How to Propagate Houseplants: A Step-by-Step Guide

The Joy of Sharing Plants

Houseplants often carry family history—cuttings passed down through generations. Propagating your own is easy and rewarding.

Materials Needed

• Sterile rooting medium: 2 parts perlite to 1 part peat moss.
• Plastic shoe box (or similar container).
• Warm, sunny window or fluorescent light stand.

Rooting African Violet or Gloxinia

1. Remove an unblemished leaf with ½ inch of stem.
2. Dust cut end with rooting hormone (e.g., Rootone).
3. Insert stem into damp medium; several cuttings per box.
4. Cover with clear plastic wrap; place in bright light.
5. After 3 weeks, remove plastic. Keep soil lightly moist (spray soil, not leaves).
6. After another 3 weeks, tug gently. Resistance means roots have formed.
7. Transplant to individual pots; fertilize at half strength.
8. Share with friends and family!

Rooting Large-Leaf Begonia

1. Remove an unblemished leaf.
2. Cut into wedge-shaped pieces with a vein down the center of each.
3. Lay pieces on medium; weigh cut ends with pebbles for good contact.
4. Cover with plastic; place in bright light.
5. In 4–6 weeks, leaflets appear at edges. Remove plastic immediately.
6. Grow until 2–3 inches tall; then separate from mother leaf.
7. Pot up, fertilize at half strength, and grow to gift-giving size.