How to propagate flaming katy

Why stem cutting works here

Roots form at the node — the slightly swollen point where a leaf meets the stem. That tissue can still turn into root tissue; the smooth stem between nodes cannot.

Doing it

Cut a few millimetres below a node with at least one leaf above it. Strip anything that would sit underwater. Put the node in the medium, the leaf in the light.

Where it goes wrong

A cutting with no node will sit green for weeks and then rot. It is the commonest way to waste a month.

The other routes

Slower or lower-yield for this species, but each has a case.

leaf cutting

Some plants can regenerate an entire growth point from leaf tissue alone. Most cannot, which is why this works for succulents and begonias and does nothing for a monstera leaf in a vase. Variegated plants are the trap. A snake plant leaf cutting roots happily and comes back plain green, because the variegated layer is not what regenerates. Divide instead if you want to keep the stripe.

Before you cut

• The sap is not harmless. Flaming Katy is toxic to cats and dogs (bufadienolide cardiac glycosides). Keep offcuts and rooting jars away from pets, and wash your hands. What that means for cats.
• Take more than you need. Losses are normal. Three cuttings in one jar costs nothing extra and changes the odds.
• Use a clean blade. Scissors crush the stem and crushed tissue rots. A craft knife wiped with alcohol is enough.
• Do not fertilise a cutting. There are no roots to take it up, and the salts sit in the medium and burn what does form.

Also for this species

Full care entry — light, watering interval, soil recipe and difficulty, with sources. Toxicity to cats and to dogs.