How to Propagate Pothos (and Similar Vining Plants) in Water

A node is the slightly swollen point on the stem where a leaf joins it. Many vining plants also have small brown bumps there — aerial roots waiting to grow. New roots form from nodes, so every cutting needs at least one.

Using clean scissors, cut just below a node to make a cutting with two to four leaves. Remove the leaf closest to the bottom so the node can sit under water without a leaf rotting.

Place the cuttings in a clear jar of room-temperature water so the nodes are submerged and leaves are above the water. Keep it in bright, indirect light. Change the water every few days to keep it fresh.

Roots usually appear within one to three weeks.

Once roots are about 3–5 cm long, plant several cuttings together in a small pot of houseplant compost for a fuller plant. Keep the soil a little more moist than usual for the first couple of weeks while the roots adjust.

Some newer varieties of houseplants are protected by plant patents or plant breeders’ rights, which restrict propagating them for sale. Propagating for your own use is generally treated differently from selling cuttings, but rules vary by country, so check before you sell.