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Learning how to propagate bean plants is easy because it actually propagates them because they can grow like crazy. You can propagate your maranta plant in any way, where water reproduction is most popular and rewarding.
We have pictures that show the steps for certain methods to make things even easier.
How to propagate bean plants
When we talk about propagating prayer plants – we have these specific plants and their variations in mind.
Maranta Tricolor (herringbone plant), Maranta leuconeura and Maranta leuceneura kerchoveana. Variegated varieties or other special varieties of these types (such as Maranta Lemon Lime) are propagated in the same way.
Other plants in the maranta group are also commonly called bean plants – the many varieties of calathea, ctenanthe and stromanthe. However, these do not multiply in every way that a “normal” bean plant would do. The most common way to propagate these is by root division.
Maranta bean plant in different ways to reproduce
- water reproduction
- reproduces in soil
- propagation from seed
- by root division
How to water multiply Maranta bean plant (with pictures)
This is by far the easiest way to propagate bean plants.
Our maranta leuconeura kerchoveana variegata was damaged, the stem broke. This can be a boring occasion with many plant species; with bean plants it is usually an excellent opportunity to reproduce! You do not need root hormones or any other additives to succeed.
What you need?
- Plant
- scissors or a sharp tool
- glass jar
- water
- transparent bag
1. Cut below the node
Find the nodes on your plant and cut off the stem below the node. You only need one node to spread your maranta in water. We have 3 nodes (all circled in the picture below) in the stem that we will propagate because the plant was damaged at ground level – not visible here.
Nodes are easy to detect on bean plants; they are small tubers from which new leaves and growth develop.
You must leave about half an inch (1 cm – 2 cm) of the shaft below the node.
Make sure the tools you use to cut are clean and sharp. Make a clean cut.
2. Place the plant in water (make a propagation station)
Pop the plant’s cuttings in water. The water must be plant-friendly – room temperature, and if you use tap water, let it sit for at least 24 hours before using it.
The nodes must be immersed in water; the leaves should not be. You can trim a few leaves if there are too many, so the plant focuses on producing roots. However, this step is not necessary, especially if you have good conditions for a bean plant, as it will grow roots really fast and have no problem pushing out a leaf or two in the meantime either.
You can get a nice breeding station; Many eye-catching ones are sold in stores and online – but a glass jar of some kind will do the job just as well.
Baga den
If conditions are not ideal – improve your chances, place a transparent bag over the plant. This will keep your plant happier.
You can blow in some air with a straw – it makes the environment even friendlier.
Place your propagation station in a bright place without direct sunlight.
4. Wait and change water
Let the wait begin! We should note that it is perfectly normal to check your plant for signs of new roots every 5 minutes. Everyone is doing it.
Your bean plant will be ready to be planted in soil in as little as 2 weeks. However, there is no rule about how long it takes for the roots to grow enough for you to plant them, so do not be put off if it takes a month or even more. As long as you see new growth and the plant looks good, you should not worry about it.
When it comes to changing water, this depends a bit on the size of the jar. Some swear that it is best to change water every other day, some never change water. During a period of 1 month that it took for our plant to develop the roots ready for planting, the water was changed once.
If the water is clear, there are no signs of algae or other contaminants, and the roots are growing (you see changes in size every few days), the water is good.
One week
After about a week, this was the condition of our water-multiplied bean plant. Do you see the little white roots coming out?
Two weeks
After two weeks, the roots are fine and long already. Growth slowed, so the water changed. The same as the first time, room temperature water was used.
3rd week
During the third week, the bean plant went completely crazy and made new leaves. We started watering this maranta plant with 2 leaves and a third on the way. The third week it had 5 leaves, with another on the way.
4th week
Remember that it can take less or longer for the roots to be strong enough for the cuttings to be planted in soil. When you see good roots (inches and a half / two inches – 5 cm), you can move your plant from the water can to the soil.
5.Plant your water-propagated bean plant in soil
Take a pot that is not too big but also has enough space for the roots of the bean plant to grow freely. Also prepare the fresh potting soil.
Put a bottom layer of soil in the pot. Pop the rooted plant in the pot.
Fill with soil, carefully.
You can water it and put a bag over it for a few days as it may struggle a bit once it is planted in the ground. The bag is practical if you have dry air in your home.
This maranta was propagated during the winter – which is not ideal as the air is drier due to heating – so a transparent bag helps it maintain optimal humidity levels.
Now that you know how to propagate bean plants in water, we really hope you will give it a try.
How to propagate Maranta bean plant in soil (pictures follow)
This method is not as satisfactory as water reproduction because you will not see the roots grow, but it is simple.
Propagation in the soil is best when you want to make your already established plant look fuller by planting cuttings in the same pot.
As with marine water reproduction, cut below the node and leave enough stem under the node.
Dip one end of the cuttings into water (about an inch or so) and then into the root hormone. “Plant” the cuttings in soil, either in a new pot or in the same pot as the mother plant. Water.
Make sure the soil is on the moist side until the roots develop. Propagating in the soil is a little more demanding for the plant, so we recommend pruning leaves if there are too many. As with water reproduction, you can put a bag over the plant to maintain high humidity.
Propagation from seed
If you are lucky enough to get your bean plant to bloom, you can also try propagating it from seed. Seeing something grow from a seed is really satisfying. But compared to other methods of propagating bean plants, this one is not as easy.
These flowers are small and beautiful – there will probably be many of them, but each one only blooms for a short while, so you need to keep that in mind when planning to collect them.
Soak them in a damp medium and store them in a warm place (bag). If you are lucky, you should see the plant germinate in a couple of weeks.
How to propagate bean plants by root division?
Propagation by division is more common for calathea, stromanthe and ctenanthe plants (which are also bean plants), but if your mother marant plants are large enough, have many stems coming out of the ground and you will feel comfortable dividing them in two. give this a try when it’s time to repot and if everything looks right.
This is also called grinding division.
After removing the plant from the pot and cleaning the roots, gently “tangle up” and tear the roots apart with your fingers. You should be able to separate different stems quite easily.
Once separated plant in fresh potting soil.
To share is to care!
