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How to Propagate Pothos and Other Vining Indoor Plants

How to Propagate Pothos and Other Vining Indoor Plants

Author: Maria Failla- Happy Plant Lady and Author of Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness August 11, 2026 Duration: 56:29
Growing Joy with Plants - Wellness Rooted in Nature, Houseplants, Gardening and Plant Care
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We're going back to basics today on how to propagate pothos, plant friends! It's one of the simplest things you can do as a plant parent. And pothos is probably the easiest plant to propagate, which is exactly why it's where you should start. I just want you to do it right the first time because one success is what turns this into a lifelong habit. So I brought propagation expert Lindsay Sisti back on the podcast to walk through pothos propagation from the very beginning. Join us as we talk beginner-friendly propagation tips, how to root pothos cuttings in water, light and watering, and why making that first cut actually helps your plant grow. Let's prop!

 

In this episode, we learn:

  • [02:51] Meet Lindsay Sisti and her challenge for you!
  • [04:24] Why pothos is the best plant to learn propagation on
  • [06:00] Why your pothos cutting speeds up your other props
  • [07:02] Plant anatomy 101: What do you need to know before you cut?
  • [09:11] Why you should leave the leaves on your cuttings
  • [10:19] Internodes vs. nodes (aka plant knuckles)
  • [13:31] Node cuttings vs. tip cuttings, and what "sterilized shears" really means
  • [15:30] Manukora Honey
  • [17:16] Espoma Organic
  • [19:54] What is a petiole and why will a single pothos leaf never root?
  • [21:22] Leaf removal and water setup!
  • [23:12] Why cutting back a balding pothos makes it bushier (apical dominance explained)
  • [26:57] Do pothos cuttings need to callus first?
  • [27:55] What rooting hormone actually does, and the tradeoff of changing your water
  • [30:36] The different methods of propagating different types of vining plants like pothos
  • [31:44] Sphagnum, fluval stratum, and perlite (why water still wins for pothos)
  • [35:02] Can you root bare nodes with no leaves? Plus prop box basics
  • [37:40] Does cinnamon work as a rooting hormone?
  • [38:56] Why the thrift store is the best place to find propagation vessels
  • [40:15] Root length sweet spot!
  • [41:25] Potting up: indoor mix, extra perlite, and starting small
  • [47:03] Why light matters while rooting
  • [48:19] Propagation walls and test tube shelves
  • [51:30] Thrifted candelabras, champagne racks, and DIY propagation stations
  • [53:27] Where to find Lindsay, her book, and all of her propagation resources!

 

Mentioned in our conversation:

 

For Lindsay's different propagation methods,

check out the full show notes and blog here!

 

Follow Lindsay:

Website
Instagram
YouTube
TikTok

 

Thank you to our episode sponsors:

Manukora

Go to manukora.com/bloom to get up to 31% off the starter kit that includes their 850+ Manukora honey jar, 5 honey travel sticks, a wooden spoon, and a guidebook, PLUS $25 worth of free gifts!

Espoma Organic

Visit espoma.com to find your local Espoma dealer or check my Amazon storefront. 

 

Follow Maria and Growing Joy:

Order my book: Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants)by Maria Failla, Illustrated by Samantha Leung

Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle)

Support Growing Joy with Maria by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon!

Instagram: @growingjoywithmaria

Tiktok: @growingjoywithmaria

Subscribe to the Growing Joy YouTube channel! /growingjoywithmaria

Website: www.growingjoywithmaria.com

Pinterest: @growingjoywithmaria


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There’s a quiet, accessible kind of wellness waiting for you on a windowsill or in a patch of soil. Growing Joy with Plants explores that very idea, moving beyond basic tips to examine how our relationship with the natural world directly nurtures our mental and emotional health. Hosted by Maria Failla, a self-proclaimed Happy Plant Lady and author of "Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness," this podcast feels like a warm conversation with a knowledgeable friend. Maria guides you through the practicalities of keeping your houseplants alive and thriving, but the discussion always circles back to the deeper connection-how the simple acts of watering, repotting, or simply observing growth can become anchors of calm in a hectic day. Each episode digs into how gardening and engaging with nature, even in small urban spaces, offer tangible tools to manage feelings of anxiety and overwhelm. This isn't about achieving a perfect indoor jungle; it's about finding moments of peace and genuine happiness through the process of care. The underlying message throughout the podcast is a powerful and gentle reminder: tending to your plants is fundamentally an act of tending to yourself. You’ll come away with not just better plant care knowledge, but a refreshed perspective on cultivating joy in your daily routine, learning that the serenity you might seek on vacation can be rooted right in your own home.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

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Growing Joy with Plants - Wellness Rooted in Nature, Houseplants, Gardening and Plant Care
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