Propagation Station: How To Make Plant Babies

updated Apr 22, 2020
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(Image credit: Aimée Mazzenga)

Learn how to “go forth and multiply” your favorite houseplants–for free–with these helpful resources on popular plant propagation and beyond.

Before you get started:

1. Be sure to note the best time to start propagating your plants. While it’s safe to say spring and summer are ideal for re-potting and propagation, many plants do just fine in fall. Do make sure to avoid their dormant season in order to up their chances of growth and survival.

2. Inform yourself of the plant species that may be poisonous to pets and children. You wouldn’t want your new hobby resulting in a trip to the vet or hospital.

3. A true professional would not only propagate plants for the benefit of their own collection, but also for the benefit of others. Houseplants are such a vital part of a happy and healthy home, so make sure you share the love–and your baby plants–with the ones you love. Unless they have a black thumb, of course.

Now go explore the “how-to’s” of propagating!

(Image credit: via Pinterest)

This stunning indoor/outdoor plant deserves to be duplicated, and Liz Baessler can show you how. Wait until spring to propagate, but feel free to re-pot existing plants this fall.

(Image credit: Utkarsh Johri)

Beware, once you start, it may not stop (growing, that is), so good luck! You can propagate bamboo for both indoor and outdoor purposes, but I’d recommend keeping things contained with lucky bamboo.

(Image credit: The Guardian)

Don’t let the dead blooms get you down. Instead learn how to produce new pups with Shifrah Combiths’ helpful tips.

(Image credit: By Lisette)

Spread the wealth with these cuties. Easy to propagate, just be on the look out for baby plants that sprout up near the stem.

(Image credit: Rachel Jacks)

Don’t wait for Christmas to see your cacti bloom–because it’s highly unlikely that will happen anyway. Instead, why not propagate them? According to Rachel Jacks, it’s fairly easy, and the plants last a lifetime!

(Image credit: Ana Kamin)

They can come at a hefty price if bought full-size, but for the patient plant lovers, this is absolutely the way go. Propagate from 4-stem leaf trimmings like Tereza shares, and watch your baby grow! Learn other helpful tips by checking out Shifrah’s post, as well.

(Image credit: Rachel Jacks)

Don’t be discouraged if you find it hard to keep this lovely alive. If you’ve done well so far, I challenge you to add a few fern pups to the mix!

(Image credit: Marisa Vitale)

These plants are beauties, and fairly easy to care for, so why not make more of them. Our in-house plant expert Rachel has all the info you need.

(Image credit: Marisa Vitale)

If you weren’t aware yet, the rubber tree is the new fiddle leaf fig. See what tips Shifrah has to offer when it comes to propagating this beauty.

(Image credit: Jessica Isaac)

Once again, Shifrah has the know-how for snake plants, also known as Mother-in-law’s tongue. Feel free to give these plant pups to your black thumb friends, as they are super easy to care for.

(Image credit: Minette Hand)

Take those “spiderettes” and multiply! You can use propagation not until to grow more plants, but to also fill in sparse spider plants.

(Image credit: Franke Chung)

Let Kimber Watson show you the way when it comes to succulents and cacti propagation.

(Image credit: Jessica Isaac)

This African plant is well-equipped for low-light and minimal watering, so for the plant beginners, it might be worth propagating just so you have more easy-going plants to fill your home.

To view even more plants tips and tricks, search “Plants” on the Apartment Therapy site, and get gardening!

Tell us, what houseplant is currently your favorite? What propagation experiences can you share?