The African Linden (Sparrmannia africana) is a total favorite among indoor plant lovers, and it’s easy to see why. Not only is it pretty low-maintenance, but it’s also incredibly easy to propagate. If you want to turn one plant into a whole jungle, you’ve got a couple of great options. Here’s the lowdown on how to do it.
Growing from Seeds
You can usually snag a packet of seeds at your local garden center or online without any trouble. Before you plant them, give them a little “spa day” by soaking them in lukewarm water for about 24 hours. This helps them swell up and kickstarts the germination process. Once they’re ready, spread them out on some high-quality seed-starting mix and cover them with just a thin dusting of soil.
To keep them happy, make sure the soil stays consistently moist (a spray bottle works wonders here). High humidity is key, so if you don’t have a mini greenhouse, just stretch some plastic wrap over the pot to create a little humid dome. Keep them warm—ideally between 75°F and 85°F during the day—and you’ll see sprouts in no time.
Propagating with Cuttings
If you’d rather skip the seeds, taking cuttings is a breeze. Just make sure you use a clean, sharp knife or shears to avoid crushing the stem or introducing plant diseases. Aim for a cutting that’s about 6 inches long, ideally taken from a healthy, flowering shoot.
Strip off any leaves near the bottom of the cut. Since large leaves lose water quickly, it’s actually a smart move to trim back the remaining leaves by about a third to help the cutting focus its energy on growing roots.
Now, you just need to let those cuttings do their thing. They’ll root easily in either a glass of water or directly in moist potting soil. Just find a bright spot with indirect light (avoid harsh, direct sun) and keep them at standard room temperature.
Quick Tips for Propagating Your African Linden
- You can propagate via seeds or cuttings—both work great!
- Seeds are widely available at specialty garden shops.
- Use a dedicated seed-starting mix for the best results.
- Keep the soil moist and the air humid for seedlings.
- For cuttings, always choose healthy, vigorous shoots.
- Cuttings will root happily in water or soil at room temperature.
