Produce Nets Are About To Become Your Favorite Trick For Propagating Plants

Who knew the secret to growing your garden's future was sitting in your produce drawer? A simple produce net can become an invaluable tool for propagating your houseplants with ease. Propagation — growing new plants from cuttings — is a great way to expand your collection, give a dying houseplant new life, or create thoughtful gifts for friends. You can also use this method to replace a plant that has grown too big for your space. Whatever your goal, you'll soon discover how to turn humble produce netting into the secret weapon for multiplying your plants.

Start by choosing the plants you'd like to grow more of. Looking around your home, you may have some plants that cultivate well from cuttings, such as heartleaf philodendron (philodendron hederaceum), pothos (Epipremnum aureum), or African violets (Saintpaulia ionantha). Many types of herbs, such as mint, parsley, and basil, easily propagate from cuttings as well. While you're at it, keep an eye out for produce netting from your next grocery trip — those bags holding your oranges, avocados, or other fruits and vegetables. It's a great way to reuse your bags and be a little more sustainable. With just a little effort, you'll soon be using these simple tools to expand your collection and propagate plants like a pro!

Ready to turn a single plant into many? First, look for the newest growth on your plants, as that's where you're likely to find plant nodes — or places where a leaf, bud, or stem grows. Take a sharp pair of scissors or pruning shears, such as Fiskars Bypass Pruning Shears, and make a nice, clean cut along the stem below a node. You'll want to make sure each cutting contains a node to allow future growth. 

Next, take your produce bag and cut it into small squares that will cover the top of a container of your choice, such as a mason jar or vase. Fill the container with water, then tape the netting over the top. Place the plant stems through a hole of the netting into the water to hold your plant cuttings upright while they develop roots. 

Finally, place your container somewhere it can get adequate sunlight, such as a kitchen window. At this stage, have patience — it can take a few weeks for your roots to develop but in the meantime, you can enjoy a gorgeous cutting bouquet! Start checking your plant roots after seven days, and make sure the water stays fresh. Once you have an adequate root system transplant your cuttings into soil in a pot of your choice. With a little care and patience, your cuttings will transform into thriving new plants, ready to flourish in their new home.