The Propagation Playbook 🌱
A Root-to-Leaf Guide to Multiplying Your Green Gurls with Love, Science, and a Whole Lotta Sass
Throughout this fabulous plant parent journey, I have accumulated a cute lil list of planty projects that I like to spend my weekends or downtime indulging in, cuz plant care is a daily form of self-care for this kween. Sometimes thangs in life can get hectic and I find it necessary to have a lil list of thangs I can turn to when I need that opportunity to step away from technology, rest my voice and my mind, and really just get back to the basics—having interactions with nature.
One planty project I have come to enjoy quite a bit is propagation.
Propagation is when you take a mature mother plant and, through cuttings, layering, division, or even spores and seeds, you create a whole new green gurl to love, grow, and cherish! It’s a fabulous way to expand your plant fam using the lush kweens you already adore. And baby, it’s also a thoughtful way to share botanical joy with friends and fam. I love giving cuttings of green gurls that hold special meaning to the people I cherish—it feels good knowing the magic of a plant I’ve created memories with isn’t confined to the walls of my apartment.
That’s the beauty of propagation—there’s a method for every plant, every level of experience, and every mood. Below are the general guidelines, recommended plant types, and botanical breakdowns of each method so you can better understand the what, the why, and the werk behind each propagation technique.
STEM CUTTINGS
What it is: This method involves cutting a piece of a plant’s stem—typically one that includes a node (the spot where a leaf grows or used to grow)—and encouraging it to grow roots. That cutting can be placed in water or moist soil to stimulate root development. You’re essentially creating a clone of the original plant, hunny. This is one of the most versatile and beginner-friendly propagation techniques.
How to do it:
Use sterilized shears to cut 4–6 inches below a node.
Remove leaves closest to the cut and keep top growth intact.
Place in a jar of water or well-draining soil.
Keep in bright, indirect light.
Change water every 3–5 days (if in water) and monitor for roots.
Ideal for: Pothos, Philodendron, Monstera, Tradescantia, Coleus, Begonias, Rhaphidophora tetrasperma, Pilea
LEAF CUTTINGS
What it is: In this method, a full or partial leaf is cut from the mother plant and placed in soil or water to encourage it to sprout roots and eventually new shoots. It works best for plants with thick, succulent-like leaves. These powerful lil queens can generate entire new plants from a single leaf segment! It’s all about cellular totipotency, baby.
How to do it:
Cut a healthy leaf from the base.
Allow it to callous for 24–72 hours (for succulents).
Either place upright in soil or lay flat on moist substrate.
Mist lightly and keep under a humidity dome.
Wait for roots or plantlets to form at the base.
Ideal for: Sansevieria (Snake Plant), Peperomia, African Violets, Succulents (Echeveria, Crassula, Kalanchoe), ZZ Plant (in some cases)
SOIL & AIR LAYERING
What it is: With layering, you root a new plant while it’s still attached to the mother plant. In soil layering, you press a vine or branch into the soil and let it root before separating it. In air layering, you wrap a node or aerial root in moist sphagnum moss while it’s still on the plant. Both give your green gurl the chance to grow roots before facing the world on her own. This method is excellent for more sensitive or slow-rooting kweens.
How to do it:
Choose a healthy vine or node.
Soil layering: pin node into soil using U-pins and cover.
Air layering: wrap moss around aerial root, then cover with plastic wrap.
Keep moss moist or soil damp.
After 4–6 weeks, check for root growth, then cut and pot.
Ideal for: Monstera, Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica), Dracaena, Philodendron, Pothos
ROOT DIVISION & RHIZOMES
What it is: This method separates a plant that naturally grows in clumps or has a rhizome (an underground stem) into multiple sections, each of which contains its own root system and foliage. It’s perfect for when your pot is bursting with greenery and your plant is ready to be multiplied. It’s also one of the fastest ways to get a full-grown green gurl.
How to do it:
Remove the plant from its pot.
Gently tease or cut apart the root clumps or rhizomes.
Ensure each section has roots and leaves.
Replant in fresh soil and water thoroughly.
Ideal for: ZZ Plant, Peace Lily, Ferns, Cast Iron Plant, Snake Plant, Calathea, Alocasia, Caladium
OFFSETS & PLANTLETS
What it is: Some plants grow tiny babies—called offsets or plantlets—right alongside or on their stems. These baby plants can be carefully removed once they have a few roots and then potted up on their own. They’re nature’s lil bonuses, dahling! It’s the plant world’s version of giving birth to twins.
How to do it:
Wait until the plantlet has roots.
Use clean shears to detach it from the mother.
Plant in moist, well-draining soil.
Keep in bright, indirect light and water lightly.
Ideal for: Spider Plant, Aloe Vera, Haworthia, Bromeliads, Sempervivum (Hen and Chicks), Pilea Peperomioides
SEED PROPAGATION
What it is: The original way plants reproduce—by growing from seeds. This method requires patience, consistency, and a lot of light and humidity. You plant the seed in a lightweight mix, keep it moist, and watch for the first lil sprouts to emerge. It’s the ultimate fresh start and perfect for plant parents who want to be there from the very beginning.
How to do it:
Sow seeds in seed-starting mix.
Mist gently and cover with a humidity dome or plastic wrap.
Keep warm (65–75°F) and under grow lights or bright light.
Thin and pot up once seedlings have true leaves.
Ideal for: Herbs (Basil, Parsley, Mint), Ornamental Grasses, Palms, Cacti, Flowering Houseplants like Passionflower and Hibiscus
SPORE PROPAGATION
What it is: Mostly used for ferns, this ancient method involves collecting microscopic spores from under the leaves, placing them on moist soil, and letting them grow into tiny gametophytes before developing into full-grown ferns. It’s slow, but oh-so-worth it. Think of it as the OG form of plant reproduction.
How to do it:
Tap mature fronds over paper to collect spores.
Sprinkle spores on sterile, moist soil.
Cover and mist regularly.
Watch for tiny green gametophytes, then baby ferns.
Ideal for: Boston Fern, Maidenhair Fern, Staghorn Fern, Bird's Nest Fern
KEIKI PROPAGATION (ORCHIDS)
What it is: Some orchids will grow baby plants called keikis right on their flower spikes. Once those lil kweens grow a couple roots and leaves, you can snip and pot them to create an entirely new orchid. It’s orchid magic, straight from the mother herself—no extra work needed.
How to do it:
Wait until keiki has 2–3 roots and a couple leaves.
Use clean shears to snip from mother spike.
Plant in orchid bark or moss mix.
Mist often and keep in bright, indirect light.
Ideal for: Phalaenopsis Orchids (Moth Orchids), Dendrobium (in some cases)
No matter what method you use, propagation is a practice rooted in care, patience, and curiosity. Each technique reflects the incredible adaptability and intelligence of plants—and every new baby is a reminder of just how generous nature can be.
Final Thoughts & Encouragement from Plant Kween
Now, gurl, I know that propagating plants is not always easy and can sometimes bring up feelings of anxiety. The last thang any plant parent wants to see is a plant cutting that didn’t make it! I have had my fair share of plant parent propagating fails throughout the years, but with some practice, dedication to learning how to do better, and patience, this kween has some techniques down when it comes to particular green lil kweens.
Putting on my lil science hat and experimenting with my green gurls through various propagation methods has been a fun process for me as a plant parent. I have also come to accept that with fierce successes, there will be some plant parent fails. Plant propagation can be tricky sometimes and a cutting or two may not make it through the process. But, gurl, that’s why you either propagate multiple cuttings at the same time or simply try again.
Plant Kween’s General Tips for Propagation Success:
Do your research. It is so crucial to learn about the specific propagation needs of the plant you’re working with. Each green gurl has her preferences!
Be patient. Rooting takes time. Pot that cutting only when the roots are mature and strong enough to thrive in soil.
Have fun and stay curious. Learn from your mistakes, celebrate your wins, and share your baby plants like the botanical royalty you are.
Keep track of your process. Journaling your progress or snapping pics helps you notice patterns—and reminds you how far you’ve come.
Lean into the joy. Propagation is about more than just multiplying plants—it’s about deepening your connection with nature, nurturing life, and sharing love.
With leafy love,
Plant Kween
Thank you for this! Propagating my begonia maculata.