How to Propagate String of Hearts: 3 Methods

How to Propagate Cuttings in Water

Just like many other houseplants, string of hearts plants can be easily propagated in water. Follow these steps to propagate stem cuttings in water.

1. Take Cuttings

   Using clean pruning shears or scissors take stem cuttings with at least three to fouur nodes from your mother plant. Remove the bottom half of the leaves from the stem.

2. Put Cuttings in Water

   Fill a small glass jar or vase with room temperature water and put the cuttings in the water, ensuring the remaining leaves on the stem sit above the surface. There should be at least two nodes submerged. Place the container in a bright, warm location and refresh the water once a week. Roots should begin to grow within a couple of weeks.

3. Plant Rooted Cuttings

   Once the roots are at least half an inch long, the cuttings can be transferred to soil. Use a well-draining potting mix and water the freshly planted cuttings thoroughly. Keep the soil evenly moist for the first couple of weeks to help the cuttings acclimate, then resume a regular watering schedule.

How to Propagate Cuttings in Soil

Stem cuttings can also be easily propagated in soil. Follow these steps to propagate string of hearts cuttings in soil.

1. Take Cuttings

   Using clean pruning shears or scissors take stem cuttings with at least three to four nodes from your mother plant. Remove the bottom half of the leaves from the stem.

2. Plant the Cuttings in Soil

   Fill a small potting container with a well-draining soil mix and moisten the soil with a spray bottle. Then, plant the stem cuttings, ensuring at least two nodes are buried in the soil. 

3. Cover the Pot With a Plastic Bag

   Use a clear plastic bag over the top of the pot to increase humidity which will encourage rooting. Remove the bag once a week for 10 to 15 minutes to provide the cuttings with fresh air. Alternatively, if you own a greenhouse cabinet or other kind of indoor greenhouse it is an ideal spot for this propagation. Ensure the cuttings are in a warm location that receives bright, indirect light.

4. Keep the Soil Evenly Moist

   Keep the soil lightly moist, but not soaking, until roots begin to develop. Once the cuttings have established roots, the bag can be removed and a regular watering schedule can be resumed.

How to Propagate With Tuber Propagation

String of hearts plants grow from tubers, and healthy plants grow aerial tubers which are also called beads. These aerial tubers can be easily rooted and used for propagation.

1. Prepare a Pot

   Fill a small pot with a well-draining soil mix and place it next to your existing string of hearts plant.

2. Plant the Tubers

   Without cutting the stems, drape the stems that you want to propagate over the soil of the new pot so that the aerial tubers are laying on top of the soil. Bury them slightly to hold them in place, and coil the rest of the stem around the inside of the pot. Use a bent paperclip to hold the stems down into the soil if needed.

3. Keep the Soil Evenly Moist

   Keep the soil evenly moist while the tubers root. 

4. Cut the Rooted Tubers From the Mother Plant

   Once the tubers have developed roots, their stems can be cut away from the mother plant, and a regular watering schedule can be resumed.