No experience with Pereskia but your mention of broken roots is the primary reason why I prefer to propagate cuttings in their intended home, not intermediately in water (except for a few with aerial roots, for a short time to soften them - like the Philo you mention,) or those wildly fun, addictive gel balls or crystals. But when getting to know a plant, it is helpful and fun to witness the time frame and structure. IME with this type of experiment, filling with water can help the roots float/loosen more easily.

Love seeing your pic too! What a fine budding root system. If it was mine, I would be finding a pot for it soon, before the roots are too long to place and cover easily without breaking.

Philos do take root easily, at a node. Do you have a node submerged?

I have transferred the two Pereskia's into little pots. I added extra water so removing them from the gel would be easier.

As for the Philo's I have a node on each of them submerged. I am thinking about putting them into soil, at the moment there are not roots. Would soil be better?

Would you be able to add a pic of the Philo cuttings? So much easier to be specific that way, if you could. You can add one pic per post to any GW discussion, BTW.

Sending good vibes to the Pereskias!

any update on this , did rooting in water work?