I don’t need to extol the virtues of houseplants. Assuming those are a given, I want to start by saying there’s nothing wrong with purchasing a fully grown Ficus or parlor palm or an already lush and abundant pothos (or fake plants if you don’t have adequate lighting). And, if you are in a place where you can afford to support a local greenhouse or nursery by purchasing from them, by all means do.
If the price tag on fully-grown plants is too hefty, there is no reason you cannot grow your own beautiful, healthy houseplants. It just takes more time. Many houseplants propagate and divide easily and there’s a good chance someone you know already has one. You won’t immediately have the giant and bushy fern you want, but you will get the chance to nurture it as it grows into its fullest self.
The most obvious benefit of collecting plant cuttings from friends and acquaintances is that it immediately connects you to another person in a way that purchasing your plant from a home-improvement store might not. Purchasing it from a local nursery might give you a similar connection.
Starting small with your plant also gives you more time to become connected to and acquainted with the plant and its needs. You are the one caring for it and coaxing each new leaf into the world. And you can take pride in it as it grows from a scraggly little thing into a waterfall of vines. If you purchase a fully grown plant you are simply putting it on the shelf and hoping it continues to grow.
Finally, when your plants are large and healthy, you can begin snipping and dividing and passing the cuttings on to someone else. When you do, the that gets passed on with the plant will be even longer and connect even more people.
Some easy plants to propagate:
Pothos: These vines are the quintessential low maintenance houseplant. They do not need much water or light and they will grow into a fantastic mess of vines. To propagate cut a piece of the vine, make sure it is the actual vine, not just the leaf stem, and place it in water. Once the vine has begun to put out roots, usually in a few weeks, it is ready to be planted.
Spider plants: Spider plants propagate themselves, sending out tendrils with baby plants, or pups. These plants will begin to grow their own roots, but must be placed in water to foster root development or planted in a pot of their own. Spider plant pups are easy to come by since anyone with a healthy spider plant will have more pups than they know what to do with
Succulents: Succulents require a bit more work to propagate, but are worth it. Like spider plants, other succulent owners will eventually have more growing succulent leaves than they can reasonably plant themselves. The best succulent leaves to propagate are the ones that come away easily from the main plant, but are still firm and healthy. Leave them in dry dirt or on gravel for a few days until you begin to see roots or leaves growing. You can begin to slowly water the props, but be careful not to let the main leaf get too wet. If it begins to rot before the prop is self-sufficient, it will die. When the leaf begins to shrivel and die, but the roots and new succulent are healthy, transfer it to its own container.
-Erica
