How To Create A New Houseplant Using A Trimming

I started growing houseplants during the pandemic.

I've always had a little green thumb since I was a kid. I remember helping my mom plant a little vegetable garden in our backyard every summer when I was growing up. So, when the pandemic hit, and I suddenly found myself with an abundance of free time and an insatiable “nesting” instinct to make my home comfortable, I did just that. Many other Americans did and decided to stuff in some houseplants. some of my free time.

I found a website that ships pre-grown plants to your door, which was perfect for me since I was starting from scratch and had no plants or soil or not much you might need when deciding to start working with plants. . I've selected several different types of plants that do well in indirect light and require minimal maintenance, and that's really all I can offer.

I decided to prune and propagate my Peperomia

One of the plants that looked the best in my house was Peperomia. This lush green plant looked very attractive, and endured my unintentional neglect. There will be times when the weeks go by when I forget to water the Peperomia. Although the leaves will begin to wilt when this happens, this houseplant needs good watering to revive and even grow some new leaves. After a year my plant was growing so well that it was becoming too tall for the shelf it was placed on.

I decided I wanted to prune some Peperomia leaves to reduce their height, and I wondered if I could use this opportunity to create an entirely new plant by pruning. I did a little research and discovered that I can actually propagate this plant using cuttings from my existing plant. This is exactly what I did to successfully grow my 'Baby Peperomia' plant.

Engraving

Choosing the part of the plant you want to use as a cutting is an important first step in the propagation process. Is any part of your plant overgrown or out of proportion? These parts may be excellent candidates for use as parts. The best place to cut the stem of your plant is where it normally branches out or splits into leaves. You'll want to make sure your cuttings are at least 4"-6" long after you've removed them from the plant, and I've found my cuttings to be most successful when they're up. I keep my cuttings at least 2-3 large leaves nearby.

Use a sharp knife to make a clean cut in the stem of the plant.

Once you have identified the part of your plant that you want to remove, you will want to find a sharp knife to cut off the stem. Do not use scissors or other blunt cutting tools, as they may damage the stem and prevent the cuttings from thriving. A kitchen knife, utility knife, or even a sharp pocket knife will work just fine. Make your cut diagonally through the stem at the point where you decided to remove the cuttings from the plant. At this point, you can also use a paring knife to remove any excess leaves on the trimmings, although you'll want to make sure you leave at least two large leaves for the next step in the process.

Prepare your cuttings and place them in the water

After trimming, immediately place the cuttings in a bowl of water that will submerge most of the stems. It is very important that you do this right away because if the stem is left to dry out, the cuttings will die.

Once you've pruned the peperomia in water, place it in a location with indirect sunlight, such as a countertop or window sill. While waiting for the roots to grow, keep an eye on the water level in the pot. You'll want to cover it to keep the stem mostly submerged throughout the rooting process.

Once new roots have sprouted, your new Peperomia plant is ready!

After 4-8 weeks, you should see a nice bunch of roots peeling back from the bottom of the Peperomia. When you see several roots at least 1/2 inch long, your "baby peperomia" plant is ready for its new home. Repot the peperomia in the pot of your choice using good quality potting soil. Plant and be sure to water it weekly for the first several months as the new plant's root system is fully established.

By following these steps, you can reproduce your Peperomia houseplants as often as you like. A houseplant that you propagate can make a great gift, and it's fun to be able to share your "sister plants" with friends and loved ones. If you've never tried propagating a plant, Peperomia is an easy plant to start with. Try it and see for yourself how fun and easy the process is.

Peperomia plants are popular houseplants for beginners, and you can simply generate new "baby" plants for yourself or as presents by following these simple procedures.