How to Propagate Pothos by Cuttings? Master the Best Time to Take Cuttings

As a very common green plant, pothos is naturally very familiar to everyone, and it often catches the eye in offices or at home. Pothos is a plant with strong vitality, and most people raise it with extensive, low-maintenance care, giving it a very ordinary feel. If you want your pothos to have a fresh new look, then learning how to propagate it by cuttings is essential.

How to Propagate Pothos by Cuttings

1. Prepare the Materials

1 pair of scissors, 1 flower pot, and a growing medium (pothos likes loose, breathable soil with good drainage, so the editor suggests using vermiculite, or a mix of sandy soil and perlite).

2. The Cutting Process

1. Take the Cuttings

Use scissors to cut semi-lignified pothos stems, about 10 cm long, and likewise cut the bottom into a 45-degree slanted cut. It is best if each cutting has aerial roots, as shown in the picture below.

2. Treat the Cuttings

For the cut stems, remove the lowest leaves so they can be easily inserted into the soil, and you can also cut the upper leaves in half to reduce water evaporation and improve the survival rate.

3. Cutting Method

If you have rooting powder at home, you can first treat the stems with it; if not, you can directly insert the stems into the prepared growing medium, to a depth of about one-half of the stem, water thoroughly, and place in a cool, ventilated spot.

3. Key Points to Note

After cutting, the pothos should be kept in relatively high soil moisture and protected from direct sun exposure. If the air is too dry, you can cover the pot with plastic film. In about twenty days the pothos will take root, and then you can remove the film. After another half month, it can be cared for normally.

When Is the Best Time to Take Pothos Cuttings

1. Strictly speaking, there is no clear rule about the timing; as long as the temperature and moisture are right, you can take cuttings all year round. But in terms of climate and survival rate, spring and summer are the most stable, from April to August.

2. At this time the temperature is relatively high, the sunlight is stable, and the air is relatively humid. In summer it can grow steadily, and by the time it overwinters it has grown relatively strong, with a certain ability to resist the external environment.

3. Of course, if you are in a hurry, you can also do it in autumn and winter, but you need to artificially create suitable temperature and moisture for it, keeping it above 20 degrees, and in winter it must not go below 15 degrees, otherwise it will enter dormancy, and any lower and it will not survive.

How to Care for Pothos in Winter

1. Light

In winter in the north, it is easy for pothos to suffer from insufficient sunlight, so in winter you should appropriately increase the light exposure for pothos. You can place it in a spot indoors with relatively abundant light, or put it on a balcony, so that the pothos gets enough light. Winter temperatures are relatively low, so it should not be left outdoors for too long.

2. Temperature

Generally, pothos is grown indoors. In winter, as long as the indoor temperature is above 10°C, the pothos can overwinter very safely. If the temperature can reach above 20°C, the pothos can even continue to grow. But be careful not to place the pothos near heating equipment just to keep it warm.

3. Water

In winter, the growth rate of pothos slows down and its water needs become smaller, so generally reducing the amount of water to half of the usual watering is enough. After heating starts, you should not increase the amount of watering either. When watering in winter, you can first leave the water to sit indoors for a day before watering, so that the water can rise to a temperature close to the indoor temperature. Then when you water the pothos, it can prevent cold water from freezing and damaging the pothos roots.

4. Fertilizer

In winter the growth rate of pothos is very slow, so in winter you should reduce fertilizing the pothos. During this period you can apply a little foliar fertilizer to the pothos; foliar fertilizer can be absorbed through the leaves, which is better for the pothos's growth in winter.

How to Keep Pothos Evergreen All Year Round

1. Suitable Light

In spring, summer, and autumn, it can be placed near an east- or north-facing windowsill, and in winter it can be placed at a south-facing window. If grown outdoors, pay attention to shading, and in summer especially be careful to prevent direct strong light.

2. Pay Attention to Keeping It Warm

The suitable temperature for pothos growth is 20℃-30℃, and in winter the room temperature should not be lower than 15℃.

3. Moderate Watering

Pothos likes moisture, and during the growing season it is appropriate to water so as to keep the potting soil moist most of the time. In summer, while watering thoroughly, also pay attention to frequently spraying water on the leaves. In winter when the room temperature is low, pay even more attention to controlling watering. Every 4-5 days, use warm water to spray and wash the leaves once to wash away the dust on the leaf surface, which helps keep the leaves bright and emerald green.

Actually, apart from its good ability to purify the air, the deepest impression pothos leaves on people is its easy-to-manage propagation method. So everyone does not need to worry about how to take pothos cuttings; it is an extensive-care type of plant, and generally routine care is enough for it to grow very well.