Discover the list of plants you can grow from cuttings in January. Start them indoors or outdoors for a lush spring garden!
Growing plants from cuttings is an easy and economical way to expand your garden. January, although cold and freezing in many areas, is a great time to propagate some cold hardy plants!
Indoor plants you can grow from cuttings in January
In January, many plants go dormant or slow down their growth. In this resting phase, they are less stressed when you take cuttings and have enough time to root before the active growing season begins in the spring.
1. Spider plants
Botanical name: Chlorophytum comosum
Spider plants produce baby shoots or “spiders” which are perfect for hearsay. Cut a baby plant from the mother and place it in water or directly into the soil. These plants thrive in your warm indoor environment, even in the cold and still winter sun outside.
2. Pothos
Botanical name: Epipremnus aureum
Lust is one of them the easiest indoor plants to be published in January. Simply cut a vine below a node (the little bump where the leaves grow) and place it in water.
Within a few weeks, roots will appear and you can leave it they grow in water forever or transfer the cutting to the ground.
3. Snake plant
Botanical name:Dracaena trifasciata
To propagate a snake plant, either remove the pupae or cut a healthy leaf into several sections (2-4 inches each) and place the cut ends in the soil. It’s a slow but rewarding process. Keep the container in a warm, bright spot with indirect sunlight.
Snake plants are also incredibly forgiving, making them ideal for beginners looking to grow plants from cuttings in January.
4. Philodendron
Botanical name: Philodendron
Philodendrons are beautiful tropical plants with heart-shaped leaves that root easily from stem cuttings. Plant a cutting with at least 2-3 nodes in soil or water. Roots should grow in a few weeks. See more indoor plants you can grow from cuttings here.
5. Tradescantias
i flyfull name: Tradescantia
Whether it’s Purple Heart or Wandering Friend, all plants in this genus are easiest to propagate, whether indoors or out. To grow a new plant, simply cut a healthy stem and plant it in your favorite growing medium in January. In a few weeks, roots will begin to emerge. Check out our list of purple indoor plants that grow from cuttings!
6. Christmas Cactus
i flyfull name: Schlumbergera spp.
If your Christmas cactus has stopped blooming in January, the next few months are ideal for making a copy of it. Prune leg sections to promote healthy growth and shape the plant and use these sections to recreate multiple copies.
Outdoor plants to grow from cuttings in January
When growing outdoor plants from winter cuttings in cold regions, choose hardwood cuttings from deciduous plants from the previous season’s growth.
7. Forsythia
Botanical name: Forsythia
This deciduous flower from the olive family is an excellent plant to grow outdoors from cuttings in cold winters! Fill the pot with perlite or sand, wet it and let it drain. Take 4-6 inch cuttings from the tips of fresh growth.
Remove the leaves from the lower half of the cutting and dip the cut end in the rooting hormone. Make sure no leaves are touching the growing medium. Press the medium gently around the base, place the pot in a plastic bag and cover until you see new growth!
8. Russian Sage
Botanical name: Perovskia atriplicifolia
Hardwood cuttings are best taken in fall or winter, while softwood cuttings are best taken in spring. Using both methods helps you grow more plants. Start with several cuttings 4-5 inches long and one about 10 inches long.
Place them in a sunny window, keep the soil moist and don’t let the medium dry out completely.
9. Yew
Botanical name: Yes
Cut 4-6 inch pieces from the semi-hard stems of your holly plant. Move the pots to a bright and sheltered spot with a temperature above 60 F (15 C) and keep the soil moist.
After a few weeks, check if roots have formed at the bottom of the cuttings by trying to pull them gently, if you feel slight resistance, consider your mission successful.
Once rooted, fill the pots with potting soil, water and plant the cuttings. Make sure the roots are completely covered.
10. Arborvitae
Botanical name: Thuja occidentalis
You can root arborvitae cuttings in January when they are dormant, and the cut ends will wrap effectively as it does not have the pressure of growth. Use the previous year’s hardwood growth for this purpose.
To speed up rooting, use a seedling heat mat to add warmth. Keep the overwintered cuttings in the growing pots until they develop strong roots in the spring.
Plants grown from cuttings in warm climates
11. Geraniums
Botanical name: Geranium
Geraniums can be propagated from softwood cuttings and are ideal for warm climates in January. In moderate climates plant them in pots or directly in sheltered garden beds.
Keep the soil slightly moist and place the cuttings in bright, indirect sunlight for successful rooting. Learn more details here.
11. Basil
Botanical name: Ocimum Basilicum
In moderate areas, grow 3-4 basil cuttings together in the same pot filled with well-draining soil and place on a sunny windowsill. Once the cuttings develop roots, usually within a week, transfer each one to its pot of well-draining soil.
Read the details here for growing basil indoors all year round.
12. Succulents
Many succulents, such as String of Pearls, Kalanchoesedum, jade plantsand echeveriathey are well propagated from leaf or stem cuttings. Allow the cuttings to burn off before planting them in the soil.
Tips to follow for successful propagation in January
- For indoor cuttings, a heat mat can encourage root growth by keeping the soil warm.
- Place your cuttings in a bright spot, but avoid direct sunlight which can dry them out.
- Dip the cuttings in a rooting hormone to increase your success rate.
- Cover the cuttings with a plastic bag or place them in a propagator to retain moisture and humidity. Avoid this practice for succulents as they prefer dry air.
- Overwatering can cause rot. Keep the soil moist but not soggy and water when you see slight dryness.
- Instead of watering normally, try a plant mister or spray to keep the cuttings from dislocating.
