The Joy Of Propagating

Good morning and happy Friday! It's always so wonderful and exciting to share these blog posts and today is no exception. I've been planning this one for a little while now, which has really given me the time to contemplate the subject to even greater depths, and WOWWW... What is up with P L A N T S?! Really, truly, just amazing. Not only are they some of the most beautiful things on earth, plants actually improve the quality of our air by purifying it, increasing oxygen levels, and removing toxic pollutants. On a mental level, they reduce stress and encourage the release of endorphins and other happy hormones. If two plants are grown in the exact same conditions, except you talk to one on a daily basis and not the other, the plant you talk to will actually grow stronger and faster, therefore completely creating the possibility for emotional and spiritual connections to also be established between plants and ourselves. God has truly created such a beautiful and precise way for all of the natural world to support and rely on each other, in such a magnificent exchange of nurturing and care.

Like so many people out there who have discovered this wonderful connection in their own way, it has become a necessity to now have plants surrounding and filling our house. And lots of them! This can quickly become an expensive interest, but it doesn't have to. Today I want to talk about one super easy way to multiple your green space without spending a dime, through the simple act of propagation. It's also one of the best ways to make gifts for your family and friends! When you breed a plant from the parent stock, it's called propagating. One simple way propagation can be done is by taking a cutting from one plant in order to make another. If you've ever wondered how this is done, I'm going to show you step-by-step how this amazingly fun and interesting process works! 

1. To start with, you're going to need a parent plant. There are dozens of plants - including succulents, herbs, vegetables and more, that you can do this with. I'm showing examples of two common houseplants, which are also very resilient and easy to grow for those looking for a good plant to start off with, if you're new to this! 

Chlorophytum Comosum - Spider Plant

Philodendron Hederaceum - Heart-Leafed Plant

2. The spider plant grows very obvious "babies" that can be gently pulled off the vine. For the heart-leafed philodendron, and most other plants, you want to make an angled-cutting just below a leaf node, the brown bumps that look like little roots.

3. Place your cuttings in water so at least a few inches of the new stock is submerged. Keep in a sunny spot and watch in awe as your cuttings develop a root system of their own! This can literally happen overnight, or may take a few weeks, depending on the type of plant.

4. Once the roots have grown to about an inch or longer, plant into a pot with soil and voila! A new member of the family!  

I hope you enjoyed this post as much as I did writing it. Plants really bring so much joy, excitement, energy and healing! Hopefully you're now feeling encouraged to get creative and see what new forms of life you can help cultivate and spread. Sending lots of love and warm hugs from our Hive to yours!