Few houseplants are as resilient as philodendrons and pothos. We’ve written before about how fresh greenery breathes life into a home, both literally and visually, but even the hardiest vines can start to look unruly when they grow long and begin to snake around—think Little Shop of Horrors rather than a chic living room accent. We spotted this in a cozy seafood restaurant in Savannah and couldn’t resist sharing:
When our own plants start to overrun shelves or trail into every corner, we reach for a pair of scissors and do a little maintenance. A trim refreshes the plant’s shape and keeps things tidy without harming the overall health of the vine.
The best part is that those long stems aren’t waste—they’re opportunities. If you clip close to the stem node, each cutting can be placed in a glass of water and will often develop roots on its own.
Within a few weeks, you’ll see little roots forming from the nodes. Position the cup in bright, indirect light near a window and change the water occasionally. It’s an impressively simple way to propagate plants without special equipment—one healthy cutting can regenerate into a full new plant.
After the roots have grown a few inches, pot each cutting into its own container using quality potting mix. Keep the soil lightly moist until the plants establish, then care for them as you would the parent plant. Before you know it, you’ll have multiple new plants that mirror the original—an easy and virtually free way to expand your indoor garden.
What about you? Do you have inexpensive houseplant hacks or favorite near-indestructible varieties to recommend? Share your tips and discoveries—there’s always room to learn more about keeping greenery happy and thriving indoors.
More Plant Guides
If you want more care tips for popular houseplants, check out these guides:
- Golden Pothos Care Guide
- Marble Queen Pothos Care Guide
- Neon Pothos Care Guide
- Monstera Deliciosa Care Guide
- Snake Plant Care Guide
- Fiddle Leaf Fig Care Guide
- Tree Philodendron Care Guide
- How to Build an Easy Plant Shelf
- Protecting Outdoor Plants in a Deep Freeze
- Getting Started With Houseplants: An Expert Interview
- My Favorite Faux Plants
- Easy Houseplants to Keep Alive
- 10 Houseplants for Better Indoor Air Quality
Curious what other plants live at Casa Petersik? Here’s the long and leafy breakdown of our collection.