Practical Guide to Propagating Indoor Plants by Cuttings 

Today, let's dive into the art of cuttings, an exciting method for propagating and multiplying your favorite indoor plants. The following method isn't the only one, but it provides excellent results, creating roots suited for soil rather than water roots. Follow these simple tips to create a plant paradise in your home, or to share as a gift.

1. Choose the Right Candidates

Opt for healthy plants, free from diseases and pests. Tender, non-flowering stems are ideal for cuttings. Also, ensure that the parent plants have enough leaves, as they will provide the energy needed for new growth. If your plants have aerial roots, that's a bonus!

2. Prepare Your Materials

Gather everything you need before starting. You'll need clean gardening scissors, plastic cups, a lighter, perlite, and vermiculite.

3. Take the Cuttings Properly

Cut the stems at a 45-degree angle using sharp scissors. Choose cuttings that are 10 to 15 centimeters long, ensuring they include at least two nodes (when possible). Gently remove the leaves from the lower node to expose the growth areas.

4. Use the Right Substrate

The choice of substrate is crucial. At Bloomy Plant Space, we love a mix of perlite and vermiculite with a 1:1 ratio. Take half of your plastic cups and make drainage holes at the bottom using the lighter. Fill them about halfway with the substrate mixture, then place each cup with holes into a non-holed cup.

5. Plant with Care

Place the cutting on the substrate, then add more to completely cover the node, allowing the cutting to stay in place. Place the pots in a bright location, but avoid direct sunlight.

6. Water Moderately

Keep the water level to about one-third whenever possible while the roots are forming. The water will rise by capillarity, keeping the substrate moist and encouraging the growth of soil-adapted roots (see step 9).

7. Create a Favorable Environment

To encourage root formation, maintain high humidity around the cuttings. Use a transparent dome, a plastic bag, or simply a greenhouse to create a microclimate. Ventilate regularly to prevent mold.

8. Be Patient

Propagation by cuttings requires patience. Wait until the roots reach an adequate size before transplanting your young plants into individual pots.

9. Transplant with Care

When the roots are sufficiently developed, transplant your cuttings into individual pots with quality potting soil. For tropical plants, such as aroids, we recommend a mix of 1/3 tropical plant soil, 1/3 perlite, and 1/3 orchid bark. Continue to care for them as you would for mature plants.

10. Share Your Success

Finally, feel free to share your successes and cutting experiences with the EspaceBloomy.ca community. It's a great way to learn and inspire each other!

With these tips, you're ready to embark on the exciting adventure of cuttings. Transform your indoor space into a thriving garden and share your own tricks, tips, and of course, your love for plants on EspaceBloomy.ca!