Pool noodles aren’t just for keeping us afloat in the pool. They can have an afterlife once pool season ends. 

Clean pool noodles can be used to propagate new plants. Wash them with warm water mixed with white vinegar, using about ¼ cup of vinegar to a quart of water. Scrub, rinse and let them air dry. 

Just like noodles kept you afloat in the pool, these will act as “floaters” that keep your cuttings safe. 

Why would you want to do this? 

If you have a plant that has been producing leaves, flowers or fruits you really like, this is a way to exactly reproduce them. Plant propagation is the process of growing new plants from existing plants, and this specific method is called water propagation. 

How do I do this? 

Prepare the noodles: Using a kitchen knife, cut your pool noodle into donut-shaped slices about 1 to 1½ inches thick. Next, add a slit from the outside edge to the middle hole. This makes it easier to add and remove your cutting with its new roots. 

Take the cutting: Select a healthy stem from your mother plant and locate a node, the “elbow” where leaves, branches or roots grow. Cut just below a node, making the cutting roughly 4 to 6 inches long, if possible. Leave only two or three leaves at the top. 

Start rooting: Place the noodle donut in a container filled with water. Place the stem into the center hole through the slit. Make sure the node, where roots grow, is in the water and the leaves are above the top of the noodle. This helps prevent rotting. 

Let the roots emerge: Keep your cutting in a sunny spot and be sure to change the water weekly. Roots typically take three to four weeks to form. When the roots are 2 to 3 inches long, gently move the plant out of the “donut.” 

Time to plant your “baby”: Just like a newborn, we need to be gentle and place it in a proper “bed” that is just large enough to handle the new roots. Add water sparingly to potting soil and mix thoroughly until the soil is just moist, then put it in the bottom of the pot. The “root ball” should be about an inch below the top of the pot. Add more soil and water until all the soil is moist and water runs out the bottom of the pot. This will help your roots settle and remove any air pockets. 

Give it light and air flow: Once all the extra water has drained from the pot, place it in a saucer so it does not stand in water. Put your pot in a location with good light and air flow. 

Soon you will have a new plant that looks and grows just like mommy. 

Cheryl Purvis is a Pinal County Master Gardener. 

This story was first published in the June issue of InMaricopa.