Gardening should be fun, not stressful! I’ve killed plenty of plants by following propagation instructions to the letter, only to watch them shrivel anyway. Meanwhile, the cuttings I tossed in water and completely forgot about for weeks somehow thrived.
Plant propagation doesn’t always require perfect technique or expert timing. Many plants are surprisingly resilient and will develop roots despite our mistakes or neglect.
If you’re like me and sometimes forget the ‘proper’ way to root plants, don’t worry! The following plants are incredibly forgiving and will likely grow roots even when you don’t follow the rulebook.
1. Pothos
Just snip a section with a few leaves, pop it in water, and watch the magic happen. Unlike fussier plants, pothos doesn’t care if you forgot to cut below a node or if you left it in water for months instead of potting it up.
I once left pothos cuttings in a vase for nearly a year, changing the water occasionally when I remembered. They developed massive root systems and continued growing new leaves the entire time.
You can also stick cuttings directly in soil if you prefer. They might take longer to establish but will usually pull through without special rooting hormones or humidity domes.
2. Spider Plant
These plants practically propagate themselves by sending out babies (plantlets) on long stems. These little offshoots come complete with tiny roots already forming, ready for their independence.
You don’t even need to cut them off properly. I’ve had plantlets that fell off accidentally, landed in nearby pots, and started growing on their own without any help from me.
If you do collect the babies, they’ll root in water, soil, or even damp paper towels. No special timing, no fancy cuts, no rooting hormone needed—they’re determined to grow regardless of your technique.
3. Mint
Mint’s reputation for being invasive comes from its incredible will to live and spread. Break off a stem, stick it in moist soil, and you’ll likely have a rooted plant within days—no special cuts or treatments required.
Water propagation works just as well. The stems will happily grow roots at almost any point along their length, not just at nodes. I’ve even found mint rooting itself when stems touched the ground in my garden.
This forgiving nature makes mint perfect for beginners. Just be careful where you plant it once rooted, as it will take over your garden if given the chance!
4. Tradescantia
This might be the most forgiving plant when it comes to propagation. Break a stem anywhere—with or without nodes—and it will likely root. Forgot to water your cuttings? They’ll probably survive anyway.
The stems can root directly in soil without any pre-rooting in water. I’ve literally dropped stem pieces on moist soil and returned weeks later to find new plants growing.
These plants also root along their stems when they touch soil, creating natural propagations without any cutting at all. Their purple-striped leaves and trailing habit make them worth multiplying, and luckily, they make it incredibly easy.
5. Basil
Fresh basil from the grocery store can become your next houseplant with minimal effort. Simply place stems in water, and roots will emerge within days—even if you didn’t specifically cut below nodes.
I’ve successfully rooted the leftover stems after using the leaves for cooking. Instead of tossing them in the compost, I stuck them in a glass of water on my windowsill and had rooted plants within a week.
Basil doesn’t mind if the water gets a bit murky before changing it, and the stems will continue to produce new leaves while rooting. Once established in soil, your accidentally propagated basil will provide fresh herbs for months.
6. Coleus
With their vibrant foliage, coleus plants are worth propagating—and fortunately, they make it easy. Snip a stem, remove a few lower leaves, and place it in water. Roots will form quickly, even if your cutting technique wasn’t perfect.
I’ve found coleus to be one of the fastest rooters in my collection. Sometimes new roots appear within 48 hours, regardless of whether I cut at the right spot or not.
These plants also don’t mind if you forget to pot them up promptly after roots form. They’ll happily continue growing in water for weeks, developing extensive root systems while maintaining their colorful leaves above the waterline.
7. English Ivy
English ivy’s vigorous growth habit extends to its propagation abilities. Break off a piece, put it in water or moist soil, and it will likely root—even if you cut it in the “wrong” place.
The long trailing vines can be cut into multiple sections, each becoming a new plant. I’ve found that even leafless sections of stem can sometimes root if they have a node or two.
While ivy does prefer to be cut just below a node for best results, it’s forgiving enough that approximate cuts still work most of the time. This resilience explains why ivy can be so invasive outdoors but makes it perfect for propagation beginners.
8. Sweet Potato Vine
Sweet potato vines practically root themselves without any effort. Trim a piece and place it in water—nodes or not—and you’ll have roots within days. The ornamental varieties with purple or chartreuse leaves are particularly vigorous.
I once accidentally broke a stem while repotting and tossed it in water temporarily. Two weeks later, I discovered it had developed an extensive root system and new growth, despite my complete neglect.
You can also root these directly in soil with high success rates. Their eager rooting habit makes them perfect for filling hanging baskets quickly with minimal propagation knowledge or effort.
9. Begonia
Many begonia varieties can be propagated from a single leaf—no stem required! Simply place a leaf with its stalk in water or press it flat on moist soil, and new plants will form at the leaf veins.
Angel wing begonias are particularly forgiving. Stem cuttings root readily in water regardless of where you make the cut. I’ve even had success rooting pieces that broke off accidentally during repotting.
Rex begonias can be propagated by cutting a mature leaf into wedges and laying them on moist soil. Each section will eventually form a new plant at the cut edge, proving that precision isn’t always necessary for successful propagation.
10. Philodendron
These are among the most accommodating plants when it comes to casual propagation. Snip a stem with a leaf or two, place it in water, and roots will emerge within days—even if you didn’t cut precisely at a node.
The heartleaf variety (Philodendron hederaceum) is particularly forgiving. I’ve had cuttings root after floating in neglected water for weeks, developing roots from unexpected places along the stem.
These plants don’t mind if you leave them in water for months either. They’ll continue growing new leaves and roots while waiting for you to remember to pot them up, making them perfect for propagators who tend to procrastinate.
11. Swedish Ivy
Despite its name, Swedish ivy isn’t actually an ivy but is just as easy to propagate. Break off a stem, stick it in water, and roots will form quickly—no precision required.
The succulent-like stems store enough water to survive even if you forget to keep the water topped up. I’ve had cuttings root in barely damp soil after simply sticking them in and forgetting about them for a while.
Swedish ivy also roots along stems that touch the soil in its pot, creating natural propagations without any cutting. This plant’s growth habit makes it ideal for hanging baskets where the trailing stems can cascade down, ready to become new plants whenever you need them.
12. Rosemary
Rosemary might seem like it would be fussy, but it’s surprisingly forgiving when propagated from cuttings. The woody stems root well in water or directly in soil, even if you don’t cut at the perfect spot.
I’ve had success simply breaking off stems rather than making clean cuts. While rosemary does prefer well-draining conditions, the cuttings are remarkably resilient during the rooting process.
The best part is that once rooted, these plants are drought-tolerant and long-lived. A casually propagated rosemary cutting can become a productive herb plant that lasts for years, providing aromatic sprigs for cooking despite its haphazard beginnings.
13. Sedum
Sedums are succulent plants that practically propagate themselves. Break off a stem or even just a leaf, let it callus for a day, then lay it on soil. Most of the time, it will root without any further attention.
I’ve had sedum pieces root after they fell into other pots accidentally. Their succulent nature means they can survive long periods without water while developing roots, making them perfect for forgetful gardeners.
The trailing varieties like burro’s tail (Sedum morganianum) are especially easy—the leaves that inevitably fall off when you handle the plant can each grow into new plants if they land on soil.
14. Snake Plant
These plants can be propagated by simply cutting a leaf into sections and placing them in water or soil. The cut doesn’t need to be perfect—just make sure you remember which end was pointing down originally.
I’ve successfully rooted leaf sections that were cut at odd angles or had damaged edges. While they do take longer than some plants to develop roots, their patience exceeds mine every time.
Water propagation lets you watch the roots develop, though soil propagation often yields faster results. Either way, these tough plants will usually root despite neglect, improper cuts, or forgetting to change the water regularly.
15. Christmas Cactus
Christmas cacti have segmented stems that make propagation nearly foolproof. Break off a section with 2-3 segments, let it dry for a day, then place it in water or soil—it will likely root regardless of your technique.
The segments naturally break at the joints, creating perfect propagation pieces without any cutting tools. I’ve had fallen segments root themselves in nearby pots without any intervention from me.
Unlike desert cacti, these jungle cacti appreciate some moisture while rooting, but they’re forgiving if conditions aren’t perfect. A casual approach to propagation often works just as well as following strict instructions with these holiday bloomers.
16. Peace Lily
Peace lilies naturally grow in clumps that can be easily divided during repotting. No special cutting techniques required—just gently pull apart sections with roots attached and pot them separately.
I’ve successfully divided peace lilies by simply ripping them apart (gently!) rather than using clean cuts. The plants recovered quickly despite this rough treatment.
Even if you damage some roots in the process, peace lilies are resilient enough to regrow them. Their forgiving nature extends to their care as well—they’ll dramatically wilt when thirsty but bounce back quickly after watering, giving you visual cues when they need attention.
17. Pilea
The Chinese money plant produces baby plants (pups) around its base or sometimes directly on its stem. These can be gently removed and placed in water or soil to root, with very little precision required.
I’ve had pilea pups that broke off accidentally during repotting root themselves when I just stuck them back in the soil without any special treatment. Their will to grow is impressive!
Stem cuttings also root readily in water, even if you don’t cut at the perfect spot. This plant’s eagerness to propagate makes it an excellent choice for sharing with friends, as you’ll soon have more plants than you know what to do with.
18. Jade Plant
Jade plants can be propagated from a single leaf or stem cutting with minimal effort. Simply let the cutting dry for a day or two until the cut end calluses, then place it on or in soil.
The succulent nature of jade plants means they store water in their leaves and stems, allowing them to survive and develop roots even if you forget to water them. I’ve had jade leaves root after they fell into pots and were forgotten.
While jade plants do prefer well-draining soil, they’re not picky about the exact propagation method. Leaves laid on soil, stems stuck directly into soil, or even neglected cuttings often find a way to root and grow.