Houseplant cuttings

murraya-k

Hi - I took some houseplant cuttings during the summer and put them in water to root.  I'm pleased that they've done well and have established good roots but is it too late in the year to transplant them to their soil pots?  And if so, will they be alright sitting in water until, say Spring?  I have looked online for an answer but find conflicting information.  Also, when is the best time to take cuttings of houseplants.  Sorry if these questions are a bit basic.  I do go online for information but so often I find, when it's too late, that in fact the information wasn't correct (for my region perhaps) - it can be quite confusing!  I'm in the UK, in the Midlands.  Thank you  

Dovefromabove

Hi @murraya-k and welcome 

I would plant them up in moist compost now. 

murraya-k

Hi Dovefromabove - many thanks for your quick response.  They look so healthy in their vases and I'm nervous about upsetting them but they can't stay there for ever!  

Dovefromabove

If the compost is nice and moist they'll hardly notice the difference ... then let it dry out a bit until it's the right 'moistness' for their needs   It works for me

murraya-k

Can you do this all year round?  I was concerned that it was too cold now.  I live in a cottage without central heating ie just fires and Rayburn.  If it's very cold will use gas fires. Having said that I do hover a bit but it's my first winter with so many plants ...

Dovefromabove

They’ll be better off in compost rather than water now they have roots 

What sort of plants are they?

murraya-k

I'm embarrassed to say I've forgotten some of their names!  One I've had for over ten years but have never put cuttings into water before (only soil) - it's quite a common plant with dark green glossy leaves; looks lovely in water actually.  Dracaena marginata - cuttings I put in soil died but the one in water is very healthy, also a fast growing plants with purple and green leaves plus a couple of succulents - one is a jade plant.  

Dovefromabove

Well, the succulents will
need drier grittier soil than the others. 

The purple and green one ... is it a tradescantia? 

https://houseplantcentral.com/tradescantia-zebrina-wandering-jew-care-info/

murraya-k

Yes!  I'm incredibly impressed!  

Dovefromabove

😂 

What a coincidence  .... I’ve just bought four little Tradescantia zebrina cuttings on EBay to grow a plant for our teenage niece who wants a houseplant first her rose, gold and black college bedroom.  

They had obviously been
rooted in water like yours and I did just as I’ve said above ... theyre now in a pot of damp compost in a bright windowsill and they’re growing away nicely. 

When they are about 8” long I’ll cut them back by 2” to encourage lots of sideshoots and I’ll pop the 2” pieces into water to root and make another plant ...
there’s no end to it. 

We’ll hand over the plant when we see her at Christmas ... at the moment I’m sending
her photo updates. 😊 

murraya-k

I was also nervous about chopping off one of the branches!  But I read online that it was pretty straightforward and so took the plunge.  I just put it in a vase and pretty much left it alone - it took a while (maybe 3-4 weeks in the summer) but even before I saw roots, it looked fine and I put it in a nice draught-free place.  Now I'll follow Dovefromabove's advice and put it in some wet soil.  I tried to root two cuttings in soil (and yes, it was wet) but they didn't thrive; but I haven't given up and have just put them in water.  I don't think they'll recuperate but I have nothing to lose!