
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The Vessel: Place your cutting in a glass jar or other transparent container. A clear vessel makes it easy to monitor the water and keep an eye out for algae growth, which the Plant Shop Chicago notes "is not harmful itself but will grow quickly and suffocate roots."
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Light is Energy: Cuttings need energy to build a new root system from scratch. Place your jar in bright, indirect light. If your home is a bit dark, a Vita™ Grow Light provides the exact spectrum needed to power that growth without the heat that can cause water to grow algae.
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Give it Time & Care: You'll typically begin to see roots in about two weeks, give or take. While your pothos is working hard to develop roots, be sure to take care of it by changing out the water every 5-7 days to replenish the oxygen levels and making sure the roots never dry out.
Pothos Propagation Troubleshooting
If your cutting isn't looking quite right, don't panic. Usually, it's a simple fix involving light or water quality.
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What you see |
The Likely Cause |
The Fix |
|
Mushy, black stem |
Bacterial rot |
Snip off the rot, wash the jar, and use fresh water. |
|
Yellowing leaves |
Lack of light or nutrients |
Move to a brighter spot or check our Pothos troubleshooting guide. |
|
No roots after a month |
Low temps or dormancy |
Ensure the room is above 65°F and consider a grow light. |
|
Algae in the jar |
Too much direct sun |
Clean the jar and move it slightly back from the window. |
Moving Your Pothos from Water to Soil
Once your roots are about 2 inches long, it’s time to decide: keep them in water or move them to soil?
If you move them to soil, do it sooner rather than later. "Water roots" are more fragile and oxygen-efficient than "soil roots." The longer a plant stays in water, the harder it is for it to adjust to the density of soil.
When you finally pot it, keep the soil slightly more moist than usual for the first week to help those roots transition comfortably.
How to Keep Your Pothos Healthy
Once your pothos is transitioned to soil, you'll want to keep it healthy and strong to grow the Instagram-worthy vines we all love. While these plants are hardy and pretty low-maintenance, issues sometimes pop up. We created a pothos troubleshooting guide with common issues and solutions to keep your pothos happy.
The Soltech Grove™ LED Bar Light is another great option for propagating and keeping your pothos plant healthy because it provides even, full-spectrum light for the entire plant.
If you're looking for pothos variety-specific care tips and guidance, check out our Plant Guide. It features common varieties like the Golden Pothos, Pearls and Jade Pothos, Satin Pothos, and more!
Recap: Pothos Propagation Success Checklist
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Identify the Node: No node, no roots.
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Keep it Clean: Change the water every 7–10 days to keep oxygen levels high.
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Optimize Light: More light (bright indirect, not scorching) = faster rooting. Consider a grow light to help your pothos sprout roots. A simple grow bulb like the Vita™ can be used in any standard lighting fixture, is full-spectrum for strong root development, and produces no heat that can cause algae growth!
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Watch the Length: Transplant to soil when roots hit the 2-inch mark.
The Key to Pothos Propagation: Patience and Time
Propagation is one of the most rewarding parts of being a plant parent, and pothos are typically a super easy plant to start propagating. It’s a low-stakes way to experiment with the science of growth and eventually fill your home with greenery for the cost of... well, zero dollars.
Don't be discouraged if your first cutting doesn't take, plants are living things, and sometimes they just need a little more light or a slightly warmer corner. Just keep experimenting, keep an eye on those nodes, and enjoy the process of creating your lush indoor jungle. Good luck!
Looking for more pothos varieties to add to your home? Check out 8 of our must-have pothos varieties!
