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Houseplant stem cuttings in 6 steps: cut below a node and root in water

Choose healthy stems, remove lower leaves, try rooting in water, then pot up. Species differences and pet toxicity matter.

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Wikimedia Commons · Biusch / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0; unmodified · Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported ↗

Stem cuttings can multiply certain houseplants. The Royal Horticultural Society describes taking roughly 8–10 cm sections below a node and rooting them in water or compost. It does not work for every species. The pictured weeping fig (Ficus benjamina) is toxic to dogs and cats: identify your plant and keep it out of reach.

Your try-it-at-home checklist

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1. Check the species: Confirm that your plant can propagate by stem cuttings. Select a vigorous, pest-free stem and avoid over-pruning the parent.
2. Cut with clean scissors: Use sharp, clean blades to take a roughly 8–10 cm cutting just below a leaf node. Take care with sharp tools.
3. Strip submerged leaves: Remove leaves near the base, leaving around two or three healthy leaves at the top so foliage does not rot in water.
4. Start water rooting: Stand the lower stem in a clean vessel of water while keeping all leaves above the surface. Replace cloudy water and clean the container.
5. Watch light and roots: Provide bright, indirect light out of direct sun. The RHS's three-to-four-week example is not a guaranteed rooting time; species differ.
6. Pot up after roots develop: When roots and new growth are visible, use well-draining compost in a small pot with drainage (for example about 8–10 cm). Avoid overwatering and keep potentially toxic plants and scissors away from children and pets.

Royal Horticultural SocietyHow to take cuttings from houseplants ↗Official RHS planting and stem-cutting guidance: healthy stems, about 8–10 cm below node, remove low leaves, water rooting, bright indirect light and potting up.ASPCAToxic and Non-toxic Plants: Indian Rubber Plant (Ficus benjamina) ↗Official pet toxicity listing: Ficus benjamina is toxic to cats and dogs; applicable to pictured species.Wikimedia CommonsFicus cuttings with roots in a bottle, White background.jpg ↗Image of rooted Ficus by Biusch; file-specific CC BY-SA 3.0 license and original JPEG confirmed.Wikimedia CommonsCommons: Reusing content outside Wikimedia - technical ↗Technical reuse guidance permits direct hotlinking; distinct individual file license/credit conditions were checked separately.

Your try-it-at-home checklist

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