How to Propagate a Devil’s Ivy | Step by Step Methods

With their long trailing vines and heart-shaped leaves, it’s no wonder that plant parents fall deeply in love with their Devil’s Ivy plant and desperately want to continue making more. Luckily, propagating them is incredibly simple and with the right processes and care, you shouldn’t run into too many problems at all. Before you know it, you’ll have so many plants you won’t know what to do with them all.

In this post, we will guide you through the entire process of how to propagate your plant so that you’re fully equipped with the knowledge you need to create infinite new plants. We will be covering the tools and equipment you’ll need as well as a detailed step by step process for each of the different methods as well as how to spot and solve any issues you might face.

Why propagate a Devil’s Ivy plant?

Before we get into the details, we thought it would be useful to cover the reasons why plant parents choose to or have to, propagate their plant. The main reason is probably just wanting to multiply the number of plants you have without having to shell out any more money on houseplants! Plants and plant cuttings make great gifts for friends which is why we always make sure to take a few cuttings from each of our new plants.

The other reason why many plant parents choose to propagate their plant is that it’s either too long or becoming very leggy. Pruning your plant encourages bushier growth and is a great way to cut back that winter growth which can often be straggly or leggy. But instead of simply throwing away those special cuttings, why not propagate them and start a whole new mother plant.

If you notice that your plant is starting to look a little ill, then you may choose to propagate the healthy part of the plant to save it. We always recommend that you first try to figure out what’s causing the issue and see if you can fix it (it’ll also help prevent you from doing the same to your new plants). But if the issue is just getting worse, then the best thing to do is cut off the healthy vines and use those to grow new plants.

What tools will I need?

Let’s start off with the easy bit. It’s really important to make sure you have all the things you need before taking that first plant cutting.

• Healthy and mature Devil’s Ivy plant

• Clean, sharp scissors/shears

• Spare pot(s) with drainage holes

• Fresh soil and water

• Newspaper or plastic sheet if propagating indoors

What are the different methods I can use to propagate a Devil’s Ivy plant?

The most common method of propagation is through stem cuttings. As long as you have a few nodes on each of the cuttings, this is a really successful way to create new plants.

The other method of Devil’s Ivy propagation is through layering. Note that this technique is different to air layering, and is much simpler as it means rooting your vines whilst still attached to the mother plant. Below you’ll find a detailed step by step process of each method so you can figure out what’s best for you and your plant.

How to propagate a Devil’s Ivy plant using stem cuttings

This is the most common method as it’s suitable for all maturities. So however big, small, bushy or leggy your plant is, this method can work for you! It’s also really easy and you can create several new plants just by taking a short stem cutting.

1. Locate a healthy vine

   When taking a stem cutting you want to make sure that the part of the Devil’s Ivy plant you’re going to propagate is healthy to give you the best chance of success. Avoid using vines that are showing any signs of disease or pests as these problems will be transferred onto your new cuttings.

   Ideally, each stem cutting will have several healthy nodes and leaves. A node is the joint in the stem where the root would grow out from (you will feel a slight bump running a finger down the stem). If you can, try to choose a section of the plant that already has a small aerial root stub as this means root growth will be quicker.

2. Make the cut

   Use your tools to make a clean cut across the stem of your chosen vine, leaving at least two to three nodes per section. It can work with just one node but it’ll take a lot longer for the cutting to grow a mature root system and there is a higher risk of the cutting dying.

   Top tip: Make sure your scissors/ shears are clean when making the cut to avoid passing on dirt or any infection into the cutting(s).

3. Fill up a container with water

   Next, fill up a container with fresh temperate water to place your cuttings into. Avoid using particularly warm or cold water as this can very easily shock or burn your cutting. We like to use a transparent container when propagating a Devil’s Ivy as it not only allows you to see the cool new roots that grow out of your plant, but it’ll help you spot any issues early!

4. Place your cutting(s) in water

   Make sure that the nodes on your stem cutting are sat directly in the water so that the roots will start to grow out from them. Place your cuttings in bright but indirect sunlight (too much direct sunlight during spring and summer can burn your cuttings and kill them).

5. Refresh the water every few days

   One of the most important steps when propagating Devil’s Ivy plants is to refresh the water in the container regularly (every 2-3 days). This keeps the water free from bacteria.

6. Now just be patient!

   Compared to a lot of other houseplants, Devil’s Ivy plants are fairly quick at growing roots and after a week or two, you should start to see them popping through the nodes. Don’t worry if this process takes a little longer though as it is unpredictable. As long as your cuttings are getting enough light, warmth and fresh water, you should start to see roots appearing very soon.

7. Plant your cuttings into fresh potting mix

   Once the roots on your cutting are about 5-10 centimetres in length, you can pot them into soil! You want to use a high-quality potting mix to ensure your cuttings are getting the right balance of nutrients to encourage new healthy growth. Carefully place your cuttings a few centimetres into the soil, making sure not to damage the new roots.

8. Resume your usual Devil’s Ivy care routine

   For the first few weeks of your cuttings living in potting mix, we recommend keeping the soil a little more moist than usual as the cuttings are used to living in water. But after a couple of weeks, you can begin to care for your new plants as you would the mother plant.

    

Devil’s Ivy propagation through stem cuttings in water.

How to propagate a Devil’s Ivy plant through the layering method

It’s important to know that this method is completely different to the air layering method. That one requires cutting into the stem and using a wrap of peat moss. It’s a lot more complex than the layering method.

1. Locate a healthy Devil’s Ivy vine

   You want to make sure that you choose a healthy stem for this method as any issues will harm your chances of a successful propagation. You aren’t removing the vine from the mother plant so you can’t use this method to save a dying plant, unfortunately.

2. Fill a pot with fresh potting mix

   Using a high-quality potting mix, fill up one of your spare pots so that the soil nearly reaches the top. Flatten it gently but don’t compress the soil.

3. Place the stem on top of the potting mix

   Carefully place your Devil’s Ivy cutting on top of the pot. Depending on the size of the pot, you can either lay it straight across or in a zig-zag pattern. This depends on how many nodes you want touching the soil. Press in each of the nodes very slightly into the potting mix. Make sure that the stem and leaves aren’t covered by the soil but that the nodes are making contact with it.

4. Water the nodes

   You want to keep some moisture in the top of the potting mix at all times. Not enough to rot the stem but a little bit of moisture to encourage roots to grow from your Devil’s Ivy vine. The best way to do this is by using a spray bottle.

5. Be patient

   Now the only thing left to do is wait and continue to spray and water your Devil’s Ivy vine. It will be several weeks before anything happens above the soil. Try not to constantly check on the root growth as disturbing the stem and pulling it away from the potting mix will slow down and potentially damage root growth.

6. Continue normal care

   Soon enough, new leaves will pop up from some of the nodes, forming their own vines. This means your Devil’s Ivy propagation has been a success and you can remove the vine from the mother plant. You can then choose if you want to separate out the sections of the stem or keep it all as one plant.

Use clear containers when propagating a Devil’s Ivy

FAQs on Devil’s Ivy propagation

Here are a few of the most common questions we find people have when looking to propagate their plants.

Common problems you may encounter when propagating a Devil’s Ivy plant

Even for the most experienced plants parents, propagating houseplants doesn’t always have a 100% success rate and you may encounter some problems along the way. But don’t worry, we have learnt the hard way to make sure you can figure out what is causing various issues along the way.

That’s it! That’s everything you need to know to successfully propagate your plant. It can be a little daunting at first to take cuttings from your incredible vines, but we promise that it’s worth the stress and the waiting.

For more information on how to care for your cuttings once they have been propagated check out our Devil’s Ivy care guide.