How To Set Up a Propagation Box for Beginners

What’s better than plants? Free plants! Let’s propagate some new plants! A propagation box is a great way to propagate your houseplants. It act as a mini greenhouse; the controlled environment protects your plants and provides enough humidity to get them rooting. Another benefit is you can propagate many plants at once. So let’s get proppin’!

You May Also Like: 9 Ways to Increase Humidity for Your Plants

What You Will Need

_{This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a small commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you. For more info please read my} Disclosure.

1. A clear container with a lid or cover. (Clear storage box, recycled salad container, tupperware, dish w/ziploc etc.)
2. A Growing Medium (Sphagnum Moss, Perlite, LECA,etc.)
3. Plant Cuttings
4. Superthrive (optional)
5. Rooting hormone/Cinnamon (optional)
6. Mosquito Dunks/Bits (optional)

How To Pick A Growing Medium

You will want to pick a medium that is best suited for your plants and growing method.

Propagating in soil is definitely possible (it’s my favourite method for string of hearts,) but it may not be ideal for some plants and it’s difficult to see the roots progression,without taking the cutting out completely.

Sphagnum Moss is a very popular propagating medium and in my experience helps roots grow faster than some other mediums. I like this method but once the roots really take off it can be a bit of a pain to remove some of the moss from the roots. However, it is okay to leave some of the moss on the roots when you go to pot.

Propagating in perlite is another good option. I find my plants root a bit slower in perlite than Sphagnum moss; but it’s easier to remove the plant from perlite.

If you like growing in LECA it is totally possible to root your propagations right into LECA. I do find this method to take a bit longer than Sphagnum Moss or Perlite. Though you can transfer any propagations to LECA, the easiest transition will be propagated in water or straight in LECA .

Pumice and Vermiculite are also popular options. I have not tried these mediums yet, but will update when I do.

Propagation Box Tips

Here are a few propagation tips before you set up your box

1. Add Superthrive and/or a rooting hormone to your water before watering your medium.
2. Add Mosquito dunks or bits to your box to avoid fungus gnats
3. Sprinkle cinnamon on the wound of the cutting to prevent rot and/or act as a natural rooting agent
4. Open your box for a few minutes at least every couple of days to help with airflow and prevent rotting. (Too much humidity is not always a good thing)
5. If you notice the box isn’t giving you enough humidity you can add a jar of water and place it in your box
6. Place your box in a bright, warm place. Grow lights and heat mats can help if you can’t give it this environment naturally.

Propagation Box Set Up

Fill Your Clear Prop Box With Your Growing Medium

After you pick your growing medium it is time to fill the box with it. Generally I like to fill my prop box up with at least 5-6 inches of my growing medium.

Sphagnum Moss

When using Sphagnum Moss I like to take a good amount and soak it in water (with superthrive or rooting hormone) and then wring it out really really well; It should only be a bit damp, not soaking or wet. After wringing it out you will want to separate the moss and place it in your box. (I put my mosquito dunk in the box before the sphagnum moss)

For most plants I will place them in the moss and slightly cover the node. Some plants don’t like their stems and leaves to stay wet so I like to keep only the nodes covered in moss. For string of plants (string of hearts, turtles etc), I place the strands on top of the sphagnum moss.

Perlite/LECA

When using Perlite and LECA I like to fill the box with a quarter or third of the medium, add water and then top with dry perlite or LECA. Both will wick some of the moisture up but you don’t want plant leaves stems to be wet.

When placing cuttings in these mediums I try to place only the node or a little bit of the stem in the perlite or LECA.

When I use Perlite, instead of adding rooting hormone to the water I tend to sprinkle cinnamon on the wound and in the perlite.

It’s a good idea to do research on the plants you are trying to propagate as some may prefer different propagation methods.

Happy Propagating! Let me know if you try a propagation box and how it worked for you. I’m going to be doing some fun propagation experiments soon. So don’t forget to follow on Instagram @ thepeculiarrose , that’s where I post a lot of updates.