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Taking a cutting from a snake plant is a fantastic way to multiply your plant collection for free.
If you’ve been wondering exactly how to take a cutting from a snake plant with the highest chance of success, you’re in the right place.
This method of propagation works wonderfully for snake plants because they are incredibly resilient succulents.
Whether you want to propagate a snake plant for your desk or to give as a gift, taking cuttings is the go-to method.
In this post, we will explore the entire process of how to take a cutting from a snake plant from start to finish.
Let’s dig in and get your new plants growing.
How to Take a Cutting from a Snake Plant: Getting Ready
Before you begin, knowing how to take a cutting from a snake plant properly requires a little bit of preparation.
Preparation ensures your cuttings root quickly and don’t rot before they get a chance to grow.
1. Selecting the Perfect Leaf
The first part of taking a cutting from a snake plant is picking the right leaf.
You want a leaf that is mature, dark green, and standing tall.
Avoid leaves that are floppy, yellowing, or have brown tips.
A healthy parent leaf gives your snake plant cutting the best start in life.
If the leaf has variegation, keep in mind that taking a cutting from a snake plant with variegation might produce a solid green pup.
If you want to preserve the variegation, it’s better to propagate by division instead of taking a leaf cutting.
2. Sterilizing Your Tools
When you take a cutting from a snake plant, you must use a clean, sharp blade.
Wipe your scissors or knife down with rubbing alcohol to kill any potential pathogens.
This step in knowing how to take a cutting from a snake plant is often overlooked, but it is vital for preventing rot.
3. Understanding the Notch Trick
Snake plant leaves have a top and a bottom.
If you plant a cutting upside down, it won’t grow roots.
To help yourself remember which end is up when you take a cutting from a snake plant, cut the bottom end in a straight line and the top end in a V-shape.
This visual cue ensures you always plant it the right way.
Step-by-Step: How to Take a Cutting from a Snake Plant
Now that you are prepared, let’s walk through the exact steps of taking a cutting from a snake plant.
Following these steps closely will give you a high success rate.
1. Make a Clean Cut
Take your sterilized knife and cut the selected leaf as low as possible near the soil base.
A clean, straight cut is the best way to take a cutting from a snake plant.
2. Divide the Leaf into Sections
This is where taking a cutting from a snake plant gets really efficient.
You can cut a single long leaf into 3-4 smaller segments, each about 4-5 inches long.
Just remember to use the notch trick we discussed earlier so you know the correct orientation.
Each of these sections can become an entirely new plant.
3. The Callusing Process
This is the most crucial tip for how to take a cutting from a snake plant successfully.
Never stick a fresh cutting straight into water or soil.
You must let the cut end dry out and form a callus.
Place your snake plant cuttings on a paper towel in a warm, dry spot out of direct sunlight.
Wait 2 to 4 days until the ends feel hard and dry to the touch.
This callus acts as a barrier against bacteria and fungi that cause rot.
4. Rooting in Water
One popular method for rooting a snake plant cutting is water propagation.
Once the cutting has callused, place it in a jar with a few inches of water.
Only the bottom inch of the snake plant cutting should be submerged.
Place the jar in bright, indirect light and change the water every week.
You will see roots forming in about a month or two.
What if your snake plant cutting starts turning brown or mushy in water?
Simply remove the mushy part, re-cut the leaf, let it callus again, and try once more.
Knowing how to troubleshoot is just as important as knowing how to take a cutting from a snake plant.
5. Rooting in Soil
Alternatively, you can plant your callused snake plant cutting directly into soil.
Use a well-draining succulent or cactus mix for the best results.
Plant the cutting about an inch deep and water it lightly.
Soil propagation takes slightly longer than water, but it creates stronger roots that are already adapted to soil.
Caring for Your New Snake Plant Cutting
You have successfully taken a cutting from a snake plant; now the real fun begins.
Proper aftercare ensures your snake plant cutting grows into a full, beautiful plant.
1. Light and Location
Place your newly planted snake plant cutting in a spot with plenty of bright, indirect sunlight.
Avoid direct sunlight as it can burn the tender new growth or dry out the soil too quickly.
A bathroom window or a spot near an east-facing window is perfect for a snake plant cutting.
2. Watering Schedule
The biggest mistake people make after taking a cutting from a snake plant is overwatering.
A snake plant cutting does not have an established root system yet, so it can’t absorb much water.
If you rooted in soil, only water when the top inch of soil is completely dry.
If you rooted in water, you must transfer it to soil once the roots are about 2 inches long.
3. Patience and Feeding
Taking a cutting from a snake plant requires a good amount of patience.
Snake plants are slow growers, and it can take several months for a leaf cutting to produce a new pup.
Don’t tug on the cutting to check for roots; just let it do its thing.
After a few months, you can give your new snake plant a light dose of balanced liquid fertilizer diluted to half strength.
This will encourage faster growth and help the snake plant cutting establish itself more quickly.
Eventually, you will see a tiny new shoot emerging from the base of the snake plant cutting.
That is the moment you know your propagation was a success.
So, How Do You Take a Cutting from a Snake Plant?
Taking a cutting from a snake plant is a simple, affordable, and rewarding way to grow your plant family.
You can easily take a cutting from a snake plant by selecting a healthy leaf, making clean cuts, letting the ends callus, and rooting them in water or soil.
The key to successfully taking a cutting from a snake plant is patience and proper aftercare.
Whether you are taking a cutting from a snake plant for the first time or you’re a seasoned plant parent, this propagation method almost never fails.
Give it a try and watch your indoor jungle grow.