What is PROPAGATION?
Propagation is simply the multiplication of a given plant species. Two types: Sexual
Propagation, which is growing plants from seed, and Asexual propagation: Multiplying or "cloning" plants by taking a portion or "cutting" of a larger plant (parent plant) and placing it in a favorable environment in which this portion / cutting can generate missing parts, i.e. the roots in order to form a whole new plant (daughter plant). It sounds somewhat scientific but it is actually quite easy and requires little technical skill, which is part of the reason that 80% of nursery grown plants are grown by propagation through cuttings rather than by seed growing. Another very significant reason we propagate by cuttings is to consistently produce a plant with the same favorable qualities or characteristics of a parent plant! Seed growing can be unpredictable, producing plants with undesirable results.
Step One:
Step Two:
Step Three:
a) What part of the plant to cut.
b) When to take your cuttings.
c) Work sterile!
Step Four:
a) 4" to 5" sections, cutting above and below the node (at least 2 nodes).
b) Determine polarity (direction it was originally growing) make top cut angled to keep track of polarity.
c) Remove ½ to ⅔ rd of leaves from bottom half.
d) Remove any flowers (to encourage rooting auxins).
e) Dip cutting into rooting powder.
f) Place in soil.
g) Press or tamp around cutting.
Step Five:
a) Latin, common name
b) Date
c) Plant Symbolism….FOR FUN!!
Step Six:
Step Seven - Maintenance, Care and Observations:
a) Mist daily.
b) Keep out of direct sun. Filtered bright light indoors.
c) Checking and determining roothold: tug test.
d) Hardening off…. acclimation: placement into permanent home