Propagate jade vine from a semi-ripe cutting in summer. Stand it in a mix that drains, give it bottom heat, and keep it warm and humid until roots form. Fresh seed can sprout; a cutting is the usual home start.
Take a semi-ripe cutting in summer
| Factor | Recommended | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| When | Summer, from a semi-ripe stem that is not in bloom | Do not take cuttings from a cold, yellowing plant |
| Stem | A nodal section with the lower leaves removed | Do not bury a leafy, flowering tip in wet mix |
| Heat | Bottom heat; keep the cutting warm until it roots | Do not root it in a cold, drafty room |
| Humidity | Barely moist mix under a loose bag or in a propagator | Do not seal a dripping bag against the leaves |
jade vine roots from a semi-ripe stem in summer with bottom heat. [1] Dip the cut in rooting hormone if you have it. Expect about a month, and expect some cuttings to fail. [2] Light and later watering stay on How to Grow Jade Vine.
Can jade vine be propagated?
Yes. A semi-ripe cutting in summer is the usual home start. Stand it in draining mix, and keep it warm and humid.
When do I take jade vine cuttings?
In summer, from a semi-ripe stem that is not in flower. A cold, yellow plant is a poor parent.
Keep the cutting warm and humid until it roots
Work with a clean snip. Warmth and a barely moist mix matter more than a long stem. Many cuttings fail even in a glasshouse, so take more than one if the parent can spare them. [3]
- Cut a semi-ripe stem just below a node. Strip the lower leaves so they will not sit in the mix.
- Dip the cut in rooting hormone if you have it. Fill a small pot with a mix that drains, cut with perlite or coarse sand.
- Insert one node below the surface. A nodal cutting with one node buried roots more reliably than a leafless stub.
- Water so the mix is barely moist. Cover loosely with a clear bag, or use a heated propagator, and set it in bright light without harsh midday sun.
- Keep it warm. Roots may take about a month. Pot on once new growth shows, then treat it like an established vine.
Should I cover the cutting?
Yes, loosely. A bag or propagator holds humidity around the stem. Open it if water runs down the plastic onto the leaves.
Sow fresh seed, or air-layer a woody stem
Seed is scarce in cultivation unless someone hand-pollinates the flowers. When you have a fresh seed, soak it about 24 hours and sow it warm, around 75°F, in a wood-fibre mix cut with perlite. Do not store seed for months; it loses viability in about two weeks. [4] A packet labeled climbing jade vine is often Mucuna, not this plant. Air-layer a woody stem in spring if a cutting fails: wrap a nicked node in moist mix until roots show, then cut it free. A short summer cutting is still the usual home start.
If a cutting collapses, take a shorter nodal stem, use draining mix, and keep it warm and barely moist, not wet.
FAQ
Can I graft it onto another vine?
Home growers do not graft this plant. A warm, humid stem cutting is the usual start.
Can I divide it?
No. This is a single woody vine, not a clump. Take a cutting or air-layer a stem.
Will seed match the parent?
Species seed comes close. If you want the same plant you already like, take a cutting.
Related guides
Recommended plants
References
- [1] Royal Horticultural Society -
https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/17842/strongylodon-macrobotrys/details - [2] Plant Pono -
https://plantpono.org/pono-plants/strongylodon-macrobotrys/ - [3] The Living Rainforest -
https://livingrainforest.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Jade-Vine-Propagation-at-The-Living-Rainforest.pdf - [4] Wikipedia -
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strongylodon_macrobotrys
This note is part of Strongylodon Guides.
More notes on making another plant live in Propagating Guides.
Updated: Reviewed by Bosquelle Editors