---
title: "How do I prevent the bottom from getting black like this? Or is it…"
description: "How do I prevent the bottom from getting black like this? Or is it normal?"
url: "https://getplanta.com/community/GpJkJG2qS7KZ7LpSwQwhSg/w9aU0oK8EaCOkNDzeRwBvm"
community: "Propagating & Sowing"
author: "Camelia"
published: "2025-04-06T12:14:06.644527Z"
language: "en"
image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/k35f-10C4Qpr1zyl2w2dAS_6jrrK7aVZJsPLYWT-Yk8/73PQkdI3QX-V81eeRBdEgw.webp?size=large"
---

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# How do I prevent the bottom from getting black like this? Or is it…

_Posted by Camelia on 2025-04-06_

How do I prevent the bottom from getting black like this? Or is it normal?

![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/k35f-10C4Qpr1zyl2w2dAS_6jrrK7aVZJsPLYWT-Yk8/73PQkdI3QX-V81eeRBdEgw.webp?size=large)

## 16 comments

### Planta member commented on 2025-04-06

when you take a cutting you should let it callous for around a day to prevent rot,if it gets long enough roots and you plant it in soil it should be fine

#### Camelia replied on 2025-04-06

So should I let it rot a bit and before I put it in soil chop the rot off?

#### Camelia replied on 2025-04-06

Would that kill the growing roots?

### Abbi commented on 2025-04-06

If you leave it out of water now for a while the roots will die. If its actually rotting, id cut it off, maybe put it in a peroxide/water mix for a couple hours, and then put it back in water and hope for the best. Changing the water more often might help. Also I will sometimes use tap water because I've heard it can prevent rot because of some of the chemicals in it. I haven't researched it to be sure its true, but it seemed to make sense🤷‍♀️

#### Abbi replied on 2025-04-06

Now that I looked it up, it says that tap water has chemicals that can harm growing roots and all that. I've used it without any problems but idk, there might not be any benefit either.

#### Camelia replied on 2025-04-06

This is the solution I’ve come up with lmao… hopefully it works

![Attachment 1 of 2](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/k35f-10C4Qpr1zyl2w2dAS_6jrrK7aVZJsPLYWT-Yk8/7crUIw6OSryzQ-n44ljQQQ.webp?size=large)

![Attachment 2 of 2](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/k35f-10C4Qpr1zyl2w2dAS_6jrrK7aVZJsPLYWT-Yk8/ubUmVF3QTW2eeSdwopu92A.webp?size=large)

#### Abbi replied on 2025-04-06

🤣good luck, I don't see why it wont

### 🌿 coffeewitch 🔮 commented on 2025-04-06

Everyone that’s commented is pretty much right. I’m not sure how to stop it, but you could cap it with a colored wax like they do for lucky bamboo? 🫣🙌🏼

#### Camelia replied on 2025-04-06

Would regular wax work?

#### 🌿 coffeewitch 🔮 replied on 2025-04-06

Yes! I’m not an expert at all, I only have like 45 plants, but I’ve checked a few websites and some Reddit threads and they say the same thing. You could also use canning wax, paraffin, or just melt a crayon down 👌🏼

weekand.com/home-garden/article/kind-wax-use-seal-bamboo-plant-18019715.php

plantsforallseasons.co.uk/blogs/propagation-guides/how-to-seal-the-ends-of-a-houseplant-cutting

#### Camelia replied on 2025-04-06

Awesome I’ll try that then

#### 🌿 coffeewitch 🔮 replied on 2025-05-13

I’ve come back to say that I just learned that honey works well for this too! 😯

### Sydnei commented on 2025-04-06

is it soft? if it is not mushy, it’s fine. if is, cut back just the brown bc the roots are fine. then let it dry out a few hours and place krazy glue where the brown was. (trust me) it will be fine otherwise

#### Camelia replied on 2025-04-06

Yeah it was very soft.. I cut it off, I’ll try the wax and if that doesn’t work I’ll try the crazy glue like you mentioned.

### nick commented on 2025-04-06

Haha I love your solution to only put the roots that have grown in the water. I had a similar issue with one of my plants recently. Sprayed her with water diluted peroxide after scraping off the gunk. Put her in a pothos water prop and she's good as new.

#### Camelia replied on 2025-04-06

I couldn’t think of anything else to do at that moment lol… we always try our best for our plants

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