Layering is one of easist methods that can be used to start a new plant. By keeping the plant attached to the mother plant while rooting is taking place you can be guaranteed of success and can also root a larger plant than you could by using cuttings.
1. Tepid water 2. Pot 3. Potting soil 4. Container to hold soil and water 5. Wire coat hanger 6. Knife 7. Pliers or wire cutters (not pictured)
Cut a section of wire about 7-9 inches long and form it into a pin. You could also cut a section of stiff wire from another source or use purchased landscape fabric pins if you don't want to make your own.
The potting mix needs to be thoroughly moistened. Simply placing dry potting soil into a pot and watering it does not work. The water will overflow the pot and the potting soil will remain dry underneath.
Place the potting mix in a container and add water sparingly. Mix thoroughly. Continue adding water and mixing until potting mix is moist but not soggy.
The pointed bumps on this philodendron stem are root initiatives. Roots will eventually grow from these root initiatives if kept in contact with moist soil. Choose an area of the stem with root initiatives as the layering point.
Carefully return the two pots to the plant's usual growing location.
Keep the soil in the pot damp or rooting may be slow or not occur at all.
If rooting has not occurred, replace the wire pins and return the layered section of the plant and the mother plant to their usual growing location.
When the plant has rooted, cut the layered plant from the mother plant.
Young plant ready to grow
Your new plant can remain in this pot for several months or until it becomes root-bound. At that time it can be repotted into a larger pot.
To encourage new growth from the center of the pot, the long stem should be trimmed back to about an inch or two from the soil. The long stem can be disposed of or cut into sections to make what are called "log" cuttings. See "How to propagate plants from log cuttings."
The plants are now ready to be placed in a suitable growing location. Bright light (but not direct sunlight for these philodendrons) will encourage good growth of the daugher plant. It will also encourage dormant buds on the mother plant to "break" and grow into new shoots resulting in a bushier plant.