Pothos (Epipremnum aureum) are not only low-maintenance houseplants but also among the easiest to propagate. Propagating pothos is an inexpensive, straightforward way to create new plants from your existing vines, encourage fuller growth, and keep your collection healthy. With a few simple cuttings you can produce many new plants—perfect to share as gifts or to fill out planters around your home.
The techniques below work for most pothos varieties (often called Devil’s Ivy). If you want variety-specific care tips, consider guides for popular types like golden pothos, neon pothos, and Marble Queen pothos.
Why Propagate Your Pothos
Propagation is an approachable, low-risk project that benefits both beginner and experienced plant owners. Key reasons to propagate:
- Low risk: Pothos root reliably with minimal care.
- Cost-effective: Most supplies are already on hand.
- Healthier plants: Pruning stimulates new growth on the mother plant.
- Less waste: Instead of discarding clippings, turn them into new plants.
- Save money: Grow new plants rather than buying them.
- Great gifts: Share propagated cuttings with friends and family.
- Fuller pots: Plant cuttings with the mother plant to fill out sparse containers.
Propagation is also rewarding to watch—new roots and leaves are satisfying progress to follow.
Best Time To Propagate
Spring and summer, the active growing months, offer the best chance of fast, successful rooting. You can propagate in fall and winter, but cuttings often root more slowly or sometimes not at all. In cooler months we usually avoid starting water propagations, though we still tuck pruned vines into the mother plant’s soil to try to bulk it up. Even if those cuttings don’t root, they won’t harm the plant and sometimes surprise us by taking.
Tools & Supplies
- Pruning snips or sharp scissors
- Clear glass containers or jars
- Well-draining potting soil
- Nursery pots with drainage holes
- Rooting hormone (optional)
Where to Cut
Cut just below a leaf node—the small bumps along the vine where leaves once grew. Nodes are the sites where roots form, and each node can become a new plant. Choose a healthy vine with active growth and leave at least one leaf on each cutting. You can take short sections with one or two nodes or longer pieces with several nodes. Try to leave about one-third of the vine on the mother plant so it continues to thrive.
All those rounded bumps along the stem are nodes. For propagation, take a vine that looks leggy or has healthy foliage near the nodes. You can use products designed to encourage regrowth on bare nodes if desired, but simple pruning and propagation usually work well.
How To Propagate Pothos In Water
Water propagation is popular because you can watch roots develop and it’s very forgiving. Here’s a step-by-step approach.
Step 1: Take a Stem Cutting
Use clean, sharp scissors to cut a healthy section of vine just below a node, about 1 cm under the bump. You can split a long vine into multiple shorter cuttings, each with a node and at least one leaf. Disinfect tools between cuts to reduce disease risk.
Step 2: Remove Bottom Leaves
Remove leaves that would sit below the water line. Submerged leaves rot and cloud the water, so strip any foliage from nodes that will be submerged. Skip this for single-node cuttings that naturally sit above the water.
Step 3: Place Cuttings in Water
Arrange cuttings in clear glass containers filled with room-temperature tap water, ensuring nodes are submerged but leaves stay dry. Secure cuttings if needed with a clothespin or hairpin so they don’t sink. Clear jars make it easy to monitor root growth and water quality. Place containers in bright, indirect light—windowsills, shelves, or desks are ideal.
Step 4: Monitor the Water
Top off evaporated water and change it if it becomes murky. Most cuttings stay healthy for weeks without frequent changes, but fresh water helps keep roots healthy.
Step 5: Transfer Rooted Cuttings to Soil
Wait until roots are about 2–3 inches long before potting. Use a well-draining potting mix and a pot with drainage holes. Plant the rooted cutting, water thoroughly, and keep it in bright, indirect light. Keep the soil evenly moist for a few weeks while roots establish.
How To Propagate Pothos In Soil
Soil propagation skips the water stage and places the cutting directly where it will grow, though you won’t see root progress. It’s effective when done carefully.
Step 1: Take a Stem Cutting
Cut a healthy stem just below a node and include several leaves. Use clean scissors to reduce infection risk.
Step 2: Remove Bottom Leaves
Strip leaves from the lower 2–3 nodes so they can be buried. The more nodes in contact with soil, the greater the chance of strong root development. Keep several leaves above the soil line.
Step 3: Plant in Soil
Place the cutting into a moistened pot of well-draining soil and press gently so nodes contact the soil. Use a pin, paperclip, or plant pin to hold longer vines in place and ensure good contact. You can plant several cuttings in one pot or tuck cuttings back into the mother pot to create a fuller plant.
Step 4: Water Regularly
Keep the soil consistently moist while roots establish, and place the pot in bright, indirect light. Avoid overwatering by ensuring good drainage. After a few weeks, gradually space out waterings as the cutting becomes established.
Other Methods
Propagating in Sphagnum Moss
Sphagnum moss holds moisture well and can be used similarly to soil. Rehydrate dry moss before use, plant cuttings into the moist moss, and keep it consistently damp. Once roots reach a couple of inches, transplant into soil.
Pothos Basketing
Basketing is a technique to thicken a leggy plant by coiling its long vines into the soil so multiple nodes make contact. Use pins to secure vines and encourage new roots within the pot. This doesn’t create separate plants but quickly improves the appearance and fullness of an established pothos.
Placement and Light
Place propagation vessels in bright, indirect light. While pothos tolerate low light, they root faster with more light. Avoid prolonged direct sun, which can overheat cuttings or encourage algae. Keep cuttings warm and out of drafts or cold vents, and position them where you can easily check water levels and root progress.
Care After Propagation
Once rooted cuttings have been in soil a few weeks and show healthy new growth, care for them as you would any pothos. They prefer bright, indirect light but tolerate lower light. Water thoroughly every 7–10 days, allowing the topsoil to dry between waterings. Avoid letting pots sit in standing water—good drainage prevents root rot. Over time, reduce watering frequency as the plant becomes established.
More Plant Guides
For more plant care and propagation ideas, explore guides on succulents, low-light houseplants, air-purifying plants, and specific pothos varieties to expand your indoor garden and sharpen your plant skills.