Grade level: 5-12+ Length: 3 minutes Next Generation Science Standards: MS-LS1.A, MS-LS1.C, HS-LS1.A, HS-LS1.C (DCIs); Systems, Scale, Energy and Matter (CCCs)
Take a journey inside a leaf of a redwood tree! Enter the stoma and view the inside of a plant cell, translucent enough to capture light from the sun. Fly by familiar structures like the nucleus and mitochondria, and settle into the chloroplast to watch photosynthesis at work. Reflect on the change in scale as you travel down to the molecular level!
Turn on the subtitles of the annotated version of this video by clicking the CC icon, or read through this transcript, to better understand what is being illustrated and what is intentionally left out. 0
Hey plant lovers! I’m Sarah, and today we’re gonna dive into something super exciting – taking leaves from plants to make… more plants! I’ve been propagating plants for like 5 years now and lemme tell you, it’s seriously addicting (in a good way!).
Why Should You Try Leaf Propagation?
- It’s basically FREE plants y’all!
- Perfect for beginners (trust me, I killed many plants before getting it right )
- Super rewarding when you see baby plants growing
- Great way to save dying plants
- You can share plants with friends!
What You’ll Need:
- Clean, sharp scissors/pruning shears
- Small containers or pots
- Well-draining potting soil
- Clean water
- Rooting hormone (optional but helpful!)
- Patience (lots of it!)
Step-by-Step Guide to Taking Plant Leaves
1. Choosing the Right Leaf
We gotta be picky here! Look for:
- Healthy, mature leaves
- No damage or diseases
- Leaves from the middle of the plant (not too old, not too young)
2. The Cutting Process
- Clean your scissors (I use rubbing alcohol)
- Cut at a 45-degree angle
- Make sure to include the node (that little bump where leaf meets stem)
- For some plants, you might need a bit of stem too
3. Propagation Methods
Water Propagation
This is my fave method! Here’s what ya do
- Put leaf in clean water
- Change water every 3-4 days
- Keep in bright, indirect light
- Wait for roots (2-6 weeks typically)
Soil Propagation
Some plants prefer going straight to soil
- Dip cut end in rooting hormone
- Plant in moist potting mix
- Cover with clear plastic bag
- Mist regularly
Best Plants for Leaf Propagation
| Plant Name | Difficulty Level | Time to Root |
|---|---|---|
| Pothos | Easy Peasy | 2-3 weeks |
| Snake Plant | Medium | 4-8 weeks |
| ZZ Plant | Easy | 3-4 weeks |
| Peperomia | Easy | 2-3 weeks |
| Philodendron | Easy | 2-3 weeks |
Common Mistakes (I’ve Made Them All! )
- Over-watering (been there!)
- Not enough patience
- Wrong lighting conditions
- Forgetting to change water
- Taking leaves without nodes
Tips for Success
- Label everything! (I once mixed up all my props ♀️)
- Keep track of dates
- Take multiple cuttings
- Use clean tools
- Don’t put props in direct sun
Troubleshooting Guide
Help! My Leaf is Turning Yellow
Don’t panic! Could be:
- Too much water
- Not enough light
- Natural aging process
No Roots After 8 Weeks?
Check these things:
- Water quality
- Temperature
- Lighting conditions
- Season (winter = slower growth)
Advanced Propagation Techniques
For the brave souls ready to level up:
- Air layering
- Moss propagation
- Division propagation
When to Pot Up Your Babies
You’ll know it’s time when:
- Roots are 2-3 inches long
- Multiple roots have formed
- New growth appears
Final Thoughts
Taking plant leaves for propagation is like having a tiny plant nursery at home! It’s super rewarding when you see those first tiny roots or leaves appearing. Remember, every failed attempt is just a learning opportunity (trust me, I’ve had PLENTY ).
Care Tips After Potting
- Keep soil consistently moist
- Maintain higher humidity
- Protect from drafts
- Gradually increase light exposure
Fun Facts About Plant Propagation
- Some plants can grow from just a single leaf cell!
- Different plants need different propagation methods
- Spring/summer are usually best for propagating
- Some plants can root in just pure water forever
Remember, growing plants from leaves takes time and patience, but it’s totally worth it! Now go forth and multiply those plant babies!
Would you like me to continue with more specific details about any particular aspect of leaf propagation?
Classroom Idea #2: Focus on Cellular Structure and Function
Need to jazz up your cellular structure and function unit? Start by allowing students to sit in the inquiry seat. For this exercise, show the video, and consider stopping the clip at 1:45 so that you dont dive all the way to the single molecule level.
Before Watching Explain that they are aliens who have come to visit Earth to study it, and their technology allows them to change size to view things at smaller scales. After watching this video, each table group will be responsible for describing what they witnessed, creating new names for things using made-up terms in the alien language.
While Watching Stop at one or more of some key freeze frames (suggestions: 0:37, 1:00, 1:06, 1:35). Have students make a quick sketch in their notebook.
After Watching Have table groups pick the view most interesting to them for the alien assignment: make a funny description of at least one structure they see, being sure to describe the structure and make a prediction as to its function–even if wild! Groups should also name the structure. You can model this at the stoma view (0:37) by saying something like “As we approached the green wall, we entered what looked to be a volcano with a wide rim stuffed with pea-shaped thingamabobs. We might guess this volcano is used to spit out arrows at intruders, so well call it the Pea-Spitter for now.”
As groups share out, students can jot down these fake names and functions into their notebook. The idea here is to highlight the important biological tenet of structure and function and harness the creativity of your students to create a shared language as you enter what some find a tedious unit. Then, proceed to your standard curriculum! 0
Classroom Idea #1: Focus on Modelling Photosynthesis
Pair this video clip with the Modelling Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration (Grades 5-10) lesson plan. Prepare all the materials first!
Before Watching Explain that the classroom will represent a leaf, and that each table within the classroom will represent a cell within the leaf. To visualize this “classroom as a leaf,” watch the brief video.
While Watching Clarify that in order to see parts of the system well, the animators removed other elements of this visual molecular model, including water, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and photons. So, the class will visualize the movement of those key players in an active simulation.
After Watching Proceed to explain the rules of the active model, in which students will use ping pong balls and egg cartons to simulate the production of sugar molecules to store energy (photosynthesis). 0
Fiddle Leaf Fig – Care & Rescue Tips
FAQ
Should you cut leaves before planting?
Before you cut the leaf, make sure it is healthy, disease- and pest-free, and a good copy of the parent plant. You should use relatively young leaves for cuttings because their surface hasn’t weathered yet. The older leaves don’t root rapidly enough to start plants.
How do you cut a leaf from a plant?
You will get more cuts from one leaf with squares than you would with triangles. After you sever the healthy leaf from the plant, you can cut the stalk off and place the leaf on a board. Cut the leaf into strips about 3 cm (1 in.) wide each. Make sure there is a main or secondary vein running down the middle of each strip.
How do you use leaf cuttings to propagate plants?
Press them into the surface. Use hooked pieces of wire to hold them onto the surface. These, too, will root. So you see, there are many ways to use leaf cuttings to propagate plants. Just be sure to follow the steps correctly and lay or plant the cuttings the right way, and you’ll have plants galore!
How do you grow a plant from a cutting?
Cover the pan with plastic and when the cutting develops plants big enough to handle, you can transplant them into individual pots. Water the compost gently and put the plantlets into light shade until they are established well enough. Finally, you can take the leaf squares and lay them horizontally on top of the moist peat and sand.
How do you take a stem cutting?
Stem cuttings can be taken in several ways. For plants that have canes, you can take the cane along with some leaves. Leaf bud cuttings involve removing a small piece of stem with the petiole, if the plant has them, and a leaf. A standard stem cutting includes a piece of the stem and at least two buds.
Should I use young leaves for cuttings?
You should use relatively young leaves for cuttings because their surface hasn’t weathered yet. The older leaves don’t root rapidly enough to start plants. After you’ve put the leaf cuttings into compost, place the pan outside of strong, direct sunlight, otherwise, your little leaf cuttings will shrivel up.