For a gardening enthusiast, what can be more interesting than propagating numerous plants from a single parent plant. We all are accustomed with growing new plants from seeds. No doubt, seeds are one of the most versatile means for producing new plants. However, the major drawback of seed propagation is that some species of plants either do not produce seeds or majority of the seeds are not viable. In such cases, propagating plants from cuttings can be the ideal choice to produce new saplings.
Propagating plants by cuttings is categorized under the asexual mode of reproduction. Over here, new plants are produced from an established plant by cutting, not by fertilization of male gametes and female gametes. Certain parts of the plant can be used for cutting purpose, which are mentioned below:
Stem Cuttings
Stem cuttings can be taken from the main stem or the side branches of the plant. Different types of stem cuttings are:
- Herbaceous Cutting - Houseplants like chrysanthemum, rhododendron and geranium are propagated by herbaceous cutting. For this type, rooting is easy and the growth phase has nothing to do with root formation. So, you can make stem cuttings at any time, when the plant is growing actively.
- Softwood Cutting - This cutting is made from the new stem growth of the current season and is easy to promote rooting. Deciduous shrubs like lilac, plum, rose and forsythia are propagated by softwood cuttings.
- Semi-Hardwood Cutting - Broad-leaved evergreens like azalea, camellia, olive, citrus and holly are propagated by semi-hardwood cutting. This method refers to cutting made from the stem growth of the current season, when the stem is not completely mature or hard.
- Hardwood Cutting - Over here, the hard stem of the previous year is used for propagation. Hardwood cutting is taken at a specific time of the year, particularly during winter when the plant is inactive or dormant. Deciduous and narrow-leaved evergreens like privet, honeysuckle, quince, grape, cypress etc. are propagated by the hardwood cutting method.
Leaf cuttings can be made anytime from the plant. A healthy and disease free leaf is cut smoothly from the plant, which is then used for generating a new plant. Unlike stem cuttings that require only rooting, both shoot development and root formation are necessary in case of leaf cuttings. Not all plants can be propagated by means of leaf cutting. Rather we can say propagation by leaf cutting is successful for a few plants like houseleek, rex begonia and sansevieria.
Root Cuttings
Plant propagation by root cuttings is also limited to a few species of herbaceous plants, shrubs and bushes and trees. Examples of plants that can be propagated by this method include raspberry, blueberry, globe thistle and acanthus. First, healthy roots of specific size (approximately the diameter of a pencil) are exposed and cut in sections of about 1 - 3 inch in length. In order to avoid confusion while placing the root cutting in growth medium, the first top cutting should be made flat and the bottom cutting should be diagonal.
The cuttings made by the above methods are placed in favorable plant growth media, so as to promote quick rooting, stem growth and leaf development. Based on the type of cutting, you can use a specific growth medium. For example, it is essential to promote root development in stem cuttings. So, in such a case, you can opt for root growth medium and vice versa. Having a brief knowledge on propagating plant cuttings will guide you to successfully grow the cuttings in the soil.
