Re-rooting Philodendron Cuttings: Skip Fertilizer, Use Rooting Hormone, and Consider Soil Over Water

Water Rooting

• No fertilizer—it burns new roots. Use a starter solution or root stimulator if desired.
• Roots appear in 2–4 weeks.
• When "quite a few" roots form, pot in 2 parts potting soil + 1 part perlite for good drainage.

Expert Preference: Soil Rooting

1. Dip cuttings in rooting hormone.
2. Insert directly into the same 2:1 soil:perlite mix.
3. Treat as a rooted plant—same watering rules.
4. Roots form in 2–4 weeks, but they're wiry and sturdy, avoiding the fragile water-to-soil transition where many cuttings fail.

Staking

No need to stake immediately; wait until the plant is established and shows top growth.