I used a pencil to prop the plant (although it didn’t need it) since this is a gift for a teacher.
DIY FRI.
It’s DIY FRI. again (except it’s Saturday: Grandma and Papa are in town-yay!!), where every Friday I try to post something you can do yourself rather than buy, which is a money saver, and can be VERY REWARDING. Some of these posts are crafts, sewing projects, homemade cleaners, homemade health aids, tutorials, and the like.
Since the fall I’ve been thinking about giving my girls’ teachers a house plant for Teacher Appreciation Week. No matter what the occasion is that you may give a house plant as a gift, this project is one where you have to think ahead to give your plant time to root and grow. But when you do think ahead, it takes no time at all to put together, and it’s easy and free if you have a pot or very inexpensive (I bought some nice 6 inch terra cotta pots for less than $1.50 each). Terra cotta is easy to paint, too. I’ve used acrylic paint and even left over paint for the house.
I think I was in high school when I received a gift of a potted houseplant. The plant is about 18 years old now and still going strong. I have propagated it many times over the last couple of decades. A few years ago I got a different house plant with a more robust leaf that I have propagated for this project.
The Instructions:
- Take a mother plant, and cut off a healthy looking stem so it is about 4-6 inches long with at least 3 nodes (the bumps that the leaves grow from). It should have about 3 leaves.
- Place in water by a windowsill (not direct sunlight), and watch it grow.
- After a couple of weeks to a few months or so when your stem has a couple of stringy roots, it’s ready to be potted and gifted or enjoyed in your home.
My cuttings here have been in this vase for about six months. I just haven’t taken the time to pot them yet, even though they sprouted within a month of starting. And I don’t remember ever changing the water (oops)! I do change it out for my green onions in my windowsill, though.
I am great at starting projects, and I usually need a deadline to finish. So with Teacher Appreciate Week approaching I knew it was time to pot and gift. The pictures below are all from the same plant, cut the same time, but four different stems. The one on the right went CRAZY. Funny thing is, the crazy root plant is the one plant that only have two leaves on it (I did choose it for the featured picture in this post, though).
It doesn’t take long for the roots to start growing. I usually cut three stems to start propagating so I have chance for greater success. It seems at least two will grow, but usually all three are successful. This time I had eight stems rooting at the same time, and it looks like two didn’t really root, although they are still alive.
For my indoor house plants I have had much success without root-inducing hormones. May be they would do better with a rooting hormone, but when possible, I like to make things frugal, and easy on us (this allows us to have our hands in many different kinds of things) as possible, so no rooting hormone for us now. I have used it on other plants like roses with little success.
Can you think of upcoming celebrations where a potted plant would be a good gift? Mother’s Day, Grandparent’s Day, a birthday or retirement celebration?
Have you read or tried…?
- DIY Repurposing Old Clothing to New Clothing
- DIY: Starting Our Garden
- DIY: Grow Your Own Green Onions In the Windowsill
- Upcycled and Repurposed Towel to Bib Tutorial
Shared @ Weekend Warrior Link Party, Sunday Round Up, Nifty Thrifty Sunday, & Sundae Scoop, Prudent Project Smart Solutions, Strut Your Stuff, Weekend Craft Soiree, Friday Flair, Hookin’ Up with HoH Thurs., 20 Below Thursday, Showcase Your Talent Thursdays, Chic and Crafty, Thrifty Thursday, Whole Foods Wednesday, Frugal Days, Sustainable Ways, Homestead Barn Hop, Creative Bloggers Party Hop, Tuesday Time Out,Tiny Tip Tuesday, Take It On Tuesday, Anti-procrastination Tuesday, Tutorial Tuesday, Tutorials Tips, Nifty Thrifty Tuesdays, Handmade Tuesday, Simply Sensational Tuesday, More Merrier Monday, Modest Monday, Metamorphosis Monday, Show & Tell Link Up.
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Sonja
Anita says
I came across this post on pinterest (gotta love it)! My grandmother gave me 3 plants in 2009 saying, “if you’re going to be on your own, you have to have some plants”. The love affair took off from there! I have been bringing plants back to life left and right and starting pieces for coworkers and friends alike, I hadn’t thought about “gifting” them though! I’m going to take a look around this lovely blog now, thank you!
Sonja says
Hi Anita, That’s so sweet of your grandma to gift you the plants. I really is such a great gift. You are welcome!
Krissa says
Wow…I had no idea this was possible. Can’t wait to try it sometime!
Betsy @ Romance on a Dime says
Love this!! Thanks for talking us through how to propagate your own plants!!
I’m so glad you linked up at Romance on a dime!! Pinning this.
Sonja says
HI Betsy, Thanks for visiting and pinning!! Love your blog!
Patricia P says
My brother-in-law was explaining how to do this when he gave me some house plants. Thanks for the pictures, now I know exactly what to do.
Sonja says
You are welcome! Thanks so much for stopping by!
K Hawke says
I love my plant…..I saw Ellie yesterday afternoon and as we were chatting, I asked her if she and Abbie helped plant the plants and make the container. Of course her response was the WHOLE process from start to finish….including you have to eat the fruit/vegetable/soup or whatever is in the can before you use it. Just too cute….These plants are so hardy….we have a “matching” one from when David was teaching in Mt. Angel Oregon back in 1984 and the secretary gave him a start of hers. That thing has moved with us over the years….my “new” one will always be Abbie and Ellies plant…..love it much…thanks!
Sonja says
Oh, that’s funny! We had chili this weekend using lots of cans so we had an abundance. I wasn’t even thinking about making lots, but that’s what we did. I had to do the spray painting, though. I wasn’t going to trust a 5 & 7 year old for that! You are welcome!!
Anna @ Feminine Adventures says
Love this idea! We received a plant for our wedding (with a sweet note saying it was a lovely picture of marriage—and adding a strong impetus to keep the plant alive!) and have propagated it several times, though I need to try again.
Thanks for sharing at Thrifty Thursday!
Tisha @ Delectable Home says
What a great and easy idea for a teacher’s gift. I love the little pinwheel. Thanks for linking up!
Heather @ Heatherly Loves says
Thanks for linking up to our Sunday Round Up link party. Hope to see you again this weekend 🙂 xoxo Heather
Katie says
Love the idea of rooting new plants from old. I keep meaning to do this 🙂 I’d love for you to come and share your post at Whole Foods Wednesday
Sonja says
Will do! Thanks for stopping by!