If you want more plants, grow them from plants you already have. Simply cut off part of a plant's stem and grow it in another pot of soil. Ivy, spider plants and philodendron are all easily propagated from cuttings, and the new plants make wonderful additions to gift baskets. Don't forget to label the plants so you know what they are.
Using a jade plant, host Michele Driscoll Alioto shows how to take a cutting and plant it. Snip a piece of the mother plant just below a leaf node (where the leaf joins the stem). Remove all but the top few leaves of the cutting and dip the cut end in rooting hormone, if desired. Next, plant the cutting in a small pot of dirt and water well. Place cuttings in a warm spot (65 to 75 degrees) that receives indirect light (direct sun will burn them) and keep moist. You may use a plastic cover to create a little greenhouse, if you like.
Tip: When taking cuttings of milky-stem plants such as geraniums, poinsettias and euphorbia, swab the cut end with isopropyl alcohol and let it dry for a couple of hours before planting.
In two to five weeks, you should notice new growth on your cutting, which means the plant is ready for transplanting to a more permanent home. Move the plant to a larger pot, but do not fertilize for about a month; doing so could burn new roots.
