Transform An Old Nursery Pot Into A Helpful Propagation Tool

Do you have stacks of old, plastic nursery pots stashed away from repotting beloved houseplants, or transplanting herbs or other perennials into your garden? We sure do. If you have your own pile that you've been holding onto just in case you need them one day — it might be time to transform one of those old containers to help you grow new plants. In this case, though, you won't be filling it with soil. Instead, you can use an old nursery pot as a clever propagation tool that will help you root cuttings in a jar of water.

There are lots of houseplants you can propagate and grow in water. This is a fun and easy way to grow new plants, and you can share the results of your experiments with friends, family members, or neighbors. The problem with this propagation method, though, is that it can be hard to keep cuttings from sinking into the water. You have to pose them just perfectly on the rim of the jar to keep the cut ends under the water and the foliage above it, otherwise the leaves can rot. The cut-off bottom of a plastic nursery pot can help you keep those cuttings in place.

When you're ready to embrace this trick as a creative way to reuse plastic nursery pots, grab a plastic pot that fits completely over the jar or glass you want to use to start your cuttings (the bottom of the plant pot should be larger than the mouth of your cup or jar). Choose one that has several holes in it so that you can root multiple cuttings in one jar. Transform the pot into a propagation tool by using a pair of sharp scissors to cut off the bottom inch or so of the pot, then place it upside down on the jar. Take cuttings that are about 4 inches long, and remove the lower sets of leaves. Fill the jar with water, then poke the cuttings through the holes of the pot and into the water.

If you're not sure which plants to reproduce in this way, know that some of the easiest houseplants to propagate to fill your home with free greenery year round include pothos (Epipremnum aureum), hoyas (Hoya spp.), and silver inch plant (Tradescantia zebrina). And you can start them in water using this fun trick with a nursery pot bottom. Once the cuttings have roots that are around an inch long or so, you can remove them from the holder and pot them up. Expect the cuttings to be ready to plant in soil in 1 to 2 weeks.