Vegetative Propagation of Houseplants
Specialized Structures
Offsets
Plants such as aloe vera, bromeliads and African violets may produce
small plants right next to the original plant. These little plants
are called offsets. Using a sharp knife just cut them away
from the parent plant, making sure the offsets have roots. Then
re-pot immediately.
 Plantlets
Miniature plants, called plantlets, can be found at the
end of long stems called runners. The strawberry begonia
and spider plant will propagate naturally in this way. Other plants,
such as piggyback plant will form miniatures on their leaf surface.
Plantlets should not be removed from the parent plant until they
have roots. To help this occur, pin them down to soil with a paper
clip, perhaps in a second pot, and wait for the roots to form. This
may take 2-3 weeks. After roots form, snip and remove each plantlet
from the parent plant and re-pot.
Spider plants root easily. Often their plantlets form short white
aerial roots while still attached to the parent plant. Many gardeners
will remove these plantlets before a complete root system is developed,
and re-pot them successfully.
Supplies | Tips
for Success | Cuttings
| Air Layering | Division
| Specialized Structures | Propagation
Procedures List |
