Stem cuttings... you get new plants in a month
Nows the time to propagate many plants. Hormone dips
can speed rooting
A simple way to get new plants for your garden is to grow them
from stem cuttings. Since many ground covers and other plants are easily mass-produced this way, you can also save money,
if you need a number of them for re-landscaping. Now is a good time to take cuttings.
The process of rooting cuttings is referred to as cloning, since
each new plant has exactly the same traits as its parent. If a plant is a hybrid (cross between two different plants), it
must be grown from cutting, rather than seed, or you won't get the same plant.
You can propagate almost anything, but some plants root more readily than others. Most ground
covers, herbs, perennials, and succulents grow easily and quickly from cuttings. Shrubs and trees are more variable and will
require trial and error. Also, a cutting can take years to develop into a large shrub or tree.
How to Make Cuttings
Collect cuttings in the cool part of the day. Make cuts 3 to 6 inches long. Keep cuttings moist
and cool in a plastic bag (ice helps); don't expose them to sun to sun or allow them to wilt. Set aside plants that excude
sticky sap (catus, geraniums) for a few hours to dry the cuts. Plant others immediately.
Herbaceous and softwood cuttings
Herbaceous plants can be propagated anytime during the growing season. Softwood cuttings (new
growth from deciduous and evergreen species) can be taken from late spring to mid-summer, depending on the plant and your
latitude. Tips should be flexible, but mature enough to break when bent sharply; avoid spindly or woody growth.
Easy to root plants include begonia, buddleia, cactus, carnation, chrysanthemum, coleus, crape
myrtle, fusia, geranium, hydrangea, lantana, sedum, vinica, and many more perennials.
Semi-hardwood cuttings
These are made from partially mature wood of broadleaf evergreens such as azelea, camellia,
olive, photinaia, pittosporum, and rhododendrum. At this stage, which occurs between mid-July and September,
growth has stopped and leaves have matured.
Prepare cuttings
Remove the lower few leaves, and any flowers or buds. Once, it was often recommended to trim
large leaves by half to reduce moisture loss. Research has shown that cuttings with a greater leaf area produce larger root
systems.
For rooting medium mix 2 parts perlite with 1 part peat moss; moisten with water. Fill the flat
or 4 inch pots and poke holes for cuttings.
Most cuttings benefit from rooting hormone. Dipped cuttings root
more rapidly and profusely than untreated ones. Powdered hormones have been availble for years. Liquid types are also available.
(Editors note: Correct
hormone strengths for specific plants should verified prior to application. Dr. Dirr's book,The Reference Manual of Woody
Plant Propagation, is an excellent reference for correct hormone strengths.)
Research shows that plants dipped in liquid hormone produce a
higher rate percentage of rooted cuttings, and more massive roots than those dipped in powders. Liquids are easier to use
and can be diluted according to a plant's needs.
