Figuring out what plant propagation tools, equipment, and supplies you need can be confusing and stressful, especially if you’re just starting out. So, in this post, I’ll share a list of the most important things you’ll need, along with some “nice-to-have” items.
If you want to start propagating plants, then you’re probably wondering what you’ll need to get going.
The good news is that you don’t need a ton of expensive tools and equipment to propagate plants. But you will definitely needs a few things.
To get you started quickly, I put together a list of essential supplies you’ll definitely want to get.
But I didn’t stop at the required items, I also included some optional things that will make your life easier, and increase your chances of success.
PLANT PROPAGATION TOOLS & EQUIPMENT LIST
In this list, you’ll find lots of great options for tools, supplies, and equipment used in plant propagation.
You certainly don’t need to buy everything on the list. I’ll give you several options so you can choose what will work best for you and your budget.
PROPAGATION KITS & SYSTEMS
The first of the required items on this list, you’ll definitely want to get some kind of a propagator, or purchase a kit.
There is no right or wrong answer here, it really just depends on your preference. Below are a few great options.
1. CLEAR PLASTIC BIN
You can easily use this large clear bin to make your own propagation chamber. It is deep enough to allow for large cuttings, and the lid holds in moisture, while allowing plenty of light to reach the cuttings.
2. MINI KIT WITH GROW LIGHT
If you don’t want to make your own propagation box, there are commercial ones available too. This kit comes with a grow light and has a nice high dome with room for tall cuttings.
3. DOME KIT WITH HEAT MAT
Here’s another option for a commercial propagator. This one also has a nice high dome, but it comes with the heat mat instead of the grow light. Bottom heat speeds up the rooting process, so this is great to have.
GROW LIGHTS & STANDS
You’ll quickly find that a grow light is an essential piece of equipment when propagating plants indoors. You can buy just the fixture, or get one with a ready-made stand.
4. 2′ GROW LIGHT SYSTEM
If you have a larger setup for your propagation station, then a grow light system would be the perfect way to make sure your cuttings are getting plenty of light. It’s easy to adjust the height of the fixture, and comes with a timer.
5. 4′ LIGHT SYSTEM
Need something even larger? This 4′ system has double the space for placing your propagation trays underneath. The stand makes it a snap to adjust the height, and it comes with a timer so you can be sure your cuttings are getting enough light every day.
6. 2′ LIGHT FIXTURE & BULB
If you’re looking for a basic grow light, then this one would be perfect. You can hang it from a shelf or any stand, it has a built in timer, and it comes with a T5 bulb, which is great for any type of plant.
7. 18″ FIXTURE WITH BULB
This 18″ light fixture provides even more room underneath, and also comes with everything you need. Includes a T5 bulb, reflectors and a built in timer.
8. OUTLET TIMER
An automatic timer is a great piece of equipment to have, and makes plant propagation easier too. Set it so your cuttings will get 12-16 hours of light daily. That way, you won’t have to remember to turn them on and off every day.
PLANT PROPAGATION TOOLS
Taking healthy cuttings is one of the most important things for successful propagation, and having the right tools make all the difference.
Dull or cheap clippers can crush or damage the stem, which is a risk you definitely don’t want to take.
9. MICRO SNIPS
These micro snips are one of my favorite plant propagation tools. They’re nice and sharp, and easy to use for taking precision cuttings from small or delicate stems.
10. MULTI-SNIP TOOL
Another one of my go-to tools, these multi-snips are great for taking slightly larger stem cuttings. The serrated edge is also nice, and comes in handy for quickly cutting open bags of soil or amendments.
11. BONSAI SCISSORS
If you’re looking for another option, bonsai shears are a great one. They are super sharp, and won’t damage the stems when taking cuttings. Great to use on your most delicate specimens, or in hard-to-reach areas.
12. TOOL SHARPENER
It’s extremely important to keep your plant propagation tools sharp at all times to take healthy cuttings. This one is easy to use, and it doesn’t take long to sharpen any type of blade.
GROWING MEDIUMS
When rooting cuttings, it’s very important to use the right medium. Regular soil is too heavy, and will cause all kinds of problems.
Below are the supplies I use to make my own plant propagation mix, as well as a good pre-made one.
13. VERMICULITE
Commonly found in potting soil, vermiculite is a naturally occurring mineral. It retains moisture, and promotes root growth. You could use it by itself, or mix it with these other ingredients to make a medium that’s perfect for your needs.
14. PERLITE
A lightweight soil amendment, perlite holds very little moisture, and prevents soil compaction. In other words, it helps the soil drain faster, which is exactly what we want for our rooting medium.
15. PEAT MOSS
Many seasoned plant propagators like to use peat moss in their growing medium. It retains moisture, promotes healthy root formation, and also improves aeration and drainage.
16. COCO COIR
The by-product of coconut processing, coco coir is an excellent and more sustainable substitute for peat moss. It also has all of the same qualities: improves drainage, holds moisture, and encourages healthy roots, etc.
17. PRE-MADE MEDIUM
If you don’t want to mix your own, then this pre-made medium will work just fine. It’s made for seeds, but also works great as a plant rooting medium.
OTHER PLANT PROPAGATION SUPPLIES
There are a few other supplies that I find essential for plant propagation. You certainly could get by without these. But, as you gain experience, you’ll likely want to pick them up at some point.
18. ROOTING HORMONE
This specially made plant hormone helps to speed up the rooting process, and also protects the cutting from disease and bacteria. I’ve tried rooting cuttings with and without it, and I’ve definitely had much greater success when I use it.
19. PLASTIC POTS
Once your plant cuttings sprout roots, you’ll need somewhere to pot them up. These are the perfect size for potting up rooted cuttings. They are simple to clean, durable, reusable for many years, and stack nicely for easy storage.
20. PLANT TAGS
One of the most important propagation supplies, and something that many people forget to get are plant tags. These are the perfect size, easy to write on, and you can reuse them too.
OPTIONAL TOOLS & EQUIPMENT
Below are some nice-to-have items. Though the tools and equipment in this list aren’t required for propagating plants, they will make things a whole lot easier (and faster too!).
21. HEAT MAT
Not an essential piece of equipment, but adding bottom heat under your cuttings will speed up the rooting process, and definitely makes plant propagation easier. In my experience, many cuttings will actually root twice as fast as they would without it.
22. SPRAY BOTTLE
Misting your cuttings is a great way to give them the humidity they need to sprout roots. A spray bottle is a handy tool to keep nearby, and you can also use it to moisten the medium if it starts to dry out.
23. HUMIDIFIER
Another great way to keep the humidity level high around your cuttings is to fun a humidifier nearby. This is especially important to use during the winter, or in extremely dry climates.
24. HUMIDITY MONITOR
If you’re not sure whether it’s at the right level, a humidity monitor is a great tool to keep next to your cuttings. With this one, you can monitor both the humidity and the temperature, so they are both always kept at the perfect level.
25. SOIL MOISTURE GAUGE
It’s important to keep the medium consistently moist during propagation. If it’s too dry or too wet, the cuttings won’t survive long enough to grow roots. This gauge will keep you confident that yours holds the perfect amount of moisture at all times.
I hope this list of plant propagation tools, supplies, and equipment will give you some good ideas for what you need to get started. As you become more experienced, you can get additional items to help you become faster and more efficient.
Want to learn exactly how to propagate your plants step by step? Then you need a copy of my Plant Propagation eBook. It has all you need to get started quickly, and have the best success. Download your copy today!
More About Propagating Plants
- How To Propagate Plumeria From Cuttings
- Propagating Mint Plants From Cuttings Step-By-Step
- How To Propagate Banana Plants
- Propagating Ornamental Sweet Potato Vine Cuttings Or Tubers
Share your must-have propagation tools and equipment in the comments below.
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