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 cost-effective way to expand your garden. January, despite being chilly and frosty in several regions, is an excellent time to propagate certain cold-hardy plants!
Indoor Plants You Can Grow from Cuttings in January
In January, several plants go dormant or slow down their growth. In this resting phase, they are less stressed when you take cuttings, and they have ample time to root before the active growing season begins in spring.
1. Spider Plants
Botanical Name: Chlorophytum comosum
Spider plants produce baby shoots or “spiderettes” that are perfect for propagation. Snip a baby plant from the mother and place it in water or directly in the soil. These plants thrive in your warm indoor setting, even in the chill and mellow winter sun outside.
2. Pothos
Botanical Name: Epipremnum aureum
Pothos is one of the easiest houseplants to propagate in January. Simply cut a vine below a node (the little bump where leaves grow) and place it in water.
Within a few weeks, roots will appear, and you can let that grow in water forever or transfer the cutting to the soil.
3. Snake Plant
Botanical Name:Dracaena trifasciata
To propagate a snake plant, either take out the pups or cut a healthy leaf into several sections (2-4 inches each) and place the cut ends in the soil. It’s a slow process but rewarding. Keep the container in a warm, bright spot with indirect sunlight.
Snake plants are also incredibly forgiving, which makes 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. Place a cutting with at least 2-3 nodes in soil or water. The roots should develop in a couple of weeks. See more indoor plants you can grow from cuttings here.
5. Tradescantias
Botanical Name: Tradescantia
Whether it’s Purple Heart or Wandering Dude, all the plants in this genus are easiest to propagate, whether inside or outside. To grow a new plant, just cut a healthy stem and put it in your favorite growing medium in January. In a few weeks, roots will start to emerge. Check our list of purple indoor plants that grow from cuttings!
6. Christmas Cactus
Botanical Name: Schlumbergera spp.
If your Christmas cactus has stopped flowering in January, the next few months are ideal for making its copy. Prune leggy sections to promote healthy growth and shape the plant and use these segments to regrow many copies.
Outdoor Plants to Grow from Cuttings in January
When growing outdoor plants from cuttings in winter in cold regions, pick hardwood cuttings from deciduous plants from the previous season’s growth.
7. Forsythia
Botanical Name: Forsythia
This deciduous flower from the olive family is a great plant to grow outdoors from cuttings in cold winters! Fill the pot with perlite or sand, moisten it, and let it drain. Take 4-6 inch cuttings from the tips of fresh growth.
Remove the leaves from the bottom half of the cutting and dip the cut end in the rooting hormone. Make sure no leaves touch the growing medium. Press the medium gently around the base, place the pot in a plastic bag, and cover it till 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 that are 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: Taxus
Cut 4-6 inches pieces from the semi-hardwood stems of your yew plant. Move the pots to a bright spot and protected 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 to be successful.
Once they have roots, fill pots with potting soil, water them, and plant the cuttings. Make sure the roots are fully covered.
10. Arborvitae
Botanical Name: Thuja occidentalis
You can root arborvitae cuttings in January when they are dormant, and the cut ends will callus efficiently as it doesn’t have the pressure of growing. Use the previous year’s hardwood growth for this purpose.
To speed up rooting, use a seedling heat mat to add warmth. Keep the winter cuttings in their growing pots until they develop strong roots in the spring.
Plants to Grow 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 garden beds with protection.
Keep the soil lightly moist and place the cuttings in bright, indirect sunlight for successful rooting. Learn more details here.
11. Basil
Botanical Name: Ocimum Basilicum
In moderate regions, grow 3–4 basil cuttings together in the same pot filled with well-draining soil and place it on a sunny windowsill. Once the cuttings develop roots, usually within a week, transfer each one to its pot with well-draining soil.
Read the details here for growing basil indoors year-round.
12. Succulents
Many succulents, like String of Pearls, kalanchoe, sedum, jade plants, and echeverias, propagate well from leaf or stem cuttings. Let the cuttings callus over 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 that could dry them out.
- Dip cuttings into a rooting hormone to increase your success rate.
- Cover 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 so as not to dislocate the cuttings.
