How to propagate a satin pothos plant

Love a Satin Pothos? Let’s make more of them – for free! Here is the easiest way to propagate the satin pothos plant!

Pothos are my top pick for beginner houseplants. They are super easy to keep alive – and super easy to propagate!

I recently got some Satin Pothos cuttings in a plant swap and I am just in love with the dark green leaves with silver splash variegation on them. It’s gorgeous!

Since I recieved this plant as cuttings, I obviously had to root them! They rooted beautifully and I am excited for them to grow out a bit so I can take more cuttings and fill out my pot.

Here is a complete guide to propagating satin pothos plants!

Can you propagate satin pothos in water?

Yes! The easiest way to propagate satin pothos is in water. The plant cuttings will grow roots directly in the water and you can move the pothos plant to soil when you are ready.

Can I keep my pothos in water forever?

Pothos can grow in water forever! It might not grow as big as it would in soil, but it can still do great. Just be sure to keep the water topped off so that the plant does not dry off, and change the water if it looks foggy or dirty.

Where do you cut satin pothos to propagate?

You want to cut your satin pothos cutting off so that the cutting is around 3 to 9 inches in length and has at least one – preferably two or more – nodes on the cutting.

It is important to know that roots and leaves on pothos plants grow from the nodes. So, you will want to be sure to cut a node off of the mama plant to grow roots.

You can really cut the stem anywhere as long as you get at least one node. Some people say cut just past the node so roots grow at the bottom of your cutting.

Know that the stem from where you cut it to the next node left on the plant parent will dry up/die off. So, you may prefer to cut closer to the node and have more stem on your cut off. Whatever works!

Where is the node on a pothos?

Nodes are very easy to identify on pothos plants! They are the raised bumps on the stem. This is where leaves will grow from so if you can find a leaf, you can follow it back to a node.

You can see the node in the image above – there is a brown spot on the stem and also a noticeable bump!

How long does satin pothos take to propagate?

Satin pothos plant propagation is a pretty quick process. You should see the beginning of roots in 2-3 weeks. It takes about 2 months for the roots to get to be 2-3 inches long, at which point it is ready to plant in potting soil.

Note that these plants will grow faster in the spring and summer and slower in the winter, so that, along with light conditions, can effect your propagation time!

Will Pothos cuttings root in soil?

Yes, you can root pothos cuttings in soil. You still take a cutting, but place it in moist soil instead of water.

I prefer to put a loose plastic bag over cuttings rooting in soil. This helps to create a greenhouse effect so they stay moist.

If you are propagating in soil, you may also want to dip the cutting in rooting hormone. This can speed up the propagation process.

Can you propagate pothos without nodes?

No, you cannot propagate pothos without a node. Nodes are where the roots grow out of and without a node you will never get leaves.

Can you propagate pothos without leaves?

Yes! You can propagate a pothos cutting without leaves. If I have a stem of pothos that gets “leggy” AKA really long bits without leaves, I cut those off, cut them into sections (with nodes in each) and propagate them!

Do Pothos grow back after cutting?

Yes! Your pothos parent plant will sprout new growth from a node. It’s usually the last node on the branch where you cut it but occasionally I’ve had it one node up. Then, the extra “stub” of vine will often brown and die off. No worries!

When is the best time of year to propagate a satin pothos plant?

Spring and summer are generally the growing seasons for indoor plants. So, propagating in the spring will give you the best chance at healthy new growth. However, I have had success propagating all year long.

Why are my Pothos cuttings dying?

If your pothos cuttings are turning black and mushy, that is likely a bacterial infection or root rot.

If your pothos cuttings are getting crispy, that’s usually not enough water.

If your pothos cuttings are just never rooting, try dumping the water, cutting off any mushy parts, and starting over.

Can you propagate a satin pothos via division?

Yes! Another super easy way to propagate a satin pothos is division. This just means to pull the plant out of the pot and separate the stems.

This is great to do if your plant is getting root bound but you don’t want to move it to a bigger pot. Simply divide the plant and move half to another pot somewhere else – or gift it to a friend.

How to propagate a satin pothos plant

Satin pothos plants are very easy to propagate via cuttings in water!

Tools and supplies needed:

• Satin pothos mother plant
• Clean sharp scissors
• Jar of water

Steps to propagate a satin pothos plant:

1. Identify a node. This is a bump where leaves and roots grow.
2. Use scissors to cut off a healthy vine just below the node. You want the node to go off on the cutting. Aim for cuttings at least 3 inches long if possible.
3. Place the cutting in a jar of water.
4. Place in bright, indirect water. Change the water every few days or top it off as needed. Roots should appear in a few weeks!
5. Once the roots are 2-3 inches long, plant in soil and treat as you would any other pothos plant.

Thanks for reading!

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