plant propagation

Plant propagation

To see a tiny shoot develop into a fully-grown tree or shrub from a simple cutting is what gardening is all about.

Almost all plants will grow from tip cuttings, soft wood in spring or semi hardwood in late summer. Some more delicate plants such as Begonias, African violets and Gloxinias will grow from leaves, while other deciduous trees and shrubs, roses and magnolias grow better from dormant hardwood cuttings once the leaves have fallen.

For plant propagation, you need the following:

• Propagation mix - 2 parts coarse sand and 1 part peat moss or commercially mixed propagation mix. (Potting mix is no good as it contains fertilizer.)
• Small plastic pots, seedling punnets or trays.
• Hormone cutting powder or gel
• Sharp, clean secateurs
• Glass or plastic bags to cover the potted cuttings.

Tip cuttings

• Tip cuttings are the easiest and fastest to grow.
• Take cuttings from healthy vigorous plants only.
• Always keep the cuttings moist until you plant them.
• Cover with damp newspaper to prevent drying out until planted.
• Cut the tips at a slight angle just below a leaf node. Most cuttings are between 10 cm and 15cm long.
• Remove the lower leaves, leaving just the tip and a couple leaves at the tip of the cutting, make sure that you have at least one healthy leaf node below the surface of the soil. Roots will form from this leaf node.
• Dip the cut surface into water and then into hormone powder before planting. Make a hole in the soil with a stick before planting your cutting. This will prevent the powder from being rubbed off.
• You can strike 7 or eight cuttings together evenly spaced in a 140mm pot
• Firm the cutting into the soil and water in well.
• Always keep the pot moist but not wet.
• Place the pot into a mini greenhouse or plastic bag and put it into a warm shaded area. Most cuttings will produce roots after 4 – 6 weeks.
• Remove the plastic and allow cuttings to harden in the fresh air as soon as you see the signs of vigorous new growth.
• Don’t be tempted to re-pot cuttings too soon. The new roots are very delicate.
• If the tips of the cuttings appear to wilt the terminal leaves can be pinched out.

Leaf cuttings

• Leaf cuttings need warmth and humidity but must not be too wet or they will rot.
• Cut mature leaves with about 2cm of stem and plant at an angle of 45% into a tray of propagation mix, having first dipped the stem into rooting powder. The roots and tiny new leaves will form at the base of the leaf. The stem is for stability. Water well with a fine spray and then no more until the surface appears to be drying out. A mist of water with a spray bottle every couple of days is better than a heavy watering.
• Succulent leaves are magic. They will grow if left unplanted on an empty dish. After a few weeks, tiny plantlets will appear from the base of the leaves.

Hardwood cuttings

Hardwood cuttings take longer to shoot. The procedure is the same, but followed in late autumn.

• Take cuttings that are no more than 6 mm in diameter and 150mm to 200mm long. To make sure that you plant them the right way up always cut from the mother stock on an angle, then trim to size with a horizontal cut. This way you will know that the top of the cuttings should always be flat!
• Each cutting should have a minimum of 4 leaf nodes.
• Put the cuttings in a shaded cool area and with spring they should come to life.