Propagation Of Plant Cuttings
by John Yazo
One inexpensive way to have plenty of new plants for your gardens is to propagate cuttings from existing plants that you already have in your house and yard or by other methods like division, grafting, layering and from seed.
The propagation of plant cuttings can be done from pieces of leaves, stems or roots of a parent plant. Providing the proper growing conditions these cuttings will form a new root system or even shoots. This method is also known as asexual propagation.
It is very important to start out with a good quality rooting media and should be sterile. This will allow for your plants to get a healthy start. Gardening soil or compost should be avoided because they may harbor insects and disease. Rooting media can be purchased at most garden centers or you can make your own.
There are a few other items that you will need before you can start. A good sharp pair of pruning clippers, labels, potting containers and either clear sheet plastic or plastic sandwich bags. The sandwich bags work great to create a tent over the new plantings to keep the moisture and humidity in around the plant while it forms it's new root system. All these items need to be clean and sterile.
For beginners it is best to start with softwood cuttings like flowering shrubs. The best time of the year to propagate these types of plants are in the later spring or early summer. The cuttings should be taken on a cool morning and it is better after a rain or watering.
When making your cuts do them on a diagonal. The longer the diagonal cut the better. This gives more of an area for the roots to develop from. After cutting keep them in water until ready to plant.
The cuttings can be made anywhere from two inches long to twelve inches long. The longer the cutting is the larger the plant will be from start. Make your cuts just a little below the leaf node. Then plant in rooting media and keep moist until they have developed there root system. There are rooting hormones that can be purchased that will help assist in the root development.
The best way to learn is to experiment. Try working with different plants that you have in your house or yard.It is really a very small investment of time and money with rewards that can be great. It is a fun and sometimes challenging way to grow your own plants.
Propagation
of plants can be done easily under the proper growing conditions.
Having a greenhouse
is the ideal way to propaget plants because of the ability to control
the growing conditions.
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