12 Plants You Can Easily Propagate for Free

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What’s better than a plant you love? One that makes more of itself for free. No shopping, no guilt, just a quick snip and a bit of patience.

Propagation sounds fancy, but it’s basically copy and paste for plants. Some grow from stems, some from leaves, and a few are so eager they root if you blink too slowly.

Here are twelve plants you can multiply easily, whether you’re growing on a windowsill or in the wilds of your backyard.

1. Basil

Let’s kick things off with the overachiever of the herb world. Basil practically begs to be cloned. It roots so fast it’s almost suspicious. Snip a stem just below a leaf node, give it a little water, and it’ll explode with roots in under a week. Free pesto incoming.

How to propagate Basil:

1. Find a healthy basil plant with strong, green stems. No yellowing, no flower buds.
2. Cut a 4- to 6-inch stem just below a leaf node (the bump where leaves grow out).
3. Pinch off the lower leaves so only the top few remain.
4. Place the stem in a glass of water. Make sure no leaves are submerged.
5. Put the glass in a bright, warm spot out of direct sunlight. A sunny windowsill works.
6. Change the water every 2–3 days to keep things fresh and avoid funk.
7. Roots should appear within 5–7 days. Once they’re a couple inches long, transplant into soil.
8. Water thoroughly after planting and keep the soil moist until the plant settles in.

2. Spider Plant

If spider plants had a motto, it would be “I’ve got babies, take one.” These plants clone themselves constantly with little “pups” that hang off the mother like parachuters. You don’t even need rooting hormone or water. Just cut, plant, and let them get on with it.

How to propagate a Spider plant:

1. Wait until the plantlets (aka “pups” or “spiderettes”) have tiny roots of their own. They often develop while still attached.
2. Use clean scissors to snip the pup off the main runner.
3. Optional: If you’re nervous, place the pup in water for a few days to let the roots grow longer.
4. Plant the pup directly into moist potting soil. A small pot with good drainage works best.
5. Press the soil gently around the base to keep it upright.
6. Place in a bright, indirect light spot and keep the soil lightly moist for the first few weeks.
7. Once new leaves appear or growth starts, you’re officially a spider plant parent.

3. Pothos

If low-maintenance had a mascot, it would be pothos. This plant doesn’t just survive neglect, it kind of thrives on it. Propagating it is so easy you might feel guilty. It roots in water like it’s showing off and grows fast enough to make you question the need for buying plants at all.

How to propagate Pothos:

1. Pick a healthy vine with at least 4–5 leaves. Avoid any that look limp or yellowed.
2. Using clean scissors, cut the vine about half an inch below a node (where the leaf joins the stem). Make sure each cutting has at least one node and one leaf.
3. Remove the leaf closest to the cut end so it doesn’t rot in water.
4. Place the cutting in a clear jar or glass of water, with the node fully submerged and leaves above water.
5. Put it in bright, indirect light. No direct sun or it’ll scorch the leaves.
6. Change the water every 3–4 days to keep bacteria away and roots happy.
7. Roots should appear in 7–14 days. Once they’re 2–3 inches long, pot the cutting in fresh soil.
8. Water the new plant thoroughly and keep it in indirect light while it settles in.

4. Lavender

Lavender smells like peace, looks like a Pinterest board, and propagates like a moody genius. It’s a little fussier than basil or pothos, but still very doable if you follow the rules. Softwood cuttings are your best bet, and timing matters—spring is ideal.

How to propagate Lavender:

1. In late spring or early summer, find a healthy, non-flowering lavender stem that’s soft and flexible (not woody).
2. Cut a 3- to 4-inch piece just below a leaf node using clean, sharp scissors or pruning shears.
3. Strip off the lower leaves from the bottom third of the cutting.
4. Optional: Dip the cut end in rooting hormone to increase your chances of success.
5. Plant the cutting in a small pot filled with a moist, well-draining mix (sand + potting soil works great).
6. Cover the pot with a clear plastic bag or plastic dome to create a mini greenhouse. Make sure the plastic doesn’t touch the cutting.
7. Place the pot in bright, indirect light. Avoid direct sun while it roots.
8. Keep the soil slightly moist but never soggy. Lift the plastic once a day for airflow.
9. After 3–6 weeks, check for resistance when you tug gently on the stem—that means roots have formed. Once it’s rooted, move it to a larger pot or plant it outside.

5. Snake Plant

Also known as Sansevieria or “the plant that refuses to die.” Snake plants are basically houseplant tanks. Propagating one is like slicing a leaf into pieces and watching it clone itself with zero drama. It takes a while, but it works—and it’s oddly satisfying.

How to propagate a Snake plant:

1. Choose a healthy, firm leaf and cut it off near the base using clean scissors or a knife.
2. Cut the leaf into sections about 3–4 inches long. Important: remember which end was the bottom (the part closest to the soil). You’ll need to plant that end down.
3. Let the cuttings dry out and callous over for 1–2 days. This prevents rot once planted.
4. Plant each cutting upright in a small pot filled with moist, well-draining soil. The calloused end goes down.
5. Place the pots in a warm area with bright, indirect light. Avoid direct sun for now.
6. Water lightly and infrequently. Overwatering is a fast track to mushy failure.
7. Be patient—roots and pups may take several weeks or even months to appear. Snake plants move at their own speed.
8. Once you see new growth or a small pup emerging from the soil, you’ve got a new plant ready to roll.

6. Rosemary

Rosemary is the friend who’s kind of picky, but once you earn their trust, they stick around forever. Propagating it isn’t instant-gratification gardening, but if you follow a few simple steps, you’ll go from one overpriced grocery-store sprig to a whole bush of fragrant, woodsy glory.

How to propagate Rosemary:

1. Choose a healthy, non-flowering rosemary stem about 4–6 inches long. Look for flexible green stems (not the woody ones).
2. Using clean scissors, cut the stem just below a leaf node.
3. Strip off the leaves from the bottom half of the cutting.
4. Optional: Dip the bare end in rooting hormone to increase success.
5. Plant the cutting in a small pot filled with well-draining potting mix (add sand or perlite if needed).
6. Water lightly to settle the soil, but don’t soak it. Rosemary hates wet feet.
7. Cover the pot loosely with a plastic bag to help trap humidity, but make sure air can still circulate.
8. Place in a warm, bright location with indirect sunlight. Avoid direct sun during rooting.
9. Water sparingly and check for root development in 3–4 weeks. Once new growth appears, you’re good to transplant.

7. Succulents (like Echeveria)

If succulents had a superpower, it would be regeneration. Pull off a single leaf, give it some light and patience, and boom—tiny clones start forming like magic. It’s weirdly addictive, and once you do it once, you’ll be looking at every succulent as a propagation project.

How to propagate Succulents from leaves:

1. Gently twist and remove a healthy leaf from the base of the plant. Make sure it comes off cleanly—no tears or partial breaks.
2. Let the leaf dry out on a tray or paper towel for 2–3 days until the cut end callouses over. This helps prevent rot.
3. Once calloused, place the leaf on top of well-draining succulent or cactus soil. Do not bury it.
4. Place the tray in a bright area with indirect sunlight. Avoid direct sun while rooting.
5. Mist the soil lightly every few days to keep it slightly moist. Never soak it.
6. After 2–4 weeks, you’ll see tiny roots and a baby rosette forming at the base of the leaf. The original leaf will eventually shrivel up.
7. Once the baby plant is large enough to handle, gently transplant it into its own pot.

8. Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera is the kind of plant that quietly multiplies when you’re not looking. One day it’s a modest houseplant. The next, it’s pushing out pups like a factory. The best part? These pups are fully formed baby plants—you just have to know how to separate them without causing a scene.

How to propagate Aloe Vera:

1. Check around the base of your aloe plant for small offshoots, also known as pups. They’ll usually have their own roots already.
2. Wait until each pup has at least a few inches of growth and several roots before removing.
3. Remove the parent plant from its pot and gently separate the pups using your hands or a clean knife. Try not to damage the roots.
4. Let the pup dry out for 1–2 days so any cuts can callous over. This helps prevent rot.
5. Plant the pup in its own pot with well-draining cactus or succulent soil.
6. Water lightly once, then wait until the soil is completely dry before watering again. Aloe hates wet feet.
7. Place in a bright spot with indirect sunlight, and resist the urge to fuss over it. Aloe thrives on mild neglect.

9. Geraniums

Geraniums are old-school garden heroes. Bright, cheerful, and tough as nails. The best part? They’re one of the easiest plants to propagate from cuttings. Gardeners have been cloning these for generations, often by accident. It’s that simple.

How to propagate Geraniums:

1. Choose a healthy, non-flowering stem about 4–6 inches long. Avoid anything too soft or leggy.
2. Use clean scissors or pruners to cut just below a leaf node.
3. Remove any leaves from the bottom half of the cutting. Also pinch off any flower buds to direct energy into rooting.
4. Let the cutting dry for a few hours so the cut end can callous over. This helps prevent rot.
5. Optional: Dip the cut end in rooting hormone, but geraniums often root just fine without it.
6. Plant the cutting in a small pot filled with moist, well-draining soil.
7. Place in a bright, warm area out of direct sun. Geraniums like light, but not scorching heat while rooting.
8. Water sparingly—just enough to keep the soil barely moist. Overwatering is the fast lane to soggy failure.
9. Roots usually form in 2–3 weeks. Once you see new growth, you’re good to transplant or move outdoors.

10. Sedum

Sedum is the plant version of that friend who just shrugs and gets on with it. These low-maintenance groundcovers practically root while you’re not paying attention. If you can lay a stem on soil, you can propagate sedum. It’s as close to gardening on autopilot as you’ll get.

How to propagate Sedum:

1. Snip off a few healthy stems from your existing sedum plant. Aim for stems that are at least 3 inches long.
2. Let the cuttings dry for a day or two so the ends callous over. This helps prevent rot.
3. Lay the stems directly on top of well-draining soil in a pot or garden bed. You don’t even have to bury them.
4. Press the stems gently into the soil to ensure contact. Some gardeners use small pins or rocks to hold them in place.
5. Water lightly to help the stems settle, then let the soil dry out between waterings. Sedum hates soggy feet.
6. Place in full sun or bright light. These are sun-loving plants and will root faster with good light.
7. Within a couple of weeks, roots will form at the nodes, and you’ll see fresh growth. You can then separate and transplant them as needed.

11. ZZ Plant

ZZ plants are the strong, silent type. Tough, shiny, and nearly indestructible. Propagating them is totally possible, but fair warning: it’s slow. Like, “you might forget you even did it” slow. But once it works, you’ve got a brand-new plant that’s almost impossible to kill.

How to propagate a ZZ plant from leaf cuttings:

1. Choose a mature, healthy leaf from the plant. Use clean scissors to snip it off at the base.
2. Let the leaf dry out and callous for a day to help prevent rot.
3. Stick the cut end of the leaf about half an inch deep into a small pot filled with moist, well-draining soil (cactus or succulent mix works well).
4. Water lightly and place the pot in bright, indirect light. Avoid direct sun.
5. Keep the soil barely moist—water only when it’s completely dry.
6. Now wait. And wait some more. Root development and rhizome formation can take several weeks or even months.
7. Eventually, you’ll see new shoots emerge from the soil. That’s your cue to celebrate quietly and keep doing what you’re doing.

12. Begonia

Begonias are the drama queens of the plant world—lush, colorful, and totally capable of growing a new plant from a single leaf. They don’t just propagate, they perform. Whether you go the leaf or stem route, you’ll end up with more begonias than you know what to do with. Not a bad problem.

How to propagate Begonia from a leaf:

1. Choose a healthy, mature leaf from a rex or rhizomatous begonia. Avoid any with blemishes or damage.
2. Using a clean blade, cut the leaf into large sections, each with at least one vein running through it.
3. Press each leaf section flat onto moist potting mix (preferably a mix with perlite or vermiculite).
4. Use small pins, toothpicks, or even pebbles to hold the leaf pieces in place against the soil.
5. Mist lightly and cover the container with a clear plastic lid or bag to create a humid environment.
6. Place in bright, indirect light and keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy.
7. In a few weeks, tiny plantlets will sprout from the cut veins. Once they’re large enough to handle, separate them and pot them up individually.

Why Stop at Just One?

The truth is, once you start propagating plants, it’s hard to stop. There’s something addictive about turning one little leaf or stem into a whole new plant. It’s like gardening alchemy—minus the expensive tools and confusing Latin names.

And let’s be honest: plants are expensive these days. If you can turn your existing collection into a mini plant factory, why wouldn’t you? Whether you’re filling out a garden bed, trading cuttings with friends, or just trying to keep the windowsill from looking too empty, propagation gives you more of what you love without spending a cent.

So grab your scissors, get a little dirt under your nails, and see what multiplies. Chances are, you’ve already got everything you need sitting on your windowsill.