Cuttings in a water glass

When you see nubs, pot them up unless you plan to let them live on in water

If you root a cutting in water to create a new potted plant, transfer it to a pot as soon as you see any root begin to form. If you leave it in water until many roots form, trim those roots to nubs when you move it to a pot.

Roots that form weightless in water do not usually develop enough strength in their cell walls to withstand the pressure from soil- or potting mix weight. If they crush and die, the plant may begin a slide into chronic root rot.

Below, left: We put this cutting of golden pothos (Epipremnum aureum) into water for 9 days. Roots formed quickly (arrows). It's time to put it into a pot.

Below: This cutting of honeysuckle vine (Lonicera sempervirens) has been in water for a year. If we move it to a permanent location outdoors, we'll trim those roots to leave only the barest nubs. If we leave it in water we'll stop starving it and give it a tiny bit of liquid fertilizer now and then!