What to check first
Find a healthy section of vine
Choose firm growth without suspicious soft patches, insects, or sticky residue. A stressed parent plant can produce weak cuttings, and pests can travel with them. Identify the plant before handling; pothos sap can irritate skin, so avoid contact and wash hands after working. [1] [2]
Locate the node before cutting
Look at the place where a leaf stalk joins the main vine; you may see a small aerial-root nub nearby. Plan a short stem section with at least one node for rooting and some healthy foliage above it. Do not confuse a leaf stalk with the main vine. [3] [2]
Prepare a clean rooting space
Use clean scissors and a clean container. For medium rooting, choose an airy propagation material or suitable soilless mix with drainage. For water rooting, choose a vessel that supports the cutting without submerging its leaves. Keep it away from direct hot sun. [2] [3]
Choose the next step for your plant
Make and place the cutting
Cut the vine cleanly near a node and remove lower leaves that would sit in water or mix. Place the rooting node below the water surface or into the moist medium, keeping remaining leaves above it. Do not pack the medium tightly around the stem. [3] [2]
Keep conditions steady
Provide bright indirect light and warmth. Keep rooting medium moist without saturation; refresh water when cloudy and maintain enough to cover the rooting node. Remove a cutting that becomes soft or decayed so it does not remain with healthy material. [3] [1]
Pot when roots can support the cutting
Wait for several healthy roots rather than transferring at the first tiny nub. Gently place the cutting in a small draining pot with suitable mix. Support fragile roots and monitor moisture closely during the transition; several rooted cuttings can make a fuller pot. [3] [1]
What to avoid
- Do not leave leaves submerged in the rooting water.
- Do not put a covered propagation container in direct sun.
- Do not repeatedly tug the cutting to check for roots.
What to watch next
Roots often develop over several weeks, with timing affected by warmth, light, and cutting condition. Watch for firm stems, healthy roots, and later new shoots. Ask for advice if cuttings repeatedly rot despite clean tools and an airy, appropriately moist rooting setup.
Common questions
Must I use rooting hormone?
Pothos commonly roots in water or vermiculite without it. The essential starting points are healthy stem material with a node and suitable conditions. If you choose a rooting product, follow its label rather than adding extra. [1] [2]
Can water-rooted pothos move into potting mix?
Yes, but handle roots gently and watch moisture while the plant adjusts. Rooting directly in an appropriate medium is also an option. Do not jump from a small cutting to a large pot that stays wet around very few roots. [3] [4]
Sources and review
This guide was prepared with AI assistance and checked against the sources below. It has not been reviewed by a botanist. Conditions and plant responses vary; use the checks above to decide what applies. Read our editorial standards.
- University of Wisconsin Extension: Pothos
Pothos propagation in water or vermiculite, rooting variability, filtered light, and irritating sap.
- Penn State Extension: Propagating Houseplants
Healthy material, clean cutting tools, nodes, aerated propagation media, and humidity without saturation.
- Illinois Extension: Propagating houseplants with cuttings
Healthy stem cuttings with nodes, clean tools, moist aerated medium, indirect light, and gentle handling of new roots.
- Illinois Extension: Choosing houseplant containers and mixes
Modest pot-size increases, drainage, mix selection, and adjustment after a move.