Pothos Soil Propagation Cuttings Method and Home Care Tips

  Pothos, as a "lazy person's plant," is one of the easier flowering and green plants to keep alive, and many flower lovers enjoy growing pothos. Although propagating pothos from cuttings is very simple, getting it to fill the pot still requires some technique! All right, enough chatter, let's get straight to the cutting steps! The editor reminds you: when caring for pothos in an air-conditioned room, do not let the airflow blow directly on the pothos, as that will cause the leaves to wither.

  1. Choosing soil

  Pothos has low soil requirements and does best in loose, fertile, well-drained sandy soil. For potting soil, you can mix garden soil, leaf mold and sand in a 5:3:2 ratio to create a high-quality soil for pothos that is loose, breathable and permeable.

  2. Cutting branches 

  Select healthy, pest-free branches and cut them off. Then use scissors to cut the long branches into small sections, keeping one leaf and one growth node on each section.

  3. Inserting the cuttings 

  Insert the cut cuttings into the prepared soil, burying 2/3 of each cutting in the soil and leaving 1/3 exposed. You can insert the branches all the way around the rim of the flowerpot, while also being careful to leave appropriate gaps.

  4. Care 

  After inserting the cuttings, water thoroughly and place the flowerpot in a ventilated spot, away from direct sun. You can mist the cuttings often to keep the soil moist; pothos will root in about 20 days.

  5. Tips for filling the pot 

  1. Temperature 

  The suitable growing temperature for pothos is 20 to 25°C. For overwintering, keeping it around 15°C is enough, and the lowest temperature must not fall below 8°C.

  2. Watering 

  In summer, when temperatures are higher, we need to ensure an adequate water supply, and we can spray some water mist every day to keep the potting soil moist. In winter, when temperatures are lower, the potting soil should be kept moist but on the dry side, to avoid excessive watering causing root rot or even death.

  3. Fertilizing 

  Pothos likes fertilizer, and fertilization should mainly use nitrogen fertilizer; if fertilizer is insufficient, pothos will grow poorly. During the growing season, apply diluted liquid fertilizer 2 to 3 times a month to promote the growth of pothos. Once the plant has taken shape, apply decomposed diluted liquid fertilizer once every 30 days.

How to grow soil-cultivated pothos

Pothos is a large evergreen climbing plant. It grows in tropical regions, often climbing on rocks and tree trunks in rainforests, and can grow into a huge climbing plant. Its green leaves have yellow patches. It has strong twining ability and well-developed aerial roots, so it can either be allowed to climb on a cylinder made of palm fiber and placed in an entrance hall or hotel, or be grown as a hanging plant and placed in a study or on a windowsill; it is a flowering plant quite suitable for indoor placement. Below is an introduction to how to grow soil-cultivated pothos.

Care methods

Temperature
In the north, pothos can overwinter safely at room temperature above 10°C, and it can grow normally at room temperature above 20°C. Generally, households can reach this temperature without much trouble; note that you should avoid too great a temperature difference, and also make sure the leaves do not come close to heating equipment.

Humidity
This refers to the water content of the air in the plant's growing environment. While ensuring normal temperature, increasing humidity is extremely beneficial to plant growth. Humidity can be increased in the following ways. Place the plant near a humidifier, running the humidifier for more than 5 hours a day, so the plant can enjoy the water mist sprayed out by the humidifier; use a sprayer adjusted to the mist setting to spray water on the plant's leaves, stems and aerial roots, several times a day; keep an appropriate amount of water in the flowerpot saucer, and through its evaporation increase the local humidity around the plant; use a cold wet towel or toilet paper to gently wipe the leaf surface or lightly lay it on the leaf surface for a short time (1-2 hours per day); cover the plant with transparent plastic film to create a mini-greenhouse effect, supplementing the plant's water through evaporation of water vapor from the soil, for no more than 2 hours a day, since too long will affect the plant's ventilation and photosynthesis.

Water
In autumn and winter, the amount of watering should be strictly controlled according to room temperature. Before heating begins, temperatures are lower, the plant's soil evaporates more slowly, and watering should be reduced, with the amount controlled between 1/4 and 1/2 of the original. Even after heating begins, watering should not be too frequent; when watering, pour less into the pot and let water seep through the palm fiber. In addition, you should also spray water on the places where aerial roots grow on the palm column, to reduce insufficient water absorption by the roots caused by overly rapid evaporation. For winter watering, water that has been left to stand for a day is better; water that is too cold easily damages the roots.

Fertilizer
In the autumn and winter in the north, most plants grow slowly or even stop growing, so fertilization should be reduced. Before winter begins, mainly water or spray with liquid inorganic fertilizer, about once every 15 days. After winter begins, fertilization should mainly be foliar spraying, applied mainly through the stomata on the leaf surface; fertilizer is absorbed through the stomata on the leaf surface, and the fertilizer effect can act directly on the leaf surface. Foliar fertilizer should use a special-purpose fertilizer; ordinary inorganic fertilizers are not easily absorbed by the leaf surface. The Beida Flower Guardian series and Japan's Hana-Ichiban, among others, can all be used as foliar fertilizers.

Cultivation points

Pothos grows quickly and cultivation management is simple. During cultivation and management, in summer you should spray water on the plant more often and apply fertilizer outside the roots once every 10 days to keep the leaves green and fresh. For potted seedlings, when the seedlings grow 30 cm above the cultivation column, they should be cut off; when fallen lower leaves reach 30%-50%, they should be discarded and replanted. Green-column potted plants are ideal plants for courtyard gateposts and wall greening, and their leaves are also excellent foliage for flower arrangements.

Care tips

Pothos develops best when cultivated in loose, organic-rich, slightly acidic to neutral sandy loam. Repot once every three years. Pothos is a shade-loving plant, averse to direct sunlight, fond of scattered light, and relatively shade-tolerant; generally, receiving four hours of scattered light gives pothos the best growth and development.

Propagation uses the cutting and stem-burying methods. Select a robust pothos vine, cut it into sections of two nodes each, being careful not to damage the aerial roots, then insert them into plain sand or coal cinders to a depth of 1/3 of the cutting, water thoroughly, place in a shaded spot, and spray with Xinguo lipid film to retain moisture; the survival rate is above 90%.

Pothos likes relatively high air humidity and a moist environment. Midsummer is the peak growth period for pothos; every day you can spray the aerial roots and leaf surfaces several times, which can both wash dust off the leaves and help pothos breathe, and also keep the leaves emerald green and fresh, while lowering leaf surface temperature and increasing the air humidity of the micro-environment, so the leaves grow better. For fertilizing pothos, use mainly nitrogen fertilizer, with potassium fertilizer as a supplement. Spray with Xinguo lipid film to retain fertilizer and moisture. In winter, when room temperature is lower, pothos is in a dormant state, so water less and just keep the potting soil from drying out.

The most suitable growing temperature for pothos is 20°C-28°C during the day and 15°C-18°C at night. In winter, as long as the indoor temperature is not lower than 10°C, pothos can overwinter safely; if the temperature is below 5, it easily causes leaf drop and affects growth. During the growing season, spraying Zhuangjingling at the right time can make the plant stems thick and strong, the leaves thick and plump, the leaf color fresh and tender, and the plant lush.

Shaping and pruning

Plant 4-5 plants per pot or insert cuttings directly, and set up a palm column in the middle of the pot to make it easier for pothos to twine upward as it grows. Shaping and pruning are carried out in spring. When the stems and vines have covered the palm column and the tips extend about 20 cm beyond the palm column, cut 40 cm off the stem tips of 2-3 of the plants. After new buds and new leaves sprout following the cutback, then cut off the stem tips of the remaining plants. For potted plants whose whole plant or lower half has lost leaves due to winter cold or other reasons, you can cut back half of the stems and vines by 1/2, and the other half by 2/3 or 3/4, so that the cut openings are staggered in height; in this way, the new leaves growing below the cuts can quickly cover the palm column.

How to care for pothos and spider plant

How to grow spider plant, and how to grow pothos and spider plant. Types of spider plant include variegated spider plant, golden-centered spider plant, silver-centered spider plant, broad-leaved spider plant and large-leaved spider plant. The large-leaved spider plant is a very large plant with relatively broad leaves and soft coloration, and looks very elegant when grown indoors. Spider plant usually flowers between spring and summer, with white flowers, several blooms clustered into a clump; when grown indoors, it can also bloom in winter.

Spider plant propagation methods. You can use division propagation, propagation from small plantlets on runners, and seed sowing propagation; the first two are more commonly used. Division propagation can be used in any season except winter; when repotting in spring, divide a 2-3-year-old plant into two pots or more, and replace the old growing medium at the same time. Runner propagation is done by cutting off the small plantlets on the runners during the growing season, growing them in water or soil, and transferring them to a pot after roots have grown.

How to divide spider plant pots. Spider plant roots become tangled together. When dividing the pot, first loosen the potting soil, pull out the roots, shake off the soil, then rinse with water, and place in a cool spot. When the fleshy roots become soft, cut along from the place where the root system has a relatively large gap; if the roots of several plants are twisted together, a slight pull will separate them.

Key care points for spider plant.
(1) Spider plant is generally repotted once every 2-3 years. Peat soil (leaf mold or garden soil) is commonly mixed with river sand in equal amounts, plus a little base fertilizer, to make the growing medium.
(2) Watering spider plant. From March to September, water demand is somewhat greater, so it needs frequent watering or misting, and then the amount of watering should be gradually reduced.
(3) Fertilizing spider plant. Mainly apply nitrogen fertilizer, but for variegated spider plant and golden-centered spider plant, use less nitrogen fertilizer; during the peak growing season, apply diluted liquid fertilizer twice a month.
(4) Spider plant should be placed in a ventilated, cool spot, and the growing environment should have a certain amount of humidity. If ventilation is poor, and the potting soil is overly waterlogged, spider plant will suffer root rot, and the possibility of root rot disease also increases.

Precautions

Pothos likes moisture. During the growing season, watering should keep the potting soil moist as much as possible; in summer, while watering fully, also pay attention to frequently spraying water on the leaf surfaces. Whether to water every day is affected by many conditions, such as how much potting soil there is, the size of the plant, the material of the pot, the care environment and so on; water consumption varies greatly, so you need to follow the above principles and judge specifically.

Pothos must not be watered with rice water. Although rice water contains nutrients that can be used, it must be composted, fermented and decomposed before use; otherwise, it not only easily breeds insects, but in serious cases can also cause root rot.

Pothos is fairly shade-tolerant, and can be kept indoors all year round when grown at home. If placed outdoors, pay attention to shading, and especially in summer pay attention to preventing direct strong light, otherwise it will cause new leaves to become smaller, the leaf color to become dull, and also easily scorch the leaf edges.

What to do about root rot in soil-cultivated pothos: care tips for soil-cultivated pothos

With its beautiful leaf shape and graceful plant form, pothos has always been a member of the household, and with its ability to purify air efficiently, plus being easy to grow, pothos can be seen in every part of the home. But soil-cultivated pothos can also develop root rot problems, so what should we do? Today, let's talk about what to do about root rot in soil-cultivated pothos, and care tips for soil-cultivated pothos.

What to do about root rot in soil-cultivated pothos

The first thing to remember is that soil-cultivated pothos must not be watered with rice water. Although rice water contains quite a few nutrients that can be used, it must be composted, fermented and decomposed before use; otherwise, it not only easily breeds insects, but in serious cases can also cause root rot.

The main cause of root rot in soil-cultivated pothos is too much water, plus poor ventilation, and the presence of pathogens in the soil, which will cause root rot.

Solutions for root rot in soil-cultivated pothos:

1. Pothos is generally repotted once every 2-3 years. Peat soil (leaf mold or garden soil) is commonly mixed with river sand in equal amounts, plus a little base fertilizer, to make the growing medium.

2. Watering pothos. From March to September, water demand is somewhat greater, so it needs frequent watering or misting, and then the amount of watering should be gradually reduced.

3. Fertilizing pothos. Mainly apply nitrogen fertilizer, but for variegated pothos and soil-cultivated pothos, use less nitrogen fertilizer; during the peak growing season, apply diluted liquid fertilizer twice a month.

4. Pothos should be placed in a ventilated, cool spot, and the growing environment should have a certain amount of humidity. If ventilation is poor, and the potting soil is overly waterlogged, pothos will suffer root rot, and the possibility of root rot disease also increases.

Care tips for soil-cultivated pothos

1. Pothos develops best when cultivated in loose, organic-rich, slightly acidic to neutral sandy loam. Repot once every three years. Pothos is a shade-loving plant, averse to direct sunlight, fond of scattered light, and relatively shade-tolerant; generally, receiving four hours of scattered light gives pothos the best growth and development.

2. Propagation uses the cutting and stem-burying methods. Select a robust pothos vine, cut it into sections of two nodes each, being careful not to damage the aerial roots, then insert them into plain sand or coal cinders to a depth of 1/3 of the cutting, water thoroughly, place in a shaded spot, and spray with Xinguo lipid film to retain moisture; the survival rate is above 90%.

3. Pothos likes relatively high air humidity and a moist environment. Midsummer is the peak growth period for pothos; every day you can spray the aerial roots and leaf surfaces several times, which can both wash dust off the leaves and help pothos breathe, and also keep the leaves emerald green and fresh, while lowering leaf surface temperature and increasing the air humidity of the micro-environment, so the leaves grow better. For fertilizing pothos, use mainly nitrogen fertilizer, with potassium fertilizer as a supplement. Spray with Xinguo lipid film to retain fertilizer and moisture. In winter, when room temperature is lower, pothos is in a dormant state, so water less and just keep the potting soil from drying out.

4. The most suitable growing temperature for pothos is 20°C-28°C during the day and 15°C-18°C at night. In winter, as long as the indoor temperature is not lower than 10°C, pothos can overwinter safely; if the temperature is below 5, it easily causes leaf drop and affects growth. During the growing season, spraying Zhuangjingling at the right time can make the plant stems thick and strong, the leaves thick and plump, the leaf color fresh and tender, and the plant lush.

5. You can use division propagation, propagation from small plantlets on runners, and seed sowing propagation; the first two are more commonly used. Division propagation can be used in any season except winter; when repotting in spring, divide a 2-3-year-old plant into two pots or more, and replace the old growing medium at the same time. Runner propagation is done by cutting off the small plantlets on the runners during the growing season, growing them in water or soil, and transferring them to a pot after roots have grown.

6. Spider plant roots become tangled together. When dividing the pot, first loosen the potting soil, pull out the roots, shake off the soil, then rinse with water, and place in a cool spot. When the fleshy roots become soft, cut along from the place where the root system has a relatively large gap; if the roots of several plants are twisted together, a slight pull will separate them.

7. Spider plant is generally repotted once every 2-3 years. Peat soil (leaf mold or garden soil) is commonly mixed with river sand in equal amounts, plus a little base fertilizer, to make the growing medium.

8. Watering spider plant. From March to September, water demand is somewhat greater, so it needs frequent watering or misting, and then the amount of watering should be gradually reduced.

9. Fertilizing spider plant. Mainly apply nitrogen fertilizer, but for variegated spider plant and golden-centered spider plant, use less nitrogen fertilizer; during the peak growing season, apply diluted liquid fertilizer twice a month.

10. Spider plant should be placed in a ventilated, cool spot, and the growing environment should have a certain amount of humidity. If ventilation is poor, and the potting soil is overly waterlogged, spider plant will suffer root rot, and the possibility of root rot disease also increases.

The above is an introduction to what to do about root rot in soil-cultivated pothos, and care tips for soil-cultivated pothos. We hope it will be helpful to everyone.