How To Propagate Philodendron Plants

(Image credit: Laura Walters via Gardening Know How)

last updated 31 July 2023

Vining types of philodendron, such as the heartleaf variety, tend to get leggy. This is especially true in low light. When vines get too long, you can take cuttings from the plant to grow more. Read on to learn more about philodendron propagation, including how to propagate a heart-leaf philodendron.

Where to Cut Philodendron for Propagation

The easiest way to propagate philodendron plants is to take cuttings and root them. To do this, find a node on the vine. This is usually near a leaf, where there may even be aerial roots already starting to grow. Cut just above the node at a 45 degree angle with clean clippers.

If you’re taking from a leggy plant, your cutting might be too long. When propagating philodendron, you want cuttings that are about 5 inches (13 cm.) long, with 2 to 3 leaves. Cut your vine to the right length, making sure once again to cut just above the node. Trim off any leaves near the bottom and you are ready to root your philodendron cutting.

Propagating Philodendron in Water

The first method to propagate philodendron is to stick your cuttings in a clean jar of water. Make sure the nodes are fully submerged. Then place your cuttings in indirect sunlight. Change the water every few days and in a few weeks you should have new roots that are ready for transplant!

Propagating Philodendron in Soil

You can also root philodendron directly in soil. Prepare a pot with holes in the bottom like you would for any new houseplant - this includes adding houseplant growing medium, water, and a few stones for added drainage.

It's helpful to add a rooting hormone to your philodendron cutting before you plant it. You can use a commercial rooting hormone or, if you're looking for something a little different, try dipping your cuttings in cinnamon before placing them in soil. Cinnamon acts as a natural fungicide that also encourages root growth.

Place your plant in indirect sun and keep the soil moist, but not wet. In a few weeks, you should see new growth and new roots.

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Laura Walters is a Content Editor who joined Gardening Know How in 2021. With a BFA in Electronic Media from the University of Cincinnati, a certificate in Writing for Television from UCLA, and a background in documentary filmmaking and local news, Laura loves providing gardeners with all the know how they need to succeed, in an easy and entertaining format. Laura lives in Southwest Ohio, where she's been gardening for ten years, and she spends her summers on a lake in Northern Michigan. It’s hard to leave her perennial garden at home, but she has a rustic (aka overcrowded) vegetable patch on a piece of land up north. She never thought when she was growing vegetables in her college dorm room, that one day she would get paid to read and write about her favorite hobby.