---
title: "Every time I try to propagate a plant, whether in soil or water, it…"
description: "Every time I try to propagate a plant, whether in soil or water, it somehow fails. The cuttings just shrivel up and die. The only exception was my pink…"
url: "https://getplanta.com/community/GpJkJG2qS7KZ7LpSwQwhSg/NKLJ1HI2LwiuNOItuJN75a"
community: "Propagating & Sowing"
author: "TJ"
published: "2026-03-07T12:09:07.819151Z"
language: "en"
image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/brvwfEGCQKAkGRmGnndsSiaTDBy0l3eo3XZ7smw9_TE/zY8tENDBRb6yq1EHZfaiBw.webp?size=large"
---

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# Every time I try to propagate a plant, whether in soil or water, it…

_Posted by TJ on 2026-03-07_

Every time I try to propagate a plant, whether in soil or water, it somehow fails. The cuttings just shrivel up and die. The only exception was my pink variegated micans, and even that plant was barely hanging on at the time.

The last time I trimmed my plants, I didn’t even bother trying to propagate them properly. I just tossed the cuttings into a zip-lock bag with some sphagnum moss and left the bag in a corner. I completely forgot about them. When I finally looked again, they were growing roots. What really surprised me was that even the extra cuttings in the bag without any moss had started rooting too. The only moisture they had was whatever was left from when I rinsed them after cutting.

At this point I’m convinced my plants either dislike me personally or they only thrive when I leave them alone. 🌿😅

![Attachment 1 of 3](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/brvwfEGCQKAkGRmGnndsSiaTDBy0l3eo3XZ7smw9_TE/zY8tENDBRb6yq1EHZfaiBw.webp?size=large)

![Attachment 2 of 3](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/brvwfEGCQKAkGRmGnndsSiaTDBy0l3eo3XZ7smw9_TE/6VBgZQVES0yZvDlH-QW4EQ.webp?size=large)

![Attachment 3 of 3](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/brvwfEGCQKAkGRmGnndsSiaTDBy0l3eo3XZ7smw9_TE/Zof782EmSgaG5q3g2wPdrw.webp?size=large)

## 4 comments

### Auxsman commented on 2026-03-07

It’s okay to have alottt more moisture than you think for your cuttings in moss!

Also you could try some rooting hormone gel \& also try soaking the moss in fertilizer water mix so it has plenty of rooting nutrients as well!👍🏼

#### TJ replied on 2026-03-07

Thanks for the advice. I had one additional bag full of golden pothos cuttings that had a little more moister in the moss and everything rotted so I been afraid to even touch them. I haven't watered since I tossed them in. I just sealed it and they’ve been doing their own thing 😆 but I will definitely give your advice a try.

### Auxsman commented on 2026-03-07

I will say my “Cebu blue” also gave me the HARDEST time to root and pop out new leaves that wouldn’t instantly rot.. I’d recommend starting with Pothos, it is for sure the easiest right alongside tradescantia and philodendrons/monsteras!

### AcesHigh commented on 2026-03-07

I propagate most of my cuttings straight into water with added prop drops and roots seems to come within days! Before I did just plain RO water and it would take weeks before roots arrived. So I highly recommend some type of distilled, Ro or rain water and added prop drops. Good luck!

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