Winter Homemaking: Pothos Vine Propagation

Propagating pothos vine and potting them in simple macramé pot hangers is a simple way to bring a pop of spring green into your home. My one regret this winter: not enough green in my home to chase away the winter grays. Our singular pothos on the mantle, and its six foot long arms, could use a trim anyways. I’ve enlisted my mom to teach me her tricks with simple knots and braids on cotton string. This way, the plants will be mounted up in high corners, out of reach from little fingers, catching every ray of spring sun. I’m taking you along as I learn the twists and turns of macramé and propagating pothos. 

Why Pothos is Easy to Grow

The pothos vine is a common, fast growing, low maintenance house plan with heart shaped leaves and variegation in green, white or yellow. Pothos can grow in indirect or direct light, making it ideal for most rooms of the house. The vines can grow as long as thirty feet, but do not require trellising, nor do they cling to support their long arms. Pothos prefer to have their roots completely dry between waterings, and will start to droop when they are ready for more. After some time, pothos will droop even when watered which indicates it is ready to be “potted up”, or has become root bound. A bigger pot, a little water, and your pothos is back to its cheery green self.

For more information on pothos, read here.

What is propagation?

Propagation is a process of multiplying plants without the means of seeds or root separation. This can be done using a cutting and water, or a cutting, root stimulator and fresh soil. Each plant requires a different mode for propagation. For pothos in particular, the vine has nodes between the leaves that look like small bumps. When covered in water, or soil with root stimulator, these nodes become new roots. Once roots reach close to two inches, the new cutting can be planted in potting soil and will continue to grow as a new plant. 

How to Propagate Pothos: Water Method

1. Make a cutting on an existing pothos plant between 4-6 inches in length, making sure there are at least four leaves. 
2. Remove the leaf closest to where you have cut the vine
3. Place the cut end in a clear jar and fill the jar with water. Do not let the other leaves become submerged. 
4. Place the jar in sunlight. After three weeks, you should notice roots starting to form from the nodes on the cutting. 
5. Remove the cutting and place the pothos in fresh potting soil. Water, and place in moderate sunlight for one week. 

How to Propagate Pothos: Soil Method

1. Make a cutting on an existing pothos plant between 4-6 inches in length, making sure there are at least four leaves. 
2. Remove the leaf closest to where you have cut the vine
3. Dip the end of the vine in rooting hormone, making sure the first nodes are covered
4. Place the cutting in a mixture of ½ peat moss and ½ perlite until the roots begin develop four weeks later
5. After two months, the plant can be transplanted into regular potting mix, watered and hung. 

Common Low Maintenance House Plants

Keeping houseplants can benefit the home and the waterer by purifying the air, increasing the humidity and uplifting one’s attitude! Pothos vine is a great starter plant, but there are lots of other low maintenance house plants that you may enjoy: 

1. Snake plant: there are more than seven varieties of snake plant, some with yellow or white variegation, some wavy and others straight.
2. Peperomia “Watermelon” Plant: light is the most important factor for the watermelon plant to stay brightly colored and full of leaves
3. Aloe: this plant can be planted in small or large pots, and multiplies through runners. They can be separated, repotted and given as gifts!
4. Philodendron: moderate watering is important, as well as good draining soil. 
5. Bromeliad: for this houseplant full of color, very similar to orchids, plant in a mix of well draining soil and sand.

If you’re anything like me, it is hard not to have a little dirt and a pop of green nearby. In fact, I give myself a pat on the back when I see these little vines growing into monsterous draping foliage…. As good as I may be at growing veggies, house plants are my nemesis. Back to the seed starting grind!

To hear what’s going on in our large vegetable garden, read more under “Garden Journey”.