Self-Care could mean trying something new

Self-Care could mean trying something new…like plant propagation

Today Mary Ann, Cindy, and I  are joining five other bloggers to share tips and ideas on what to do in these uncertain times. We are from all over the country and at very different stages of life. But the thing is…we do have this current situation in common and chances are at least one or two of us will have a tip that might bring some comfort, normalcy or fun to a small part of your day. I’m trying something new for my self-care and propagating plants. It will bring a little joy while I learn something new and hopefully in three weeks I’ll have cuttings to plant and that will be a source of happiness! Keep reading for the full list of who will be participating at the bottom of the post.

For a little self-care, I indulged in two small projects that have been on my list for quite some time. The first one is to learn how to propagate plants. Why I haven’t done this before now… I have absolutely no idea. I started with pothos because they are probably the easiest plant to grow and hopefully the easiest to propagate. 

1. How to Propagate a Pothos Plant

Here’s what you’ll need:

A Pothos plant that is the “parent plant” or one that has long vines growing.

Trim the long vines from the parent plant

Then you’ll cut several long runners from the parent plant to get new cuttings. A lot of times you’ll see that people will put a long vine cut from a plant into a bottle of water, but I learned that’s not the best way to do it. Instead, you want to cut the vines from the parent plant and then trim each leaf at the “eye” of the vine. Cut each side of the eye and that is where the new growth will occur. You will go down the entire vine cutting each side of the leaf exposing the “eye.” 

Cut the stems at each side of the “eye” of the Pothos

Gather the Stems and put them in water

Then gather the stems from one or more vines and hold them like a small bouquet. This is what will grow roots. Depending on how many runners or vines you cut from the parent plant will determine how many glass jars you’ll need. Since I’m new at this, I wanted to try several knowing that some may not be successful.

Put your cuttings into a jar or several filled with water and place in a warm area. Indirect light is best. Roots need air as much as they need water to grow. You’ll need to change the water every few days because the water has oxygen. It’s going to take a couple of weeks and if we have success you can bet I’ll let you know!

You might also like this post where I show just how plants add to our homes and spaces.

2. Make a Paper Collage

The next project is sort of a paper collage. I used the supplies I had on hand. Thick watercolor paper, a box cutter, a circle cutter (from those scrapbooking days), and house paint. The simple design is based on a tattoo that Madeline showed me. I was immediately drawn to the simplicity of it and knew even with my limited artistic ability, I could create the wave shape. An Exacto-knife would have made a more fluid line, but I couldn’t find one. I painted two thick coats of paint on each of the three pieces and when dry used foam double-sided mounting strips to layer the wave and the sun onto the base paper. This is a preliminary start to something I would like to experiment further with different paper, flat paint, and a better cutting tool. 

Find out below what each blogger is sharing today for a little self-care during these uncertain times…and share in the comments what you have found helpful to bring you some comfort during all of this at-home time.

The Foxy Kat: Katrina is maintaining healthy locks. Without access to a salon for regular hair cuts, she has found a way to keep her hair hydrated to ward off split ends.

Sheri Silver: Sheri loves making DIY gifts to give. Read how she’s DIY-ing for herself during this time!

Bungalow Blue: Kelly is sharing her skin and beauty favorites. Read about her picks for busy moms.

Happy Happy Nester: Janine shares her hair, skin, and health regimen that has worked and made a difference.

Beautiful Living with Stefanie Wall: Stefanie is sharing how a daily walk and a piece or two of chocolate are joy boosters.

Classic Casual Home:  Mary Ann is sharing tips on hydrating your over-washed hands.

 Rough Luxe: Cindy is talking about what to do when you can’t get to your manicurist. 

Most Lovely Things:   Annie is trying something new like a simple DIY with art supplies on hand and plant propagation.