Starting new plants from old plants will allow you to multiply a few plants into a several plants. It is also a great way to increase the numbers of your favorite plants. If a plant is very expensive, or difficult to buy, you may grow your own by taking cuttings from one belonging to a friend or acquaintance.
Methods of Propagation Using Cuttings
Cuttings are the most popular method of plant propagation. The new plant is actually a clone of the old and can be grown from parts of stems, leaves and roots.
Stem cuttings may be obtained by removing a leafy stem from the plant with a sharp knife, shears or razor blade. The stem should be between 1 to 6 inches long.
- Cut the stem at an angle just below a node. A node is the joint from which the leaf stalk arises.
- Trim the stem about 1/8th of an inch above the lowest leaf node. Make sure the cutting has at least one node.
- Strip off all but 2 or 3 sets of leaves unless the leaves are very small, then leave a few more.
- Place the cutting in a prepared rooting medium and cover it with a plastic cup or staked plastic bag. Remove the cover for a few hours each day to allow fresh air to circulate.
Leaf cuttings may also be used from plants such as the African violet, gloxinias, kalanchoes, rex begonias, sedums, and some philodendrons and peperomias.
- A Broken leaf may be used, or one may be cut off the parent plant.
- Make a diagonal cut at the base of the stem with a sharp knife, shears or razor blade.
- Place the cutting into a moistened growing medium and cover it with a plastic cup or bag for a few days.
Root cuttings may be used to propagate some plants. Very few houseplants are propagated this way. In this method root pieces are set vertically into the rooting medium with the end that was closest to the crown at the top.
Rooting Media
Whichever method of propagation you choose, you must have your rooting media prepared ahead of time so the cuttings do not dry out. The media should be light and hold water, but coarse enough to allow air to circulate and reach the plant’s roots. One such mixture that is quite popular among gardeners is 1 part sand and 1 part sphagnum peat moss. Other media that is suitable includes straight vermiculite, perlite, or a mixture of 10 parts of perlite to 1 part peat moss. Do not use potting soil for rooting; it is not loose enough for immature roots.
Suitable Containers
Plastic pots are better for propagating plant than clay since they retain moisture longer.
 |
