1. Cleaning
Good tools are in most cases half the job. Good tools also apply to propagating a plant. Besides tools, clean tools are even more important.
Before you start propagating, it is wise to thoroughly disinfect the knife and the scissors. Use disinfectant or pure alcohol. By disinfecting the tools you prevent bacteria from being transferred to the cutting and mother plant.
Wash your hands at all times.
2. Water or potting soil
Plant propagation can be done in two ways: putting the cuttings in water or in potting soil. A cutting can (usually) survive in both situations. Of course, there are exceptions.
Before you start propagating a houseplant, it is wise to find out how the plant prefers to grow.
3. Direct sunlight
Cuttings are just like babies. They love the light, but prefer not on their heads. The cutting has to get used to its new life without the protection of the mother plant. Therefore, let the cutting become strong and large enough, before you put it in direct sunlight.
Attention! Direct sunlight is not suitable for all houseplants. Plants with an origin in warm and sunny areas like to stand in direct sunlight. However, this certainly does not apply to all houseplants. Will you get a cutting? Then first read carefully about the best conditions for the plant.
4. Not too small and not too big
Once a cutting is too small, it will often not survive. Attention! This principle also applies to cuttings that are too large. Do you cut or trim a cutting, but does it actually have too many leaves for its (air)roots? Then the cutting will not survive. If the cutting has too much leaf, it must use all its energy for the leaf. And this while it actually needs that energy for its roots.
Even if you make a cutting that is too small, this will cause problems. Usually the cutting has not yet developed enough roots to keep itself alive.
5. Do research
Just like taking care of a houseplant, cuttings also have their own manual. Investigate the correct location, water or potting soil and make sure you water them correctly. A cutting is very fragile. It has always depended on the mother plant and now it has to do everything itself.
