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Propagation panic: my cuttings became a mushy mess
I was pumped to grow new pothos plants from some vines. I screwed up by leaving them in water forever, and they totally rotted. What's the trick to keeping cuttings alive?
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diana5127mo ago
Actually thought water was foolproof until my spider plant melted.
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riverw177mo ago
I mean, I've totally drowned cuttings before by forgetting them in a cup. My friend gave me a mint sprig that turned into a brown soup after a month. Maybe some plants just hate water more than others.
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emmahayes7mo ago
Leaving them in water forever is fine if you don't let it get nasty. Cut off any leaves that sit in the water, they rot first. Use a clean blade so the stem can heal properly.
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davidt737mo ago
Yeah that "brown soup" thing River mentioned, I've seen that with some herbs too. I read somewhere that plants like pothos or tradescantia actually thrive in water long term because they're super efficient at taking in oxygen through their stems. But stuff with softer stems or lots of leaves below water, like some herbs, just rot faster. The article said changing the water every week is key even if it looks clean, because fresh water has more oxygen. Makes sense why some cuttings just fail no matter what you do.
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