House Plants That Give Off Shoots

Shoots

• The shoot system and the root system make up a plant's two organ systems. Above-ground vegetative growth comprise the shoot system; this growth includes leaves, buds, flowers and stems. Underground roots, nodes, tubers and rhizomes are part of the root system. Plants reproduce through flowering, fruiting and seeding, through vegetative growth, or through root system spread. Many plants produce "offsets." These new shoots are plants themselves; they have roots and leaves. An offset is separated from the parent and planted as a new plant. African violets, Aloe veras and spider plants produce offsets.

Foliage Plants

• Spider plants (Chlorophythum comosum) grow as clumps of narrow, gracefully curving grass-like foliage. Plant offsets called "spiderettes" develop at the ends of long runners and drape from the plant-like spiders' legs. Clip a spiderette from the runner and plant it in a well-draining pot of commercial potting mix. Coleus plants are grown for their vibrant, many-colored foliage. Terminal shoots, those ending in growing leaves, root easily in water. Clip a terminal shoot, trim off the lower leaves and place the bare stem in water. Plant as a new plant when a root system develops.

Succulents

• Rosette-forming succulents, including Sempervivums (hen and chicks) and Aloe vera, freely offset at their bases. These basal offset shoots divert energy from the mother plant. Remove offsets and plant them in gritty potting medium. New shoots and older stems of sedum plants readily develop roots. S. burrito is a trailing houseplant producing long stems densely packed with succulent leaves. Start new plants from shoots; divide as the plant becomes crowded.

Blooming Plants

• The Gesneriad plant family includes African violets (Saintpaulia ionantha), gloxinias (Sinningia speciosa), and Cape primrose (Streptocarpus rexii). Gesneriads readily propagate from healthy leaves. African violets and Cape primrose form offset shoots called crowns. Divide the crowns off from overcrowded plants and pot them individually in the appropriate commercially available mix. Keep new plants moist. Start kalanchoes, geraniums, begonias, Christmas cactus and fuchsias from cuttings. Select healthy, growing terminal shoots or stem sections to root in water, soil or another rooting medium appropriate to the variety.