by Susan Klatz Beal

Created on: January 31, 2009

As plants continue to grow, there comes a point when they just don't look as full or lush as they did some time ago. With some plants, by allowing them to grow up, we prevent them from growing out. With others, sometimes part of their natural cycle makes them drop leaves in places, or because they've grown in length, they look scraggly.

There is a very simple solution that will help your plants look healthier, allow you to fill in an empty looking pot, or even better, provide you with more plants that you didn't have to buy. What is the solution? Take cuttings of your plants. Taking cuttings of plants encourages the remainder of the plant from which the cutting was taken to regenerate new growth.

Philodendron, pathos, ivy, and Wandering Jew root easily in water. Simply take the cutting wherever you want. I usually try to take the cutting in a place where there is considerable empty space because leaves have dropped off, but it isn't essential to take the cutting there. If you take a cutting from a place where there are remaining leaves, remove the leaves from the bottom portion.

Dieffenbachia tends to grow very tall over time. As it grows tall, it doesn't get any foliage on the lower portion of the trunk. The taller it gets, the less attractive it becomes because of all the bare spots on the lower portion of the trunk. Moreover, the trunk on a large dieffenbachia can be very heavy, requiring support. Even then, it will be difficult to keep the plant upright because the top part of the trunk will be so much heavier than the rest.

That is why it's wise to cut the trunk of a dieffenbachia before it gets so tall that it really looks unattractive. These cuttings can be rooted in soil or in water. If you decide to root them in soil, it would be wise to use a rooting hormone. If you decide to root the cuttings in water,you will need to remove leaves to the point where no leaves will be in water when you put your cuttings in water.

Put the cuttings in a clear class of water and place the glass in a place where it will get some light - indirect is fine. Make sure that the place where you put the glass is a place that will stay warm. I prefer to root cuttings in water simply because the water allows me to see when the cutting is developing roots and when it has enough roots to be planted in a pot.

Some plants have incredibly shallow roots. Those plants would be cacti, Aloe Vera plants, bromeliads, Desert Roses, and the new shoots or babies of spider plants. These are the types

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