How To Grow Money Plant At Home From Cutting – A Foolproof Guide

ByRimon Chowdhury Updated on

Have you ever looked at a friend’s lush, trailing money plant and wished you could easily fill your own space with that same vibrant greenery? It can feel like creating that indoor jungle look is expensive or complicated, especially if you’re just starting your gardening journey.

I’m here to let you in on a little secret that every seasoned gardener knows: you don’t need to buy a new plant every time. In fact, one of the most rewarding skills you can learn is propagation. This guide promises to give you the confidence and the exact steps for how to grow money plant at home from cutting—a method so simple and effective, you’ll soon have more plants than you know what to do with!

We’ll walk through everything together, from choosing the perfect stem and rooting it in water or soil, to providing the best care for your new baby plant. Get ready to multiply your green family, one snip at a time!

Why Start with a Money Plant Cutting? The Easiest Path to Greenery

Before we grab our scissors, let’s talk about why this method is a favorite among both new and experienced plant parents. Propagating a money plant (Epipremnum aureum), also known as Pothos or Devil’s Ivy, is one of the most satisfying projects in the plant world. It’s practically foolproof!

Understanding the benefits of how to grow money plant at home from cutting will get you excited to start. Here’s why it’s the best way to go:

  • It’s Incredibly Cost-Effective: Turn one plant into five, or ten, or twenty! All you need is a single healthy “mother plant,” which you might already own or can get a cutting of from a friend. No more spending money at the nursery.
  • It’s Sustainable and Eco-Friendly: Propagating plants is the ultimate form of green recycling. This eco-friendly how to grow money plant at home from cutting approach reduces waste and the carbon footprint associated with commercially grown plants.
  • The Perfect Beginner Project: Money plants are famously forgiving. They root so eagerly that they practically want to grow for you. This makes them a fantastic confidence-booster for anyone new to gardening.
  • A Rewarding Experience: There is a unique joy in watching tiny white roots emerge from a bare stem and seeing the first new leaf unfurl. You’re not just growing a plant; you’re creating life.
  • Great for Gifting: A rooted cutting in a cute jar or pot makes a thoughtful, personal, and living gift for friends and family.

Your Essential Toolkit: Gathering Supplies for Success

One of the best parts of this project is that you don’t need any fancy or expensive equipment. You likely have everything you need already lying around your home.

Here’s your simple checklist:

  • A Healthy “Mother” Money Plant: Look for a plant with vibrant leaves and long, healthy vines.
  • Sharp, Clean Scissors or Pruners: Using a clean tool is crucial to prevent transferring diseases to the cutting or the mother plant. Wipe the blades with rubbing alcohol first.
  • A Clear Glass Jar or Bottle: This is for rooting in water. A clear vessel is fantastic because you get a front-row seat to watch the roots grow!
  • Water: Room temperature tap water is usually fine. If your water is heavily treated, let it sit out overnight to allow chlorine to evaporate.
  • A Small Pot with Drainage Holes: For when your cutting is ready to be planted in soil.
  • Well-Draining Potting Mix: A standard indoor plant mix works perfectly. You can improve drainage by adding a handful of perlite or orchid bark.

The Perfect Snip: How to Select and Take a Healthy Cutting

This is the most important step in our how to grow money plant at home from cutting guide. A healthy cutting is the foundation for a healthy new plant. Don’t worry—it’s easier than it sounds!

First, let’s identify the magic ingredient on the stem: the node. A node is a small, slightly raised brown bump on the vine where leaves and, more importantly, roots emerge. You cannot grow a new plant from just a leaf; you must have at least one node on your cutting.

Here’s how to take the perfect cutting:

  1. Select a Healthy Vine: Look for a mature vine that has several healthy, green leaves. Avoid vines that look yellow, wilted, or have very long, leafless gaps between nodes.
  2. Measure Your Cutting: Trace about 4-6 inches down the vine from its tip. A good cutting should have at least 2-4 leaves and several nodes.
  3. Make the Cut: Using your clean scissors, make a clean snip about half an inch below a node. Cutting below the node ensures it’s included in your new cutting.
  4. Prepare the Cutting: Gently remove the leaf closest to the cut end. This is the node that will be submerged in water or soil, and removing the leaf prevents it from rotting. You should now have a stem with a few leaves at the top and a bare node at the bottom.
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That’s it! You’ve successfully taken a cutting. Now, let’s get it to grow some roots.

The Great Debate: Rooting Your Money Plant in Water vs. Soil

You have two excellent, time-tested options for encouraging your cutting to sprout roots. Both work wonderfully, but they offer slightly different experiences. We’ll explore the how to grow money plant at home from cutting best practices for each method.

Method 1: The Water Propagation Method (Our Favorite for Beginners!)

This is the most common and visually satisfying method. Being able to see the roots develop day by day is incredibly encouraging and helps you understand how the plant grows.

  1. Place in Water: Submerge the bare node(s) of your cutting into your glass jar filled with room-temperature water. Ensure no leaves are sitting in the water, as they will rot.
  2. Find the Right Spot: Place the jar in a location that receives plenty of bright, indirect light. A spot near an east-facing window or a few feet back from a south or west-facing window is perfect. Avoid direct, harsh sunlight.
  3. Change the Water: This is a key tip! To keep the water oxygenated and prevent bacteria, change it every 3-5 days. Fresh water provides a healthier environment for root growth.
  4. Be Patient: You should start to see small, white roots emerging from the node in about 1-3 weeks. Patience is your best friend here!

Method 2: The Direct-to-Soil Method

This method skips the water-to-soil transition, which can sometimes shock the plant. The roots that develop in soil are hardier from the start. This is a great sustainable way to propagate, as it uses fewer resources.

  1. Prepare Your Pot: Fill a small pot with a well-draining potting mix and water it lightly so the soil is moist but not soggy.
  2. (Optional) Use Rooting Hormone: For an extra boost, you can dip the cut end of your stem into a rooting hormone powder. This encourages faster and more robust root development, but it’s not strictly necessary for an easy-to-root plant like this.
  3. Plant the Cutting: Use a pencil or your finger to poke a hole in the soil. Gently insert the cutting, ensuring at least one node is buried beneath the soil surface. Firm the soil around the stem to hold it in place.
  4. Create a Humid Environment: To keep the cutting from drying out while it develops roots, you can cover the pot with a clear plastic bag or the top half of a plastic bottle. This creates a mini-greenhouse effect. Just be sure to open it for an hour every day to allow for air circulation.
  5. Keep Moist: Keep the soil consistently moist but never waterlogged. In 3-5 weeks, you can give the stem a very gentle tug. If you feel resistance, it means roots have formed!

The Ultimate How to Grow Money Plant at Home From Cutting Care Guide

Congratulations, your cutting has roots! Whether you rooted in water and have roots about an inch long, or you rooted directly in soil, the next phase is all about helping your new plant thrive. This how to grow money plant at home from cutting care guide will cover the essentials.

Light: Finding the Sweet Spot

Money plants are adaptable, but their ideal environment is bright, indirect light. Too little light will result in a “leggy” plant with small leaves and long gaps between them. Too much direct sun will scorch their beautiful leaves, leaving brown, crispy patches.

Watering: The Golden Rule

Overwatering is the number one mistake plant owners make. The golden rule is to let the top 1-2 inches of soil dry out completely before watering again. Stick your finger into the soil to check. If it feels dry, it’s time to water. If it’s still damp, wait a few more days. Always ensure your pot has drainage holes so excess water can escape.

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Soil & Potting: Creating a Happy Home

A standard, high-quality indoor potting mix is perfect. Money plants hate “wet feet,” so a well-draining soil is non-negotiable. If your mix seems heavy, lighten it up by adding perlite, pumice, or orchid bark to improve aeration and drainage.

Fertilizing: A Little Boost Goes a Long Way

Money plants are not heavy feeders. During the growing season (spring and summer), you can feed your plant with a balanced liquid houseplant fertilizer diluted to half-strength once a month. In the fall and winter, you can skip fertilizing altogether as the plant’s growth naturally slows down.

Troubleshooting: Common Problems with How to Grow Money Plant at Home from Cutting

Even the most resilient plants can face a hiccup or two. Don’t panic! Here’s how to solve some of the most common problems with how to grow money plant at home from cutting.

  • Yellow Leaves: This is most often a sign of overwatering. Check the soil moisture and allow it to dry out more between waterings. Yellow leaves can also be a sign of nutrient deficiency, but this is less common.
  • Brown, Crispy Leaf Edges: This typically points to underwatering or very low humidity. Check your watering routine and consider misting your plant occasionally.
  • Leggy Growth (Long, Bare Stems): Your plant is stretching to find more light! Move it to a brighter location. You can also prune the long vines to encourage bushier, more compact growth.
  • My Cutting Won’t Root: Patience is key, but if weeks have passed with no progress, check your conditions. Is the water clean? Is the cutting getting enough indirect light? Is the temperature stable? Sometimes, a cutting is simply a dud. Don’t be afraid to try again!

Frequently Asked Questions About Growing Money Plants from Cuttings

How long does it take for a money plant cutting to root?

In water, you can expect to see the first signs of roots within 1 to 3 weeks. In soil, it may take 3 to 5 weeks to develop a solid root system. Factors like light, temperature, and the health of the cutting can affect the timing.

Can I grow a money plant from just a leaf?

No, this is a common myth. While a money plant leaf might grow a few roots if placed in water, it lacks the necessary cells to produce a new stem and grow into a full plant. You must have a piece of the stem with a node attached.

Why are my money plant’s new leaves so small?

Small new leaves are often a sign that the plant needs more light. While money plants can tolerate low light, they won’t thrive or produce large, lush leaves without adequate bright, indirect sunlight.

Is it better to root money plant in water or soil?

Both methods are excellent! Rooting in water is fun for beginners as you can watch the progress. Rooting in soil develops stronger roots from the start and avoids the stress of transplanting. It really comes down to personal preference.

Your Journey to a Greener Home Starts Now!

You now have all the knowledge and how to grow money plant at home from cutting tips you need to transform a single vine into an entire family of beautiful plants. You’ve learned how to take the perfect cutting, the two best methods for rooting, and how to care for your new plant once it’s established.

The beauty of this process lies in its simplicity and sustainability. It’s a small, powerful way to connect with nature and fill your home with life without spending a dime.

So go ahead, grab those scissors, and find a money plant to snip. Your lush, cascading indoor jungle is just one cutting away. Happy growing!

Rimon Chowdhury
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