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Multiply your plant collection with our propagation calculator. Get success rate predictions, rooting timelines, and step-by-step methods for propagating your favorite plants from cuttings.
Root in water or soil. Include at least one node per cutting.
Make extra cuttings to account for failures. Propagation is much cheaper than buying new plants!
Plant propagation creates new plants from existing ones, saving money and sharing favorites with friends. Methods include stem cuttings (pothos, coleus), leaf cuttings (succulents), division (hostas, daylilies), and layering (climbing roses). Our propagation calculator predicts success rates, suggests optimal timing, and provides step-by-step care instructions for various plant types and propagation methods.
Success rates vary by plant and method: pothos and philodendron cuttings root easily (90%+ success), while fiddle leaf fig is challenging (30-40%). Timing matters—spring and early summer when plants are actively growing yields better results than winter dormancy. Our calculator considers plant type, season, and growing conditions to set realistic expectations and improve your success rate.
Rooting hormones (synthetic auxins) significantly improve success rates for difficult-to-root plants like roses, azaleas, and woody herbs. They're unnecessary for easy-rooters like pothos or spider plants. Apply powder or gel to cut ends before planting in propagation medium. Our calculator recommends hormone use based on plant difficulty and suggests concentration levels.
Proper environment is critical: high humidity (60-80%) prevents cuttings from drying before roots form—use humidity domes, plastic bags, or propagation boxes. Bright indirect light (direct sun overheats cuttings), consistent moisture (not soggy), and temperatures 65-75°F optimize rooting. Mist cuttings daily if not using humidity dome. Our calculator provides daily care checklists and troubleshooting for common problems like stem rot or leaf drop.
Pothos, spider plants, and philodendrons root easily in water or soil with 90%+ success rates. Simply cut a 4-6 inch stem below a leaf node, remove lower leaves, place in water or moist soil, and wait 2-4 weeks. These plants are forgiving and root quickly, perfect for learning propagation basics.
Both work, with trade-offs. Water propagation lets you watch root development but requires transplanting to soil later (shock risk). Soil propagation means one less transplant but you can't monitor root growth. Many easy-rooting plants succeed in either medium. Our calculator recommends based on plant type.
Timing varies by plant and method. Easy cuttings (pothos) root in 2-3 weeks; difficult plants (fiddle leaf fig) take 6-8 weeks or longer. Division is immediate. Layering takes 2-6 months. Our calculator provides timelines for specific plants so you know when to expect results and when to troubleshoot failures.