A propagation box, propagation chamber or propagator, is something that can be used for rooting plant cuttings. It works like a mini greenhouse that will protect plant cuttings and give them enough moisture so they can survive until they grow roots. In this post, I will show you how to make a homemade propagator, and also how to use it for growing from cuttings.
Some plants are easy to propagate by simply putting a stem cutting in water. But some types of cuttings will only rot if you try propagating them in water because they need a more controlled environment to grow roots.
That’s where a propagation box comes in handy, and it makes cutting propagation much easier! There are many different types and styles of propagation boxes. Some are very fancy (and expensive) and others are not so fancy, but cheap (or free!).
I made my own DIY plant propagation box with materials that I got for free, and it works great.
How To Make A Propagation Box
It sounds like it would be complicated, but making a propagation chamber for cuttings is actually really easy. You only need a few supplies, and you may even have everything you need already on hand! Here’s what you’ll need, along with the steps for how to make a propagator for cuttings…
Supplies Needed:
- Clear plastic bin with a lid
- Rooting medium for cuttings (a seed starting mix works great too)
- Water
- Drill (if needed for making holes in the lid)
Step 1: Prepare the propagation box – Find or purchase a clear plastic storage bin with a lid, and wash it with soap and water. It’s important that the bin is completely clear so that light can reach the cuttings. The size of the box doesn’t matter as much, but be sure to get one that’s large enough for your use. Think about what types of cuttings you plan to use it for, and get a box that’s tall enough for them.
Step 2: Add the rooting medium – Add a 3-4 inch layer of medium, and spread it evenly over the bottom of the box. You can make your own DIY rooting medium using peat moss or coco coir, perlite or pumice, and vermiculite. If you want a ready-made rooting mix for cuttings, seed starting soil works great too. Don’t use regular potting soil though. It’s usually too heavy for use in a propagation box, and may cause your cuttings to rot.
Step 3: Add water – Wet down the rooting mix with a light stream of water. Don’t pour or spray it in too fast, or the medium could make a mess. You want the rooting mix to be moist, but not soggy. If you added too much water to your propagation box, you can leave the lid off the box for a day or two to allow the excess water to evaporate before adding any cuttings.
Rooting medium for cuttings inside propagation chamber
How To Use A Propagator For Cuttings
Now that you have your DIY propagation box all set up and ready to go, it’s time to add some plant cuttings! Here are the steps you should take to ensure success with rooting any type of cutting you want to propagate!
Step 1: Add plant cuttings – Dip the stem of the cutting into rooting hormone before putting it into the box. Rooting hormone helps cuttings grow roots faster and more reliably. Make a hole in the medium with your finger (so the rooting hormone doesn’t rub off) and stick the cutting into the hole. Lightly press the medium around the base of the cutting to ensure it’s touching the stem, and that the cutting stays in place.
Rooting cuttings in my DIY propagator
Step 2: Put the lid on the box – If the storage bin you plan to use for your DIY plant propagator is air tight, add a few ventilation holes in the lid to help avoid mildew growth. Don’t drill very many holes though. Otherwise your propagation box could dry out too quickly, and your cuttings may not root. You may want to wait to add ventilation holes until you’ve used the cuttings box a few times to see how well it holds moisture.
Step 3: Give it some light – Place your DIY propagator in a spot where it will get lots of light, but keep it out of direct sunlight. An area near a sunny window is the perfect spot inside the house. Outside it should be kept in the shade. If you don’t have a lot of light in your home, hang a grow light over the top of the box. I use a shop light fixture with plant grow bulbs in it, but you could use a grow light system to make it easier. Plug them into an outlet timer to make it easy to give your cuttings the perfect amount of light every day.
Step 4: Add bottom heat – Getting a soil thermometer to monitor the temperature of the medium is a good idea. Many types of cuttings won’t root it it’s too cold. If that’s the case, then you should add bottom heat for rooting cuttings. Bottom heat really speeds up the rooting process. To make your own DIY heated propagator, you can place the box on a heat mat or near a heat vent in the winter (be careful if it’s near a vent, because the heat will cause the soil in your propagation box to dry out faster).
Coleus plant roots on a stem cutting grown inside my propagation box
Check on your cuttings every few days to see if there are any new plant roots, and to monitor the moisture of the medium. The rooting medium should never be soggy or completely dried out. It’s best to keep the medium consistently moist. I recommend getting yourself an inexpensive soil moisture gauge to help you monitor the moisture of the medium. You can add water by slowly pouring it down the inside of the box, or mist it using a spray bottle.
Related Post: How To Propagate Spider Plants
Which Plants Can You Root In Your Homemade Propagator
There are many different types of plants that are easy to root using a homemade propagation chamber. I mainly use mine for propagating houseplants, but you could use it for rooting perennials, herbs or annual cuttings too.
I use my propagation box for everything except for succulents. The box is too humid for succulent cuttings, and they will only rot. Learn how to propagate succulents here.
My Homemade Plant Propagation System
If you’re really serious about cutting propagation, then you may be interested in building a larger system like I did. First I built several homemade heated propagators, and then put them into my mini greenhouse.
My small propagation greenhouse is set up near a south facing window in the spare bedroom. It’s the perfect setup for growing as many cuttings as I want, and it’s fun to experiment with various types of plants.
Whenever I prune a plant or a piece breaks off, I’ll put the cuttings into one of my propagation boxes. I check the boxes every few days to see if there are any new roots, and to monitor the moisture level of the medium.
My homemade plant propagation system
Where To Find A Propagation Chamber For Sale
Maybe this all sounds like way too much trouble to you, and you just want to buy a ready-made system. Well you’re in luck, because there are lots of options out there. Plant propagation trays or flats can usually be found at any garden center in the same section where they sell seed starting equipment.
But you’ll find more variety, and even some elaborate plant propagation kit options online. You can buy a simple propagation dome if that’s all you need. Or you could get a full system, like this large heated propagator kit, or a heated propagation tray with a grow light.
If you’re serious about growing from cuttings, then you definitely need a propagation box. It’s super easy to make your own propagator, or you can buy one instead. Either way, it’s fun to experiment with rooting all of your favorite plants to see how many you can grow from cuttings.
Want to learn how to propagate all of your favorite plants? Then you will love my Plant Propagation eBook! It has everything you need to know to get started propagating any plant that you want. Download your copy today!
Recommended Products
More Information About Plant Propagation
- Plant Propagation Supplies
- What Is Plant Propagation (and how to get started)
- How To Propagate Lavender Plants From Cuttings
- Propagating Mint Plants From Cuttings Step-By-Step
Share your DIY propagation chamber plans, or add your tips for using a propagation box in the comments section below.
Del Bouton says
what about a wooden box for outside propagation ? any suggestions for this ?
Amy Andrychowicz says
Hi Del,
Plants are very easy to propagate outside during the summer. You could cover the wooden box with plastic to help speed up the process on plants that are harder to propagate (don't allow the plastic to touch the plant). If you do this, keep it out of the sun. Once you start to see new growth or signs of roots in your propagation box, you can take the plastic cover off.
Keith Phipps says
A friend told me the other day that she uses Cinnamon for a rooting hormone. Will this work? She said she uses it all the time.
Amy Andrychowicz says
I have heard of that before too, but haven’t tried it. My understanding is that cinnamon doesn’t actually work as a hormone to stimulate root growth, but it helps with propagation success because it is has anti-bacterial qualities. Rooting hormone powder actually contains a hormone that stimulates root growth, as well as anti-bacterial qualities. It would be interesting to experiment and test to see the difference between using the two.
cora lee wallin says
I just found your site by acterdint,and I love it.going to make my own succulent mix from now on.can make it 6 to 1 of the cost of buying it thank you so much. I have found a new addition and love succulents. I am 79 andlove succulents and have sign up forall help i can get.TIA
Amy Andrychowicz says
Great, glad you found my site and are learning all you can about plant propagation! 🙂
Davinder Kaur says
This is so informative .I love your ways of propagating and making soil mix….thanks a ton for the information
Amy Andrychowicz says
Awesome, glad you found it helpful! You are very welcome!
Maggie Morish says
As always, another excellent guide from you Amy. Thanks for sharing this.
Amy Andrychowicz says
You’re welcome!
Kathy says
Finally someone from mn to follow.:)
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yeah!! 🙂
John says
This is my go-to resource for remembering how to propagate seedlings in a propagation box and it’s been used to get numerous free blueberry, currant, and blackberry bushes from propagating cuttings from other folks gardens. Thanks so much for the awesome information, I’ve bookmarked this article and referred back to it a number of times.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Wonderful, so happy to hear that you’ve been able to use your DIY propagation box to grow so many wonderful cuttings! 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
Yogesh Anil Gaonkar says
Hi Respected AMY Madam. Thanks a lot for your nice and innovative tips.
But please tell me how many days are required for rooting of cutting by using homemade propagator.
Amy Andrychowicz says
It depends on the type of cuttings you’re rooting. Some types of plants will root in a week or less in the propagation box, while others can take several days or weeks.
Claire says
Hi Amy, doing a little research and found your site this morning,,,great info! I’m not much of a gardener but am excited about trying propagation. I want to start with Alstroemeria, any special tips? Claire, CA central coast
Amy Andrychowicz says
Awesome, glad to hear you found the propagation info helpful! 🙂 I’ve never grown Alstroemeria myself, but you should be able to divide the bulbs to propagate it.
jody a egan says
New to propagating….have a plastic container with 12 newly planted oakleaf hydrangea stems that are planted in an orchid mix soil. After 10 days the soil has developed a gray, whispy mold. What do I do?
Can I pull them out and restart in new soil such as vermilutlite or scrape away the mold and apply cinnamon or hydrogen peroxide. I have opened the lid to ventilate and plants look healthy although I’m not sure roots have started after 10 days. Would appreciate any help.
Thanks!
Amy Andrychowicz says
If there’s mold growing in your propagation box, you’re either overwatering it, or using the wrong type of rooting medium. I would scrape the mold off the top, and ventilate it more to allow it to dry out a bit. Then keep the soil moist, but never soggy. If the mold problem doesn’t go away, then I would start over with a fresh propagation medium, using a mix made from the ingredients I mention in step 2. Just be sure you never use potting soil, compost, or garden soil in your propagation box.
Patty says
I have just started trying to propagate and am very excited about it. When you say to check the cuttings to see if any roots are starting, how are doing that? Pulling them right out and then re-inserting them?
Amy Andrychowicz says
If you use a clear box like mine, then many times you can see the roots growing right through the box. Just lift the whole propagation box up and look underneath. Otherwise, you can gently pull on the cuttings to see if they give any resistance, which would indicate that the roots are growing. Try not to pull them all the way out though, that could break off tender new roots. New growth on the top of the cuttings is also a good indication that it’s growing roots.