Looking to expand your indoor garden during winter? No worries! Pothos plants are known for their ease of propagation, even during cold months. This guide will provide tips and insights on soil propagation of pothos in winter.
So, let’s dive in and learn how to successfully propagate pothos in the winter!
Key Takeaways
Pothos plants can be propagated in soil during winter with proper preparation and care.
Enhancing light, temperature, and humidity levels is essential for successful propagation of pothos in the winter.
Techniques such as artificial lighting sources, insulation or heat mats to maintain temperatures above 65°F (18°C), humidifiers or pebble trays can help achieve optimal conditions for growth.
Understanding Pothos Plants and Winter Propagation
Pothos plants, also known as Devil’s Ivy, are popular tropical plants that can be propagated through various methods, including soil propagation. These plants can be propagated year-round, but winter propagation may take longer due to reduced light and colder temperatures.
Yet, given the proper knowledge and care, the propagation of golden pothos in winter can be both rewarding and successful.
Pothos Plant Overview
Pothos plants, with their vibrant, heart-shaped leaves, are a favorite among both novice and experienced gardeners due to their hardiness and adaptability. Propagating these plants, especially via soil propagation, is a popular way to expand your indoor jungle.
Understanding the plant’s anatomy is essential for successful propagation.
Each vine has small bumps known as nodes, which are crucial for the emergence of new roots and leaves. To propagate, healthy stem cuttings with at least one node are required.
Winter Propagation Challenges
The propagation of pothos in winter can pose challenges due to diminished light, fluctuating temperatures, and decreased humidity levels. These factors can negatively impact the growth and root development of pothos cuttings taken from the mother plant.
To achieve successful propagation, it’s essential to create the best possible environment for your pothos cuttings. This includes ensuring they have access to plenty of indirect sunlight, are kept in warm conditions, and are surrounded by high levels of humidity. These factors are key in encouraging the growth of healthy roots and foliage during the winter propagation process.
Frankly speaking, I am not a fan of soil propagation. Why? It’s like waiting for the paint to dry! It’s a slow process, and you can’t see any progress. It’s like telling a joke but waiting a week for the punchline!
I’ve found that water propagation is my preferred method. It allows you to see the growth of roots in real-time, which is truly fascinating. If you’re interested in learning more about this method, check out my post that talks about water propagation.
Soil Propagation Technique for Pothos in Winter
Soil propagation involves planting stem cuttings in soil rather than other mediums. Although soil propagation may take slightly longer for the roots to become established, the plants will grow more rapidly once the roots have formed.
Proper preparation and care are necessary to ensure success.
Choosing a Pot for Soil Propagation
When it comes to choosing a pot for soil propagation, visibility is key. This is why I often opt for a clear plastic pot, like a cup from a takeout drink. This allows me to keep an eye on the development of the roots, which is especially helpful during the slow winter months.
The clear plastic pot provides a window into the underground world of your pothos cuttings, allowing you to monitor the root growth and identify any potential issues early on.
However, since the roots are not supposed to be exposed to sunlight, make sure to place the clear pot in another pot that’s opaque and has no draining holes.
When using a clear plastic pot, make sure it has adequate drainage holes at the bottom to prevent water logging. If your takeout cup doesn’t have any, you can easily make some using a sharp object such as a nail or you can cut holes on the sides with scissors.
Remember, the size of the pot also matters. For propagation, a smaller pot is usually better as it allows the soil to dry out more evenly between waterings. Once you see a healthy network of roots, you can transplant your pothos into a larger, more permanent pot.
In summary, a clear plastic pot, such as a takeout drink cup, with DIY-made holes can be an excellent choice for soil propagation, especially if you’re keen on monitoring the root development of your pothos plants.
Preparing Cuttings for Soil Propagation
Start by selecting healthy stems with nodes to prepare pothos cuttings for soil propagation. Note that a pothos plant cannot be propagated from a single leaf only; you need to have a piece of stem with nodes.
Use a sharp, sterilized pair of pruners or micro snips to make clean cuts.
Cuttings should be at least 4-6 inches long, and it is recommended to remove the leaves from the lower section of the cutting, exposing a few inches of the stem.
Once you have your cuttings, ensure the nodes are clean and free of any debris. These exposed nodes will be the points where new aerial roots will grow when planted in soil.
Soil Preparation and Rooting Hormone
The success of pothos propagation depends on proper soil preparation.
Here are the steps to follow:
Use fresh potting soil suitable for pothos, not garden soil or previously used soil.
Choose a suitable pot or container (see above).
To further boost root development, I recommend dipping the exposed nodes in rooting hormone before planting the cuttings in soil (see the rooting solution I use in the photo above).
When planting the cuttings, follow these steps:
Make a straight cut below a node.
Ensure that 2-3 bottom nodes are in the moistened soil mix or try placing the cuttings in water for a short period before planting.
Cover the container with a lid or a plastic bag tented over the top, making sure none of the leaves come into contact with the plastic to avoid rotting.
Caring for Pothos Cuttings in Soil
Maintaining consistent moisture, providing indirect sunlight, and monitoring the growth progress of your pothos cuttings planted in soil are necessary during winter propagation.
Water the cuttings every 5-8 days, depending on the size of the pot, composition of the soil, and the temperature. You need to be careful with watering because the pot is small. Check my post to read useful pothos watering tips. I also highly recommend using a soil moisture meter.
If you covered the pot with a plastic bag or lid, make sure to remove it twice a day for 10 minutes to ensure proper ventilation.
To determine if your pothos cutting has taken root in the soil, give it a gentle tug. If it resists, it has successfully rooted and can be moved to a permanent container. Remember that patience is key during winter propagation, as root development may take longer than during warmer months.
Overcoming Winter Propagation Challenges
Enhancing light conditions, managing temperature, and boosting humidity levels are involved in overcoming winter propagation challenges for pothos plants. By addressing these factors, you can create the optimal environment for your pothos cuttings to grow and thrive during the colder months.
Enhancing Light Conditions
Consider using artificial light sources or positioning your pothos plant near a bright window to improve light conditions during winter propagation. Bright indirect light or moderate light is optimal for pothos propagation in winter, and LED grow lights can provide the necessary light intensity for healthy growth.
Ensuring adequate light exposure will provide your pothos cuttings with the energy they need to develop strong roots and lush foliage, even during the darker winter months.
Temperature Management
Maintaining a steady temperature above 65°F (18C) is necessary for the successful propagation of pothos in winter. If necessary, insulation or heat mats may be utilized for additional temperature control.
Heat mats can be placed underneath the propagation tray or container and set between 70 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit (21-24 degrees Celsius) to provide the optimal temperature for pothos propagation. Monitoring the temperature regularly and adjusting the heat mat settings as needed will ensure your cuttings remain in the ideal conditions for growth.
Boosting Humidity Levels
For optimal growth, pothos plants prefer a humidity level between 50% and 70%.
To increase humidity levels during winter propagation, consider using a humidifier, or placing the plants in a pebble tray, or placing a tray of water near the plant to boost ambient moisture.
I usually put a small plastic bag with a stick over the pot to create a mini greenhouse. If you decide to go this way, don’t forget to remove the bag twice a day for about 10 min for ventilation.
Summary
In conclusion, soil propagation is a viable method for propagating pothos plants during winter. By understanding the nature of pothos plants and addressing the challenges of winter propagation, you can successfully grow and care for your pothos cuttings. Enhancing light conditions, managing temperature, and boosting humidity levels are key factors in ensuring the success of your winter propagation endeavors.
Armed with this knowledge and these practical tips, you are now ready to expand your indoor jungle and enjoy the lush beauty of pothos plants all year round, even in the coldest months. Happy propagating!
