--- title: "I’ve heard a lot about putting pasta water in propagation containers…" description: "I’ve heard a lot about putting pasta water in propagation containers for nutrients for the plants. I’ve been struggling to get my propagations to root. I have…" url: "https://getplanta.com/community/GpJkJG2qS7KZ7LpSwQwhSg/j6bcxTxwa0W4sv3sr70BjF" community: "Propagating & Sowing" author: "Karsen" published: "2025-02-13T22:45:04.365679Z" language: "en" image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v2/cloudinary/global_data/communities/propagatingAndSowing.jpg" --- [Community](https://getplanta.com/community.md) / [Propagating \& Sowing](https://getplanta.com/community/GpJkJG2qS7KZ7LpSwQwhSg.md) # I’ve heard a lot about putting pasta water in propagation containers… _Posted by Karsen on 2025-02-13_ I’ve heard a lot about putting pasta water in propagation containers for nutrients for the plants. I’ve been struggling to get my propagations to root. I have them in clear containers and the nodes are covered with water, the leaves are out of water and they are on an East facing window. I let the cuttings callus and then put some rooting hormone on them. They haven’t rotted or anything, but they also haven’t grown roots and it’s been a couple weeks. Any tips? Should I try the pasta water? My cuttings are mostly pothos if that helps anything ## 13 comments ### Mr Variegated commented on 2025-02-13 Patience. Don’t change out the water. Top up. Plant releases growth hormones in the water. ### Plantsmybeloved commented on 2025-02-13 Sometimes it just takes time for props to root. I'd recommend just letting them chill for now, or switching some to a different medium and seeing what works best for you #### Karsen replied on 2025-02-13 Should I try soil? Is there a specific kind that I should use? #### Plantsmybeloved replied on 2025-02-14 Pothos will generally propagate in soil, although ive never personally tried it. You can also try sphangum moss or perlite #### JJ replied on 2025-02-14 I tried so many times in water with my snake plant prop and it never took a few weeks ago I cut a leaf off that was dying and stuck it in the soil and it’s the first time I’ve ever gotten roots. I was so excited. With pothos I never know but sometimes it’ll just take in soil sometimes it won’t for me. Haven’t figured out the why it does it sometimes but wish I knew! Good luck ### Sunny commented on 2025-02-13 Photos? #### Karsen replied on 2025-02-13 ![Attachment 1 of 2](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/0IgUSzYFz-u8qC3gGqXC5YxIFT1q4iLzWB873b1AD_k/1tTVO66RSP2W42uwbk3N_A.webp?size=large) ![Attachment 2 of 2](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/0IgUSzYFz-u8qC3gGqXC5YxIFT1q4iLzWB873b1AD_k/ab_ygqBCS_-BJl3ibZfK5A.webp?size=large) #### Sunny replied on 2025-02-14 Can’t see the nodes. You may have cut the vines/stems too short at least on the pothos. I can’t see the other plant. The short segment has to push all the water to the leaves on the pothos leaving no energy to grow roots. That’s my best guess from what I can see in the photos. I recommend using cuttings with at least two nodes on it. Place in a warm place with a grow light right over it 12 hours a day or bright filtered sunlight for 8 hours a day. ### KJM commented on 2025-02-14 Under the direction if you change medium to a light soil make sure you dust it with some rooting hormone. That will help. ### Wolfen 🐺 commented on 2025-02-14 Please don't. There is zero things in pasta water that will root your plants. Generally if they aren't rooting, the light is too low. ### Matilda commented on 2025-02-14 I have more success putting all my props into one pot rather than keeping them separate, I read something about plants releasing rooting hormones into the water (but I can’t find a source on that) ### Onyx Plant commented on 2025-02-14 I root most of my pothos props in water, sometimes I use rooting hormone but most of the time I don't bother. I put mine in a South facing window but about a foot or so back from it. I usually get roots within 2 to 3 weeks and have pretty decent root growth within 4 to 6 weeks. If I find props that aren't dying and aren't rooting I will usually hit them with a little Super Thrive fettilizer, like a couple of drops into the prop pot and then if I still don't get roots in like another week or two I toss 'em. I don't change the water out until they've been rooting for a few months, and I've never heard of using pasta water, but if you do make sure you didn't salt it, salt will kill your plants almost instantly. That's why armies used to salt the earth when they invaded, so the inhabitants couldn't regrow their crops. ### Buffy commented on 2025-02-15 Wow! That I never heard! Most interesting🌞 --- _Source: the Planta community (https://getplanta.com). Reading is open to everyone. To post, comment and like, get the Planta app: https://getplanta.com/download_