How to take root cuttings in water and save money on filling your home and garden with lots of free plants
Just add water! Say hello to the simple propagation trick that turns one plant into many...
Learning how to take root cuttings in water is one of those gardening hacks that feels almost too good to be true.
With just a snip of a stem and a jar of water, you can turn a single houseplant into a whole new collection. It costs nothing, takes minutes, and is surprisingly satisfying to watch as roots begin to unfurl.
For houseplant lovers, it’s also a brilliant way to experiment without risk. If a root cutting fails, you’ve lost nothing. If it thrives, you’ve effectively multiplied your plant for free. No wonder, then, that water propagation has become a go-to method for beginners and seasoned indoor gardeners alike.
Still, while the method is easy, it’s not entirely foolproof. Success depends on choosing the right plant, using clean conditions, and knowing when to move your cutting on, and that’s where a little expert guidance makes all the difference.
How to take root cuttings in water
To understand how to take root cuttings in water properly (and avoid the common mistakes), we asked experts for their advice on how to do it properly.
As it turns out, just a few small details can dramatically improve your success rate. Check it out...
1. Start with the right plants and a clean cut
Morris Hankinson of Hopes Grove Nurseries explains that rooting cuttings in water is 'a really easy way to grow new houseplants for free', but stresses that success begins with choosing the right material and preparing it correctly.
'Snip a healthy stem just below a leaf node and remove the lower leaves,' he says. The key detail here is the node – this is where new roots will form, so it must be included on your cutting. I recommend the Kimura bypass secateurs, £29.95 from Amazon, for a sharp, definite snip.
Morris Hankinson is the founder and managing director of Hopes Grove Nurseries Ltd, the UK’s only specialist grower-retailer of hedging plants. He established the thriving business in 1992, shortly after graduating with a Commercial Horticulture Degree from Writtle College, Essex.
Morris adds that the cutting should then be placed in a clean jar of water, ensuring the node is submerged while the leaves stay above the waterline. 'Place the jar somewhere bright but out of direct sunlight and change the water every few days to keep it fresh and prevent rot.'
Within a couple of weeks, you should start to see roots forming. Plants such as pothos and monstera are particularly enthusiastic, often producing long, visible root systems that can look decorative in their own right.
This stylish design plant propagation vase with lid wooden stand great for growing hydroponic plants.
Formulated with concentrated seaweed extract from the ocean and humic acid mined from the earth, this natural root stimulator nourishes cuttings for stronger, healthier root development.
These professional heavy duty secateurs equip you with all you need to cut through 25mm thick stems with ease.
2. Choose the right species for success
If you want to learn how to take root cuttings in water, the trick is to make sure you are only attempting to do it on the plants that work.
Christopher O’Donoghue, director of Gardens Revived, says the method is 'perfectly sound for many common houseplants', but warns it has clear limitations.
'Water propagation works best with plants that have soft, herbaceous stems like pothos, philodendron, tradescantia, or coleus,' he explains. 'If you’re trying to root woody shrubs or succulents, you’re almost always better off using a sterile potting mix (like Westland's houseplant potting mix, £4.99 at Amazon), as those cuttings will usually rot in water long before they produce roots.'
A gardener with over a decade of experience under his belt, Christopher set up Gardens Revived with his brother, Andrew, in 2018 to create a thriving family business. He has since worked on residential gardens, listed buildings and gardens, award-winning RHS flower show gardens, and large estates with some exceeding 70 acres – many with historical significance.
Getting the plant choice right at the start is one of the simplest ways to avoid disappointment later on.
3. Don’t skip the node – it’s essential
Christopher is firm on one rule: the node is non-negotiable.
'You cannot just stick a piece of stem in water and hope for the best. You must ensure that at least one node – the growth point where leaves or branches emerge – is submerged. Roots grow from these nodes, not from the internodes,' he says.
This is one of the most common mistakes home propagators make, and it’s often the reason cuttings fail to root at all.
4. Keep everything clean to avoid rot
Sanitation, Christopher says, is just as important as the cutting itself. 'Bacteria are the main reason cuttings fail,' he explains.
Use clean glass jars or vases, and avoid anything porous that can harbour microbes. If the water becomes murky or starts to smell, that’s a sign that something is wrong.
'Change the water at least once a week to keep oxygen levels high and pathogens at bay,' he adds.
It’s a small step, but it makes a significant difference to success rates.
5. Avoid submerging leaves and overcrowding the jar
Another easy mistake when learning how to take root cuttings in water is letting foliage sit in the water. 'Only the nodes should be in the water,' Christopher says. 'If any leaves are underwater, they will decay and contaminate the water, which often kills the cutting.'
Trim back anything that would sit below the waterline before placing it in your jar. This helps keep the cutting healthy and reduces the risk of rot spreading.
6. Know when to move from water to soil
Perhaps the most overlooked stage is the transition from water to compost. 'One of the most common mistakes is leaving the cuttings in water for too long,' Christopher explains.
Once roots are around an inch or two long, they should be moved into a pot with moist compost. If left too long in water, the plant develops 'water roots', which struggle to adapt to soil.
'The longer you wait, the harder it is for the plant to adjust,' he says.
FAQs
How to get cuttings to root faster in water?
If you want to get cuttings to root faster in water, Morris Hankinson of Hops Grove Nurseries says that you must 'put the cutting in a clean jar of water and ensure the node is always submerged but the leaves are kept above the waterline'.
'Place the jar somewhere bright but out of direct sunlight and change the water every few days to keep it fresh and prevent rot. After a couple of weeks, you should see small white roots begin to grow,' he promises.
'Many plants such as Pothos and Monstera will grow long roots which will fill the vase or jar and look interesting as they are, but will need to be potted eventually,' Morris adds. 'Otherwise when the cuttings have strong roots of at least a few centimetres, they can be potted into moist compost and kept in a warm, light spot.'
Is it better to root cuttings in water or soil?
Whether it’s better to root cuttings in water or soil depends on the type of plant and how hands-on you want to be. Water propagation is often easier for beginners because you can clearly see root growth developing, making it ideal for common houseplants like pothos, philodendron and tradescantia.
However, cuttings rooted directly in soil tend to develop stronger, more resilient roots from the start and usually adapt better long-term because they don’t have to transition from “water roots” to “soil roots” later on.
Water propagation is great for convenience and visibility, while soil propagation is often the more reliable option for woody plants, succulents and gardeners looking for sturdier growth overall.
If you decide to learn how to root cuttings in water, remember that placement matters; you want bright but indirect light, as direct sun can overheat the water, stress the cutting, and encourage algae growth.
'It’s a simple process, but it’s easy to get lazy with it. If you keep the water clean and get the plants into the soil at the right time, though, you’ll have a much higher success rate,' says Christopher.
Essentially, with a bit of care and consistency, what starts as a single stem can quickly become a thriving collection of new plants... for free! Which means no hefty garden receipt for once. Sounds like a dream come true, right?
