For gardeners, December can feel like an unusual month. For starters, the temperature and environmental conditions make it harder to sow a lot of popular plants, so many just choose to sit back and wait this month out.
But you don’t have to! In today’s article, I’m going to show you exactly how you can make December a productive month by exploring a long list of houseplants you can propagate easily from cuttings during the wintertime.
Let’s dive into this fascinating world of cold-season houseplants, shall we?
Why December Is Great For Propagating Indoors
I actually love propagating houseplants in December. The garden is quiet, the house is cozy, and it’s one of the few winter projects that gives you that “something is growing” feeling.
It’s honestly one of my favorite winter habits. When everything outside feels dormant, these tiny jars of roots bring so much life back into the house!
Houseplants To Propagate This December
December is the month when I like to walk around the house with pruning scissors and a cup of tea, looking for plants that are ready to share a cutting.
Most houseplants root perfectly well in winter, and many of them get started even faster than you’d expect. Here are the ones that have always given me the best success this time of year.
1: Pothos
Pothos was actually the first plant I ever propagated successfully, so it’s the one I always recommend to beginners. It’s one of the most forgiving plants to propagate in winter.
For propagation, cut 4-6 inch stems from the parent pothos and let them root in water for 1-2 weeks.
Quick tip: I’ve learned pothos root faster when I trim off any yellowing leaves before placing them in water, they rot easily otherwise.
And if you’ve ever had pothos cuttings that root beautifully but refuse to grow new leaves (been there!), I have a guide on exactly what’s usually missing!
2: Philodendron
Philodendrons have quite a similar simple nature to pothos.
To get cuttings, cut stems below the leaf node and ensure each stem has 2-3 leaves on it and place it in water or soil. Both methods work well indoors in December.
3: Snake Plant
Snake plants root from leaf sections, not stems.
Cut each leaf into 2-3 inch sections and carefully plant them in soil, cut side down. Snake plants typically take 4-8 weeks to establish and begin rooting properly.
Quick reminder: Some gardeners trim the base into a little V-shape. It doesn’t make the plant root faster, but it does make it easier to tell which side is ‘down’, which has definitely saved me a few times, haha.
Snake plants have a few different propagation methods, so if you ever want to try the other options (including division), I have a full guide that covers all four.
4: Spider Plant
Spider plants do the work for you!
To propagate spider plants, it’s best if you cut off baby plantlets with small roots still attached. Immediately plant them in water or soil. As long as you don’t let it dry out, it will take off quickly!
5: Coleus
Coleus is ridiculously fast and very easy to propagate in the wintertime! Take 4-6 inch stem cuttings and put them in water. It can root in water within days (as long as it has bright, indirect light).
Quick tip: Even though it roots fast, but it hates cold water! I only use room-temperature water or the stems turn mushy.
