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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.
Fix it before you forget it: Small issues— dripping faucets, broken blinds, loose handles— can imply that larger items, like the HVAC and the roof may have also been ignored. Paint: Fresh interior paint is one of the most wallet-friendly ways to make your home look new again and increase value. If a full repaint isn’t possible, focus on high-traffic areas like stairwells and hallways..Stick to neutral, light-enhancing colors. Curb appeal: First impressions matter. Trim landscaping, clean up the exterior, and address visible wear. At the end of the day, buyers don’t need perfection—they need clarity. A clean, open home that’s easy to understand will do more work for you than expensive staging ever could.
property without distractions, which builds trust. If you’re living in the home, the goal is to create space and simplicity with what you already have. You don’t need a full overhaul—just remove the mental friction for the buyer. Here are a few practical ways to get there: Declutter your rooms: Clear as much floor and wall space as possible. Open space makes rooms feel larger. A storage unit can help, but don’t overthink it—your garage works fine. Buyers don’t expect a staged garage, and most see it as a de facto storage space anyway. Consider virtual staging: This is a smart, cost-effective tool. Virtual staging can present your home in a modern or traditional style depending on the buyers you want to attract. It creates a polished look without the cost of renting or buying furniture. In most cases, virtual staging costs 5 to 10 percent of what physical staging would run. No delivery fees, no heavy lifting, and no risk of throwing your back out. Cleanliness: After years in a home, it’s easy to overlook dust and stains. Buyers won’t. A professional cleaning can make a noticeable difference.
Use your noodle Pool noodles get a second life as plant-propagation helpers
S ELLING YOUR HOME WITHOUT A big staging budget doesn’t put you at a disadvantage—it just means being more strategic. The idea that every listing needs brand-new furniture and designer touches is more myth than reality. Buyers aren’t expecting a magazine spread; they want to know if the space works for them. Many buyers prefer a simpler presentation. When a home isn’t overly dressed up, it feels more transparent. They can see the bones of the Staging a house in a frugal, yet effective manner BY DAYV MORGAN
BY CHERYL PURVIS
P
OOL 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.
Dayv Morgan is a Maricopa realtor and owner of HomeSmart Premier.
480-251-4231 DayvMorgan@gmail.com
Cheryl Purvis is a Pinal County Master Gardener.
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InMaricopa.com | June 2026
June 2026 | InMaricopa.com
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