Steal These Plants Too broke to buy plants from a garden center, I fill up my empty windowsills by taking advantage of my friends’ green thumbs and wealth of plants. Exchanging stem cuttings from your favorite plants is easy, and there’s something nice about knowing you swiped that climber from your old college roommate and your jade from your cubicle mate. While nobody’s looking snip a 4-inch piece off your pal’s plant. Take at least one leaf, but not more than four, as they retard the root growth. Next, cut the stem diagonally, right below a leaf node so there’s enough surface area for the plant to take root. Slip into purse. Once you’re safe in your apartment with the doors locked, place the stem cutting in a small glass of water for 3 to 4 days. Then, fill a ceramic pot (with proper drainage) with potting soil. Make a small rivet in the potting soil with a pencil or spoon, and gently place the stem in—about 1 inch deep— and cover with soil. Give the plant a good soaking and wrap a clear plastic bag around the pot lock in humidity. Once a week, make sure the soil is moist. In about a month it should be rooted, and you can remove the plastic bag, and enjoy your spoils. - Jen

Steal These Plants

Too broke to buy plants from a garden center, I fill up my empty windowsills by taking advantage of my friends’ green thumbs and wealth of plants. Exchanging stem cuttings from your favorite plants is easy, and there’s something nice about knowing you swiped that climber from your old college roommate and your jade from your cubicle mate.

While nobody’s looking snip a 4-inch piece off your pal’s plant. Take at least one leaf, but not more than four, as they retard the root growth. Next, cut the stem diagonally, right below a leaf node so there’s enough surface area for the plant to take root. Slip into purse.

Once you’re safe in your apartment with the doors locked, place the stem cutting in a small glass of water for 3 to 4 days. Then, fill a ceramic pot (with proper drainage) with potting soil. Make a small rivet in the potting soil with a pencil or spoon, and gently place the stem in—about 1 inch deep— and cover with soil. Give the plant a good soaking and wrap a clear plastic bag around the pot lock in humidity.

Once a week, make sure the soil is moist. In about a month it should be rooted, and you can remove the plastic bag, and enjoy your spoils. - Jen