How to Start a Sweet Potato Vine From a Cuttings

Today I’m sharing flower garden tips on how to start a sweet potato vine from cuttings.  I love sweet potato vines in my summer container gardens. They really fill the containers, and gives it elegance with the overflow of the vine. Unfortunately, sweet potato vines can be a little pricey when purchased from a garden center or nursery.  Starting your own will cut down on your garden expenses.  So, I decided to grow sweet potato vines from cuttings using the plant that I purchased back in the spring. Furthermore, starting your own will allow you to use the vine in several containers.

We’re expecting frost in my area within the next week.  Rather than let the frost kill my sweet potato vine like I usually do, I’m finally going to produce additional plants by rooting potato vines from cuttings.

How to Start a Sweet Potato Vine:

• First, you will need a container filled with water.  This is the container that you will use to place your cutting in.  I used 2 pint size mason jars.  However, you can use what you have on hand.  Make sure the stem of your cuttings will fit into the container and there’s room for the roots to spread.
• Additionally, you will need a clean pair of sharp scissors or garden shears to cut the vine.
• Newspaper to work on.

• Next, cut off the top of the vine. 
• Afterwards, I cut the remainder of the vine into pieces.  Make sure the pieces that you cut are long enough for you to remove at least 3 – 4 of the bottom leaves.  Most importantly, you want to make sure the stem is long enough to submerge in water to form roots.
  

• Don’t leave your stem too long.  I cut this piece about 2 inches from the bottom leaves.  You want to make your cut just below the leave node, where you removed a leaf.  (The arrow is pointing to my cut mark.)  Remember, your goal is to transfer the rooted stem to a pot of soil once it roots.
• Don’t forget to change your water regularly.  You want to make sure your plant is healthy enough to transfer out in the spring.

Last, a sweet potato vine looks gorgeous in containers with petunias or other low growers.  I like to pair mine with marigolds.  Get creative.  I’m sure you will find the perfect combination.  You may also like:  7 Uses for Sunflowers.