Taking cuttings for plant propagation

You can make several different cuttings from wood, the most common woods are hardwood, softwood, and semi-ripe. These basically refer to the degree of woodiness of the plant stem hence depicting how old the stem of the plant actually is. The easiest and simplest to take root is the softwood since the cuttings are made from the youngest part of the stem. If you are trying for the first time the softwood would be the best option for you.

The cuttings from the new plant should be taken in May and June and should basically take between 4 - 8 weeks to root. Note that they must be kept warm and moist otherwise they will lose too much moisture resulting in wilting and eventually death. This can be achieved by using a propagator but if you don't have one potting the cuttings in a polythene bag will suffice.

There's a ball of contention among experts as to whether one should use hormone root powder or not. Individuals with experience say one can get success or fail using either method. You can try it for yourself and see the results. Fuchsias, hebes, pelargoniums, lupins, chrysanthemums and hydrangeas are the easiest plants to obtain cuttings from. This is the procedure for taking cuttings.

1. Using a sharp knife or secateurs, cut close to a dozen growing tips from the plant -approximately 4 inches in length and immediately put them in a polythene bag to keep them moist.

2. Make a mixture of vermiculite (or sharp sand) and multi-purpose compost in equal half to half proportions or better still use special cuttings compost.

3. Place the individual cuttings in 3 inch pots or larger 5 inch cuttings and place 5 cuttings on the edge.

4. Make a slanted slit of the cutting so that the bottom is exactly below a leaf joint or a node.

5. Remove all the bottom leaves, only leaving 3-4 at the top. Ensure you pinch out the developing tip.

6. Dip the bottom end of the cutting in water in case you are using hormone root powder and shake it off to get rid of any excesses.

7. Place the cutting in the compost in the pot to around a third of its length and don't forget to water.

8. Wrap the pot in a clear polythene bag but don't let the bag squeeze the leaves and place it on a well lit greenhouse or sunny window shelf.

9. Though they don't need much watering, keep checking them after a few days.

10. New leaves will indicate rooting of the cutting. You can then transfer them to regular potting compost.

Softwood cuttings are known to root very easily thus, you can even simply place the cut stems in a glass of water, remove the bottom leaves, and pinch out the developing tip. After a couple of weeks, rooting will start taking place. That is all it entails and you can start gifting the plants for free to elated family and friends.

Article Source: http://www.contentspool.com

Owner of MishoBonsai, he has been practicing bonsai for over 10 years. Found a distinct interest in propagation, especially bonsai ficus seeds. Mishobonsai sells tree seeds and provide bonsai tree informations for beginner to advanced bonsai enthusisast. Mishobonsai sells tree seeds from tropical, deciduous and evergreen species.

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