Question
QUESTION: I know little about plants.  From my plant I cut off a stem with leaves on it (I assume that's a "shoot") and put it in a glass of water, thinking it will grow roots and then I'll pot it, that's how I always thought its done. But, and I may not be understanding it correctly, I read that you should let the shoot get hard (no putting it in water mentioned) and then pot it and it will grow roots.  Should I take it out of the glass of water or do it the other way?  Thanks

ANSWER: Dear Lee,

Let me know what type of plant it is as some will root OK in water and others will not.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Diana

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: It's a Jade plant. Also, it has done well in a plastic pot with regular soil but I need to repot it and it was recommmended I use a clay pot and a soil made for succulents, which I did. But since it did fine with the plastic pot and regular soil and is now is in a clay pot with more porous soil, should I increase the amount (not frequency) of water I give it?  Seems like it would dry out a lot faster now. Thanks

Answer
Hello again Lee,

Yes you will need to monitor more carefully your plant's need for water now it is in a clay pot as the soil will dry out more quickly than when it was in a plastic pot.  Water when the compost begins to dry out on the surface and take note of how many days it takes before it dries out again and you will soon get into a new routine.

As regards cutting yes you did correctly in letting the cutting dry out - did it root in water?  I don't think it will have as succulents are usually rooted in compost comprised of loam, peat and sharp sand. Your gardening store will be able to recommend the correct type of potting compost for your plant.  I don't know the names of brands in America - I am in southern Spain.

Anyway there is no harm in experimenting and you can put another cutting in compost and grow a new plant from that.

Hope you have lots of success in growing new plants and experimenting - that's half the fun of growing plants I think.

Diana