Growing Plant Cuttings in Potatoes: Does it Really Work?

In recent years, social media has transformed the way we learn about gardening, introducing new techniques that spread through cleverly crafted viral videos. One involves placing cuttings (usually rose cuttings for some reason) in potatoes before planting them in soil.

The videos claim the moisture and nutrients in the potato help cuttings root more successfully than traditional methods. But before you start raiding your pantry for propagation supplies, it’s worth examining whether this approach actually delivers on its promises.

Like many viral gardening hacks, the potato propagation method sounds appealingly simple. The basic technique involves taking a cutting from a plant, inserting the cut end into a potato, and then planting the potato in soil (or even using no soil at all). So, can you really grow cuttings in potatoes?

Why Did This Method Go Viral?

Growing cuttings in potatoes gained traction for the same reasons many viral gardening videos do. First, it’s incredibly accessible. Most people already have potatoes in their kitchen, eliminating the perceived need for specialized equipment that makes propagation seem more complicated than it is.

Social media algorithms also favor content showing dramatic transformations. There’s a reason before-and-after-style videos are so popular. The visual of a cutting emerging from a potato and turning into a rose plant (that sometimes even flowers, depending on which version you watch) creates a buzz that makes you want to try it for yourself.

The technique also uses some gardening truths. Moisture is, of course, essential for successful rooting, and potatoes do contain water. There are also claims about potatoes providing nutrients to keep cuttings going. This partial foundation makes growing cuttings in potatoes seem plausible enough to try. Combined with the minimal risk involved, the potential reward makes experimentation tempting.

Does It Really Work?

When you think about it carefully, it’s easy to see why this method may have some problems.

Let’s start with moisture. While potatoes do contain moisture that could theoretically support cuttings, they lack the porosity and oxygen availability that successful rooting requires. Roots need oxygen to develop properly, and the dense flesh of a potato limits air circulation around the cutting’s base (precisely where oxygen is most needed).

The potato itself presents another problem. Young roots prefer as little resistance to growth as possible, and the dense flesh of a raw potato certainly doesn’t cut it.  

A less likely but still concerning issue is disease. Planting part of a potato with a hole in it surrounded by moisture can create an environment conducive to bacterial and fungal growth, potentially harming the cutting rather than helping it.

It’s far more likely that your cuttings develop rot at the base rather than healthy roots. While some hardy plants with strong rooting capabilities might overcome these challenges, most cuttings perform significantly better with proven propagation methods.

What About the Videos?

Many viral gardening videos use selective editing to make gardening myths seem plausible. These clips often show a cutting being placed in a potato, followed by a fully rooted plant weeks later, skipping the crucial developmental stages where problems typically occur.

More concerning are videos that stage results by using pre-rooted plants inserted into potatoes shortly before filming the ‘reveal’. This misleading approach creates the impression of success without actually demonstrating a functional technique.

That’s not to say it’s completely impossible to grow cuttings in potatoes, and some gardeners do claim to have tried it with some success. But this rarely includes a control comparing the potato method to conventional techniques. Without side-by-side comparisons using cuttings from the same plant, it’s tough to determine whether the potato provided any advantage over simpler methods.

The Easiest Way to Propagate Cuttings

Rather than grow cuttings in potatoes, gardeners seeking reliable propagation results should turn to proven methods. They’re no more complicated than traditional methods. In fact, planting straight into the soil involves fewer steps and delivers better results.  

I’m going to use roses as an example, since that’s what most videos show. To propagate, all you need is a well-draining soil mix, a container, and maybe some rooting hormone. While it does help, you can still root cuttings without rooting hormone and see results.

Taking a cutting, dip the end in rooting hormone if available, and place it directly in moist potting mix. That’s all there is to it. This yields excellent results when combined with consistent moisture and bright, indirect light. I root a few cuttings at once in case some don’t take, but your rate of success will be far higher this way than if you chose to grow cuttings in potatoes.

The appeal of viral gardening hacks often lies in their promise of skipping established techniques with clever shortcuts. However, conventional propagation methods have endured for good reason. And in this case, they’re generally less complicated than the tried-and-tested methods anyway.