Should You Cut the Air Roots for Pothos Propagation in Water?

In the world of houseplants, Pothos (Epipremnum aureum) is one of the most beloved species due to its ease of care and resilience. Whether you're a seasoned gardener or a novice, the decision to propagate Pothos in water can be a fun and rewarding experience. However, a common question often arises: Should you cut the air roots during this process?

Understanding Air Roots

Let's start by discussing the importance of air roots. Air roots, as their name suggests, are specialized roots that grow from the stem of a Pothos plant. These roots are crucial because they are the natural way the plant absorbs moisture and nutrients from the air, making the plant adaptable to growing conditions with less soil. They also provide structural support to the leaves, helping the plant stay upright even in hanging baskets or unsupported locations.

Do Air Roots Affect Propagation in Water?

The short answer is no, you don't need to cut the air roots before propagating Pothos in water. In fact, leaving the air roots intact can be beneficial for successful propagation. Karen, a seasoned gardener, recommends keeping the air roots rather than removing them, as they play a vital role in the plant's overall health and growth.

Propagating Pothos in Water

Propagating Pothos in water is a straightforward process. All you need is a healthy stem with a few nodes (the points where leaves emerge) and a jar of water. Here's how you can do it:

Choose a healthy stem from your Pothos plant, ideally one with two or more nodes. You can either take a cutting from the tip of the stem or from a lower part closer to the base of the plant.

Trim the cutting just below a node, ensuring that each portion of the cutting includes at least one node. This is important because it's where new roots will grow.

Remove any leaves from the bottom third of the cutting to prevent rotting. Alternatively, you can trim back these leaves slightly, ensuring that only about one-third of the remaining leaves touch the water.

Place the cutting in a jar of room-temperature water. The jar should be deep enough to cover the nodes of the cutting.

Place the jar in a bright, indirect light to prevent direct sun, which can cause the water to heat up and potentially harm the cutting.

Change the water every few days to prevent the growth of bacteria and to keep the roots healthy.

In a few weeks, you should see roots beginning to form. Once the roots are several inches long, you can transfer the cutting to a pot with soil for further growth.

Why Not Cut the Air Roots?

It's clear from Karen’s advice that cutting air roots is unnecessary when propagating Pothos in water. In fact, keeping the air roots intact helps the plant during the process. Air roots provide an additional source of support, which can be crucial in the early stages of propagation. They also contribute to the plant's ability to uptake nutrients and moisture from the water, increasing the chances of success in this method.

Alternative Propagation Methods

While propagating Pothos in water is a popular method, there are other ways to propagate this plant successfully. If you intend to move the cutting to soil at some point, it might be more effective to start this process directly in soil. This method involves planting the cutting in a pot with moist, well-draining soil instead of water and covering it with plastic to maintain high humidity.

Conclusion

In summary, there is no need to cut the air roots when propagating Pothos in water. These specialized roots play a crucial role in the plant's growth and success during the propagation process. Remember to provide the cutting with consistent care, and within a short period, you should see new roots forming. Whether you choose to propagate in water or directly in soil, the key is to provide a conducive environment for the plant to thrive.