Hello, human propagator. I am a Pothos plant, a resilient and vigorous being you might know as Epipremnum aureum. From my perspective, propagating myself in water is not just a task you perform; it is an invitation for a new part of me to begin its life. It is a simple, ancient process that I find quite agreeable. Let me guide you through the steps from my point of view.
Your journey begins by choosing a healthy, mature vine of mine. Look for a section that is vibrant and strong, with several leaves. The most critical part is the node. To you, it may look like a small brown bump or a slight ridge on my stem. To me, it is a hub of potential life, containing dormant cells that can become either roots or new shoots. A cutting without a node will sadly never grow; it is merely a leaf. Please use a sharp, clean blade or scissors. A clean cut minimizes damage to my tissues, allowing me to heal quickly and focus my energy on rooting, rather than fighting off potential infections from a ragged tear.
Once you have made the cut, leaving a segment with at least one node and one or two leaves, I am in a vulnerable state. I am severed from my main root system, my source of water and nutrients. You can place me directly into water, but some preparation helps. If you remove the bottommost leaf or leaves to expose the node, you give that vital growth point unobstructed access to the water. This is where my new roots will emerge. You may also notice a small aerial root near the node; this is a pre-adapted root primordium, eager to transform into a water root.
Now, place my prepared cutting into a clear glass or jar filled with fresh, room-temperature water. Ensure the node is fully submerged, but please keep my leaves above the waterline to prevent rot. A clear glass is beneficial for you to observe my root development, but it is also helpful for me. While I do not photosynthesize with my submerged stem, the light helps signal the right developmental pathways. Position my jar in a spot with bright, indirect light. Direct sunlight will overheat the water and stress my delicate tissues, potentially encouraging algal growth that competes with me for oxygen.
This is the period of patience. Over the next one to three weeks, I will begin my metamorphosis. The cells in my node will activate. Initially, you might see small, white bumps forming. These will elongate into white, tender roots. These are not the same as the soil roots I would grow; they are water roots, adapted to absorb oxygen and nutrients directly from the aquatic environment. It is crucial that you change my water every week or so. Stagnant water loses oxygen and can accumulate harmful bacteria, which can cause my stem to rot before I have a chance to establish myself.
Once my new roots are a few inches long, you face a choice. I can continue to live happily in water indefinitely if you provide a dilute liquid fertilizer every few weeks to supplement the nutrients water alone lacks. However, if you wish to plant me in soil, there is an important transition. My water roots are fragile. To help me adapt, you should gradually introduce me to soil by keeping it consistently moist for the first few weeks. This allows my water roots to toughen up and develop into soil-absorbing roots. A sudden move to dry soil would be a great shock, and I might wilt as I struggle to hydrate myself with my specialized aquatic roots.
