How to Grow Roots From Plant Cuttings
A cutting is part of a stem, leaf or root that is removed from a plant and forms a new plant that looks like its parent. Cuttings can be taken from a variety of herbaceous and woody plants, but the easiest are softwood or semi-hardwood cuttings. Propagating plants from cuttings is easy and works with many types of plants. The most common types of cuttings are stem and root cuttings.
Stem Cuttings
Take stem cuttings from soft, young growth. Mature growth will have flower buds, whereas young growth will not. Plants have hormones that program them for upward growth, so take cuttings from the lower branches, which carry less of the upward-growing hormones.
- A cutting is part of a stem, leaf or root that is removed from a plant and forms a new plant that looks like its parent.
- Plants have hormones that program them for upward growth, so take cuttings from the lower branches, which carry less of the upward-growing hormones.
Cut the stem neatly just below the third or fourth leaf (about 4 to 6 inches). Never break off a stem by hand or peel back bark on woody cuttings to try to promote rooting. Ragged tips will die back and leave plants open to disease.
Make individual holes or trenches in the growing medium and position cuttings so that the planting end is touching the medium and it is firmly packed against the base.
Establishing Roots
Dispose of any cuttings that show evidence of disease and start fresh if you have to. Place the bottom of the stems in flats or small pots and keep cuttings out of direct sun until their new roots develop.
Dip the stems in a rooting compound or soak them in willow water (water that has had willow pieces soaked in it for 24 hours) overnight before planting to promote rooting. Willow water can also be used to water the new cuttings to promote root growth.
- Cut the stem neatly just below the third or fourth leaf (about 4 to 6 inches).
- Dip the stems in a rooting compound or soak them in willow water (water that has had willow pieces soaked in it for 24 hours) overnight before planting to promote rooting.
Use a well-drained growing medium. Although most cuttings will root in sand alone, a growing medium of half sand and half peat or sphagnum moss, perlite or vermiculite will work best.
Give the stems a light tug when new top growth appears to determine if they have established new roots. Once new roots have been established, transplant to larger pots or to the garden.
Maintaining Moisture
Keep the growing medium moist until new growth appears and roots are well established. Cuttings do better in a humid atmosphere.
Enclose the whole pot in a plastic bag or cut the tops from 2-liter soda bottles and place the potting medium and cuttings in the bottom of one and place the bottom of the other over the top to create a greenhouse effect.
- Use a well-drained growing medium.
- Give the stems a light tug when new top growth appears to determine if they have established new roots.
Mist frequently to increase humidity. Cuttings take about 2 to 6 weeks to establish roots.
Root Cuttings
Take root cuttings from plants that produce sprouts from their roots. Cut 2- to 4-inch pieces about as thick as a pencil or a finger from the mother plant and place them in soil in flats or pots.
Place root cuttings sideways or upright in a flat and cover with growing medium, so the tops are just below that surface.
Keep root cuttings barely moist, cover them with plastic and place them in the shade.
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References
- Bradley, Fern Marshall, ed. “The Experts Book of Garden Hints”. Emmaus: Rodale Press, 1993.
- Dietz, Marjorie J., ed. “10,000 Garden Questions Answered by 20 Experts”. Garden City: Doubleday Book & Music Clubs, Inc., 1982.
- Sunset Books and Sunset Magazine, eds. “Sunset Western Garden Book”. Menlo Park: Sunset Publishing Corporation, 1998.
Writer Bio
Kaye Lynne Booth has been writing for 13 years. She is currently working on a children's, series and has short stories and poetry published on authspot.com; Quazen.com; Static Motion Online. She is a contributing writer for eHow.com, Gardener Guidlines, Today.com and Examiner.com. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in psychology with a minor in Computer Science from Adams State College.
