Propagating a Philodendron

Philodendrons are one of the easiest houseplants to propagate. The secret? Their aerial roots. These grow straight from the stem and make cutting and rooting much easier. In the wild, they can grow metres long – but luckily you don’t need that at home.

Want to grow a new Philodendron from your current one? All you need is a clean pair of scissors and a glass of water. Follow these four simple steps to get started.

Rinse your knife or scissors under hot water. Then disinfect them with alcohol to kill any bacteria or fungus. This helps prevent infections during propagation.

Pick a healthy stem with a visible aerial root. Cut the stem about five centimetres below the root.

No aerial root? Then make a slanted cut – this improves the chance of root growth. It can still work, but success is less guaranteed.

Got rooting powder at home? Apply some to the cut ends of both the cutting and the mother plant. Let it dry well.

It’s not essential, but it can help speed up root development.

Fill a glass or vase with water and place the cutting inside. Make sure only the stem is submerged. Keep the leaves above water – otherwise, they’ll rot and drain the cutting’s energy.

Change the water once a week and rinse the glass to prevent algae. Once the roots are about five centimetres long, you can transfer the cutting into soil.

• Best time: spring or early summer
• Light: bright but indirect light
• Water: refresh weekly
• Roots: aerial roots help but aren’t required
• Tip: always use clean tools and remove leaves touching the water

Yes, you can. Just make a slanted cut and choose a healthy stem. It might still work – but success isn’t guaranteed.

These tips are based on our own experience with propagating. All methods are tested in our plant nursery and work well for beginners too.

Want to explore more propagation tips? Check out our other step-by-step plant guides.