How To Plant Propagated Plants: From Water To Soil
If you’re anything like us, then you have baby plant fever. We love creating new houseplants, and our favorite method is propagation.
Picture this: your plant cuttings have been propagated and they’re rooting in water. You’ve been taking good care of them, watching the root system grow bigger each week. You can’t wait to add them to your collection. We don’t blame you! It’s an exciting process, and we’re here to help you with the last step: how to plant propagated plants.
Why Move Them At All?
Maybe you’re wondering: Can’t propagated plants just stay in the water forever? Properly transferring your cuttings is important because plants don’t get any nutrients from water. Moving them to soil is critical for their future growth.
Another reason to transfer them is the difference between water roots vs soil roots. Water roots are usually a light color and have lots of long, thin strands. They are delicate because they don’t have to work hard to get the water they need.
Soil roots, on the other hand, are stronger and thicker. This allows them to fight their way through the dirt to get water and nutrients. Potting propagated plants helps the fragile water roots to develop into sturdier soil roots, giving them a greater chance of survival.
When To Pot A Propagated Plant
Recognizing the signs that your plant is ready to be potted is the first step to a successful transplant, and it’s all about the roots.
Every plant is different. Some grow roots within days, and others take weeks to show any change. We recommend checking root growth weekly. As you do, make sure you top off the water so the roots aren’t exposed to air, and fully replace the water once or twice a week.
Our tip for knowing when to pot a propagated plant is to check the length of your roots. Once they are 1-2 inches long, your cutting is ready to be potted! But don’t rush it. Make sure the root system is well-established and strong enough to survive the move.
Picking The Best Soil For Propagated Plants
The best soil for propagated plants is actually not soil at all—it’s potting mix! The difference between the two is that garden soil often carries fungus, which can cause diseases and pest issues in your houseplants. Potting mix, however, is sterile. It’s best for plants in containers because it allows the roots to expand.
Potting mix is a combination of organic material, like compost or peat moss, along with bark, perlite, and vermiculite. The organic material provides nutrients to your plant, and the rest of the mix helps it drain well. Potting soil provides everything your plant needs to grow, besides water and sunlight, of course!
How To Choose A Pot
The next step in potting propagated plants is selecting a container. The best rule of (green) thumb is to find a pot that is 2-3 inches bigger than the root system. This gives your cutting room to grow, but won’t be so big that you’ll overwhelm your new plant. And remember to check that your pot has a drainage hole for watering!
Going forward, your plant will need to be repotted every 1-2 years. Always choose a pot that’s about two inches bigger in diameter than your current one.
You’ll know it’s time if:
- Roots are growing through the drainage hole.
- The plant is top heavy and threatening to fall over.
- It needs frequent watering.
- There are signs of salt build-up on the pot.
Now that you have your pot, you’re ready to transfer your cuttings to soil.
How to Plant Propagated Plants Step By Step
- Prepare your pot by placing 1-2 inches of soil at the bottom.
- Remove your plant from the water and rinse it thoroughly.
- Move your plant to the pot and cover the roots with soil. Make sure you fan out the roots so they don’t get tangled in one big clump.
- Water your cutting until water leaks out the bottom of your pot.
Congrats! You’ve just successfully learned how to plant a propagated plant. However, some plants are delicate and require a bit more care and attention to survive such a drastic change in environment.
If you’re worried about transferring your cuttings to soil, we recommend a more gradual approach. When your cutting is ready to be moved:
- Pour out half the water in the glass and replace it with damp potting soil.
- Add a little more soil every day to slowly accumulate the plant to the new environment.
- When your plant is mostly sitting in soil, you can move it to a pot following the steps above.
Post-Transplant Care and Maintenance
Now that you know how to plant a propagated plant, it’s time to make sure it stays happy and healthy. Your cutting just went through a huge change, so, just like people, you need to check in and monitor for signs of stress.
Watering
The transition from growing completely in water to now growing in soil can be difficult for some plants (remember water roots vs soil roots?). To help with the transition, keep the soil moist, but not soaking wet, until the roots are well-established. Then you can slowly space out waterings until it’s on a normal schedule.
Sunlight
To start, place your plant in bright, indirect sunlight until you see growth. This should take a few weeks. Proper lighting for propagated plants is important because the delicate roots can’t handle harsh sun at this stage. After it has rooted, you can move it to your desired location according to the light needs of your particular plant.
Humidity
Sometimes propagated plants struggle with the change in humidity. If this is the case, place a plastic bag over your new plant for the first week or two to help it retain moisture. Remember to poke holes in it for proper air flow.
Helping The Struggling Houseplant
There are a few common issues that struggling houseplants face.
#1. Transplant Shock
Transplant shock refers to the stress that plants experience after they have been moved from one location or growing medium to another. This stress can cause the plant to not root well, therefore stunting its growth. It’s often due to changes in the environment like soil composition, lighting, and watering.
Common symptoms include:
- Leaf scorch
- Wilting leaves
- Yellowing leaves
- Curling leaves
- Slowed growth
Gradually introducing your plants to their new environment is the best way to help them adjust. Our biggest tip to avoid transplant shock is to water your cuttings thoroughly after potting and make sure the roots stay moist when you’re moving them.
#2. Root Rot
Root rot, appropriately named, is the result of roots that are exposed to too much wet soil, causing them to rot. This can be a result of overwatering or fungi that grow in wet soil.
You can identify this issue by giving your plant’s roots a quick check-up. Healthy roots are firm and cream-colored, while rotting roots are soft, dark, and may even fall apart and give off a bad smell. If you notice wilting or yellowing leaves, brown spots, or a sudden change in the health of your plant, you know what to check first.
You can treat this by removing the dying parts of the plant—including the roots—and repot it with fresh soil. Since moisture is at the root of the issue (pun intended) be careful not to overwater your cutting.
#3. Overwatering
Speaking of overwatering… this is the most common problem that plant parents face. This happens when you water a plant too much or there isn’t proper drainage, ultimately starving your roots of oxygen and making them unable to get the nutrients they need. Plants that thrive in dry conditions, like succulents, are more susceptible to overwatering.
If you’re struggling to figure out when to water your plants, we suggest testing the soil with your finger. If it’s damp, hold off on watering until it completely dries out. You can also pay attention to the weight of the pot—a plant with dry potting soil will be significantly lighter than one that’s been freshly watered.
Other things to check:
- Is your drainage hole clogged? Improper drainage can lead to moisture build-up that is bad for your new plant. Houseplants don’t do well in standing water.
- Is your pot too big? When you choose a pot that’s too big, the plant struggles to soak up all the water. This makes them more susceptible to root rot and other overwatering issues.
You are now set up for success on your next propagation adventure! Shop our Home & Garden supplies for everything you need to get started potting propagated plants.