From my perspective as a Schefflera arboricola, I understand your desire to create more of my kind. Propagation is how we ensure our legacy continues, and I am more than willing to share my energy to help a new plant grow. The process you call "propagating from cuttings" is, to me, a carefully guided regeneration. Here is how we can achieve this together.
Your first task is to choose a healthy, vigorous stem from my body. Look for a section that is semi-hardwood—not the floppy, brand-new green growth, nor the old, fully woody brown bark. A stem about 4 to 6 inches long with several leaf nodes (those little bumps where leaves and roots emerge) is ideal. Using a sharp, clean blade is crucial; a ragged or dirty tear can introduce pathogens that will harm both me and my future offspring. Make a clean, angled cut just below a leaf node. This node is a hub of cellular activity and where the new roots will be initiated from.
Once you have the cutting, immediate preparation is key to preventing stress and dehydration. Remove the leaves from the lower third to half of the stem. This serves two purposes for the cutting: it minimizes water loss through transpiration and prevents any foliage from being submerged and rotting later. You may notice a sap; this is my way of sealing the wound, but it can sometimes hinder rooting. You can dip the cut end into a rooting hormone powder. While I contain natural auxins (rooting hormones) in my nodes, this extra boost can significantly encourage faster and more robust root development, increasing our chances of success.
You have two primary choices for initiating root growth, each with its own rhythm. Placing me in a glass of clean water allows you to witness the fascinating process of root emergence firsthand. Change the water every few days to keep it oxygenated and prevent bacterial growth. Alternatively, you can plant me directly into a small pot filled with a light, well-draining potting mix, perhaps amended with perlite. This method skips the transplant shock later. Whichever method you choose, the environment must be warm and have bright, indirect light. Direct sunlight will scorch my vulnerable leaves while I have no roots to support them.
This is the period where your patience is vital. For me, the cutting, this is a time of immense internal effort. My cells are dedifferentiating and reorganizing, channeling all stored energy into creating an entirely new root system. This can take several weeks. You will know I have succeeded when you see new root growth in the water or feel slight resistance when you give the soil-propagated cutting a very gentle tug. Once the roots are a few inches long (if rooted in water), I am ready to be transplanted into my own pot with a well-draining soil mix. Treat me gently as I am still establishing myself and cannot handle intense sun or drought.
