How to Propagate Pothos — Water & Soil Methods

Step by step guide to propagating Pothos. The easiest houseplant to propagate. This guide covers everything you need to know about this topic, including common causes, step-by-step solutions, and answers to frequently asked questions.

Here are the key things to understand: Method: Cut below a node with aerial root bump. Water: Place in water, roots in 1-2 weeks. Soil: Insert cutting into moist soil, roots in 2-4 weeks. Success rate: Nearly 100% — the easiest plant to propagate. Understanding these fundamentals will help you diagnose and resolve this issue more effectively.

The most common reasons this occurs include: Pothos is the easiest houseplant to propagate — almost impossible to fail. Each cutting needs at least one node — the small bump on the stem. Roots emerge from nodes — always cut just below one. Can keep Pothos in water permanently or transition to soil. Identifying the root cause is the first step toward finding the right solution.

To resolve this, follow these recommended steps: Cut a 4-6 inch section of stem with at least 2 nodes. Remove the bottom leaf — this node goes in the water/soil. Place in clean water — roots appear in 1-2 weeks. When roots are 2-3 inches long, plant in soil (or keep in water). If these steps do not resolve the issue, consider consulting additional resources or a qualified professional.

This article is part of our Tropical Plants collection on Houseplants Wiki. We provide comprehensive, up-to-date information to help you find solutions quickly.