Top 10+ easy plants you can grow for free from cuttings
When you love houseplants as much as we do, you want more. And then some more! Many common houseplants actually are easy to propagate, or to grow from cuttings. You won’t have to set up a greenhouse, buy special tools, or invest in grow lights.
But first, understand that not every plant is actually legal to propagate. New plant varieties are introduced by plant breeders every year. They apply for a patent to protect plants they have developed with new or unique qualities. New varieties can take years and years to breed successfully, so this protects the breeders.
A patent, which lasts for 20 years, prevents anyone but the owner (or someone licensed by the owner) from producing the plant during its patent period. That means for any newly-introduced or rare plants with patents, you cannot legally propagate them—even for yourself.
However, there are tons and tons of plants that have been around forever that are totally fair game, like the ones listed below. For all of these, the propagation technique is super simple: Place cuttings in moist potting medium, keeping it ever-so-slightly damp. You can dip the cutting in rooting hormone first to help boost the process, but it’s not entirely necessary.
Keep the pot in a place where it receives bright, indirect light, not direct sunlight. Then, be patient! Within a few weeks to a few months, depending on the species, you’ll have a new plant. You will know you are successful if the plant pushes new growth and/or if you tug on the new plant and feel resistance (roots have grown!).
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Ahead, 13 plants that grow from cuttings with ease, with simple propagation tips for each to ensure your success!
Learn how to grow new plants from cuttings—so you can expand your collection for free.
Spider plants make it so easy for you to propagate them because it forms “babies” on the ends of long stems. When you see little root nubs on the babies, trim the plantlet off and place in another pot of soil. Use a bent paper clip to keep it in contact with the soil, and water as usual.
Light: Medium to bright, indirect light
Water: Keep slightly moist.
Trim off the pups, or baby plants, that develop around the base of the mother plant. Or take a stem cutting, pulling a single leaf off the plant then placing in potting mix. This can take longer to root but is a good way to save a plant that’s become leggy.
Light: Bright, indirect
Water: Allow the soil to dry out most of the way before watering.
Also known as coin plant because of its round leaves, you can pot up any of the little “babies” that pop up around the base of the mother plant. Use a knife to lift them up, and look for roots. If it has them, you can cut it away from the big plant, place the baby in potting mix, water lightly, and wait. This is a slow to moderate grower so it can take a few years before the babies mature.
Light: Bright, indirect
Water: Let the soil mostly dry out before watering.
This succulent is another plant that doesn’t need a lot of TLC to root. Simply take a stem cutting, let it dry slightly (though you can have equal success if you skip this step), then poke it into moist potting mix. You can take several to fill in a plant that’s getting leggy.
Light: Bright, indirect
Water: Water when soil is mostly dry.
Snake plants are loved because of their striking architectural form and their low-maintenance nature—and they’re just as fuss-free to propagate. Take a whole leaf or cut one into 2 to 3-inch-long sections. Push it about ½-inch into the moist potting medium.
Light: Low, medium or bright, indirect
Water: Let dry out almost completely before watering.
Heartleaf philodendron is just as easy as pothos. Take a cutting a few inches long containing a few leaves. Make sure there’s a node, push it into the moist potting mix, and wait. You also may be able to root these in water.
Light: Moderate to bright, indirect
Water: Let soil surface dry slightly before watering.
Pothos is probably the easiest plant to propagate! If the plant starts to look gangly, give it a haircut all around. Take a cutting that’s a few inches long with several leaves, making sure you have a node (a dormant growing point where the stem meets the leaf). Poke this into moist potting mix, and keep damp. Alternately, you can root these in water, waiting for roots to appear before potting up.Light: Bright, indirect lightWater: Allow to dry out slightly between wateringsHow to Grow Pothos
Holiday cacti, such as Thanksgiving cactus, Christmas cactus, and Easter cactus are long-lived plants, thriving for decades. They’re the ultimate pass-along plant. To propagate, cut off a length of 2-3 flattened stem segments, allowing them to “callus” or dry overnight, then press into moist potting mix. Place several cuttings in the same pot to fill it out more quickly.
Light: Bright, indirect light
Water: Allow to dry out slightly between waterings.
