Propagating Philodendron Cuttings.

• Tip cuttings are the growing tip from the plant. These are the easiest way to grow a single new plant. They can be easily grown by simply potting the tip into a small plastic pot, using Aroid Mix. Make sure your pot is not too big and that your mix is well drained with good moisture retaining elements. I always find that tip cuttings grow roots a little quicker if they are positioned around the edge of the pot rather than in the centre. It is important to add a temporary support or totem for the climbers so you aren't disturbing things by trying to add it later, once the plant is starting to grow leaves. When potting the tip cuttings (with leaves) of terrestrial philodendron, like gloriosum, a temporary support to keep the cutting steady while it grows roots is always helpful. Cuttings should always be protected from direct sunlight.

   

•  Stem cuttings can also be propagated using this method. You can lay the woody stem cutting on the top of the pot, nestling them into the mix without covering them. I always try to keep the nodes upwards if I can. It's important to make sure your mix is very well drained. Check regularly for progress. The woody stem will eventually rot away but if you are careful with the drainage, they can last for a very long time. Just always keep in mind that you are not waiting for a stem cutting to grow roots, you are waiting for a growth node to activate, giving you an new shoot that will grow roots. Once the new shoot has a few roots, you can carefully cut it from the stem and pot up like a tip cutting. Green fleshy stem cuttings can also be planted like the tip cuttings, upright into the mix at the edge of the pot.

• Both tip and green fleshy stem cuttings also do well in water propagation. You can put the base of the cuttings into a container of clean water. You can use a vase or cute glassware and set up a nice area in good light where you can keep an eye on the progress. It is important to keep the water clean and remove and dead or dirty plant material that falls into the water. You can grow philodendron hydroponically but it's not my field of expertise so will just say that there are a lot of good resources on social media if you want to go that way.

• I am growing in the tropics and if I leave anything in water for too long it will rot in no time, but I know this does work in less humid areas with no trouble. I never propagate woody cuttings in water. 

• I often propagate woody stem cuttings in Aroid mix, with extra chopped sphagnum moss. I use square black plastic nursery trays, lined with newspaper. The stem cuttings can be laid/nestled into the full area of the tray and there is plenty of room for the new shoots to spread around the tray. I put these out of the way, on a high shelf in my nursery under intermittent misting irrigation. I can harvest new plant tips from the trays as the shoots grow big enough, leaving the woody stems in the tray, for more nodes to activate. I have trays that are more than 12 months old with nodes still keen to activate. 

• If you are short of space, a clean takeaway container with a layer of chopped sphagnum moss in the bottom, makes a perfect place to activate a node on your woody stem cutting. Make sure there is good airflow and that the container has some good drainage holes. You want the moss to be damp not soaking wet. I find this method to be riskier for rot but I think it is a lack of airflow that can contribute to that.
• Your cuttings propagating in Aroid mix should be watered/misted regularly, keeping them damp but not soggy. Including extra chopped sphagnum moss into your mix will provide a few pockets of extra moisture for new roots to find.

• Humidity, warmth and light are important for cuttings success. Many people have had good success with our cuttings during the cooler months of the year by creating the requirements artificially, using heaters and grow lights. You can find plenty of information and guidance online in the Aroid groups on social media about the technical aspect of artificial growth conditions.

Here is a video for you, Peter Sargent from the Whyanbeel Arboretum talking about his methods of Philodendron propagation.

 Shop our Cuttings range.

There are many other methods of propagation used in the plant community. Tissue culture, air layering, seeds and more. It's always important to do your research and work out what will work best in your growing conditions. This article is about what has worked for me for many years. Just keep in mind that I am in the tropics where the conditions are often perfect. Creating a tropical jungle at your place is a good start.