Unlike the main, mother plant, offshoots have a pink or reddish stalk. Generally, spring is the best time to propagate a pilea. The longer days full of sunlight help your mother plant grow lots of strong, healthy offshoots.
Don’t cut much deeper than 1 inch (2 cm) into the soil. Cutting deeper can hurt the main plant’s root system. Be careful not to catch any other stems with the knife when you cut the offshoot from the mother plant. While messier, it’s helpful to take the mother plant out of its pot to better see the connecting stem and the offshoot’s roots.
If the offshoot you chose doesn’t have any roots, don’t worry! Just place it in a glass of water, removing any leaves that rest in the water. After a couple weeks, it’ll start growing roots. Once they’re about 1 to 2 inches (2-5 cm) long, pot the offshoot in soil. [4] X Research source When choosing a pot for your plant, make sure it has drainage holes at the bottom.
Once your baby pilea is established after several weeks, water your plant when the top 1 to 2 inches (2-5 cm) of soil are dry. You’ll know your pilea is established because it’ll start sprouting new leaves!
To successfully propagate pilea from a leaf, a bit of the stem has to be attached to the leaf stalk. However, cutting too much of the stem off can damage the main plant.
With rooting hormone, your leaf cutting may sprout roots in as little as 2 weeks, though it could take as long as 2 months.
It’s common for baby plants to sprout at the base of your leaf cutting when it’s growing in the water. If you have any babies, plant them above the soil. Once baby pileas start sprouting at the base of your cutting, snip off the original leaf stalk.
Once your pilea is established and growing leaves, cut back to watering it about once a week, or when the soil is dry.
Rooting hormone usually takes at least 2 weeks to work but could take as long as 2 months.
It usually takes longer, but you can propagate your stem cutting in soil if you prefer. First, coat the bottom of the cutting with a rooting hormone. Then, fill a small pot with a well-draining soil mix and place your cutting inside. Keep the soil moist and you’re good to go!
