Raising New Plants Through Cuttings 2002

The Secret of Starting New The Secret of Starting New Plants From CuttingsPlants From Cuttings

Delta Montrose Voc Tech

Presented by Sheryl Williams

04/13/232

IntroductionIntroduction

Growing a piece of a plant and inducing it to grow it’s own roots

Cuttings are the most successful way of propagating many plants

Cuttings are an exact replica of the parent – genetically identical

04/13/233

Secret to SuccessSecret to Success

Timing & TechniqueTaking cuttings is pretty easyTiming is critical Based on How a Plant

Grows

04/13/234

AgendaAgenda

How a plant growsHow to take different kinds of cuttingsTools and EquipmentCutting CareHow it works – scientificallySuggested plants for fall cuttingsWhere to get more information

How a Plant How a Plant GrowsGrowsWoody plants need

wood to support height

New growth is soft and pliable

Several stages of ‘woodiness’

AnnualsAnnuals

Soft tissue onlySet seed and die

04/13/237

Herbaceous PerennialsHerbaceous Perennials

Soft tissue dies to the ground each yearNew soft tissue comes from the crown

Shrubs and Shrubs and Woody Woody PerennialsPerennials

Multi-trunk/stemTissue ‘lignifies’ at

the end of the growing season

New tissue emerges from the woody stems

TreesTrees

Single trunk Tissue ‘lignifies’

at the end of the growing season

New tissue emerges from the woody stems

Stages of WoodinessStages of Woodiness

All on this year’s growth Softwood – New green shoots

– Early Spring to Late Summer Semi-ripe – Stems are just

hardening– Not yet woody– Can bend but won’t snap– Mid Summer – Mid Autumn

Hardwood (Ripewood)– Hard– Late Summer - Autumn

04/13/2311

Lab 1 – Examine stages of Lab 1 – Examine stages of Growth/WoodinessGrowth/WoodinessTake a grape vine and and elm branchCut into:

– Softwood– Semi-ripe– Hardwood

Grape VineGrape Vine

Siberian Elm BranchSiberian Elm Branch

04/13/2314

Technique - Tools and Technique - Tools and EquipmentEquipmentTaking cuttings:

– Knife or razorblade– Rooting Hormone powders– Sterile Potting soil– Pots– Pencil or wooden dowel

Unheated propagators

04/13/2315

Softwood (Stem Tip) CuttingsSoftwood (Stem Tip) Cuttings

Usually in late spring and early summer from young shoots before they start to become “ripe” or woody

Soft and fleshy and easily lose moistureNeed to be kept in a close, damp

atmosphereNeed a bit of bottom heat 65-70 deg F

Softwood Cutting Step 1Softwood Cutting Step 1

Work in a cool, shady place under cover or indoors

Collect pieces of stems around 6 inches long

Choose a strong, healthy shoot


Take sharp knife or razorblade and cut each shoot below a node

Strip lower third or half of of foliage– Don’t take a strip of bark

or stem skin – Leave two to four leaves


If the leaves have a large surface

Cut the leaves to make them smaller

Limit the amount of transpiration from the leaves

Softwood Cuttings Step 4Softwood Cuttings Step 4

Treat with rooting hormone– Lower ¼ inch– Tap off extra

Use a wooden dowel or pencil to make a hole in the potting soil– If using pots should get 6 –10 in

a 4 inch pot– If using a seed tray should get 28

04/13/2320


Insert cuttings touching the bottom of the hole

Lower leaves are just above the surface of the potting soil

Firm the soil around the stemWater and allow to drain

04/13/2321

Lab 2 – Softwood CuttingsLab 2 – Softwood Cuttings

Scented geraniumsColeusHoyaPlectranthusSwedish ivyCuban oreganoAlternatherna

04/13/2322

Semi-ripe CuttingsSemi-ripe Cuttings

Taken mid summer to mid autumnWhen plant is becoming woody at the base

and tops are still soft Be sure no pests or diseases

04/13/2323

Semi-ripe Differences from Semi-ripe Differences from softwoodsoftwoodInclude heelRemove flowers and

fruitWound

– Cut away a thin sliver of bark from one side

– Score with a knife at the cutting’s base

04/13/2324

Semi-ripe Differences from Semi-ripe Differences from softwoodsoftwood

Add a layer of fine sand on the soil – improve drainage immediately around each

cuttingKeep in high humidity for the first few

daysVentilate if temperature over 75deg FWill take 5 to 25 weeks, more growth in

spring

04/13/2325

Lab 3 – Semi-ripe CuttingsLab 3 – Semi-ripe Cuttings

RosemaryLavenderLemon verbenaSagesHyssopHelichrysum (curry)

04/13/2326

Hardwood Cuttings Step 1Hardwood Cuttings Step 1

From fully ripened wood

Take 8 to 10 inches of one year old healthy wood

Bark is fully colored and firm enough not to ‘give’ when squeezed

04/13/2327

Hardwood Cuttings Step 2Hardwood Cuttings Step 2

Bottom - Straight cut below a bud or leaf joint

Top - Sloping cut just above a bud at the top– This will let you know the top from the

bottom– Any tissue above the bud will die back to the

top nodeDip in rooting hormone and tap off excess

04/13/2328

Hardwood Cuttings – If ground Hardwood Cuttings – If ground freezes Step 3freezes Step 3Store the cuttings, bundled together in a

box filled with slightly moist vermiculite, sawdust, or sand (cover the cuttings completely)

Place the box in an unheated (but not freezing) garage or shed.

04/13/2329

Hardwood Cuttings Trench Hardwood Cuttings Trench option Step 3option Step 3Space cutting 6 inches apartPress into trench to touch bottom – ½ to

2/3 of their lengthFirm soil around cuttings

04/13/2330

Hardwood Cuttings – SpringHardwood Cuttings – Spring

Takes months to form a callous at the base and then to make roots

Transplant before they break dormancy Water well in the spring and protect from the sun

04/13/2331

Lab 4 – Hardwood CuttingLab 4 – Hardwood Cutting

Grape vine

04/13/2332

Whole-Leaf Cuttings Step 1Whole-Leaf Cuttings Step 1

Cut a healthy, mature leaf Close to the base of the leaf stalkInsert in posts of equal parts peat and

coarse sandBase of leaf just touches the surface

04/13/2333

Whole-Leaf Cuttings Step 2Whole-Leaf Cuttings Step 2

Water the cuttingsAllow to drainLabelCover to prevent moisture lossShade from direct sunlight

04/13/2334

Whole-Leaf CuttingWhole-Leaf Cutting

African Violet

Succulent Leaf CuttingsSucculent Leaf Cuttings

Remove a healthy leaf by pulling it sideways

Allow the wound to callus

Leave in a warm dry place for a few days

04/13/2336


Push the based of each leaf deep enough into grit for the leaf to stand up

Label and place in a bright warm, airy position

Keep slightly moist


After 1-6 months the leaves should have rooted

04/13/2338

Lab 6 – Succulent Leaf CuttingLab 6 – Succulent Leaf Cutting

Practice even though the leaves have not yet callused

Root Cuttings – Step 1Root Cuttings – Step 1

Best if the plant is mostly dormant– mid autumn or early winter

Use pencil thick roots– If thinner make them longer– Choose those roots with lots

of buds Cut into 1 ½ - 3 inch sections Top slanted, bottom straight

– To tell the difference

04/13/2340


Make holes in a pot 1 inch apartInsert the cuttings vertically Cover with ½ inch of mediumFirm and water

04/13/2341


Place cuttings in a warm bright area– About 50 degrees or more– Not in direct sunlight– Will take 2 to 3 weeks to show growth– As growth starts water with liquid fertilizer– Often get shoots before new roots

04/13/2342

Root CuttingsRoot Cuttings

Oriental poppiesCrambe cordifoliaVerbascum HorseradishMint

Lab 7 Root Cutting of MintLab 7 Root Cutting of Mint

Water mint – Mentha aquatica

On LandIn Water

Lab 7 Water MintLab 7 Water Mint

Roots in water

04/13/2345

Roses – Softwood CuttingsRoses – Softwood Cuttings

Best for Miniatures, ClimbingEarly to midsummerCut just above a nodeCut each shoot into sectionsCut above each node along the stemRetain one leaf at the topDiscard growing tip

04/13/2346

Roses – Softwood CuttingsRoses – Softwood Cuttings

Trim the leaflets to reduce moisture lossImmerse cutting in fungicidal solutionDip in hormone rooting powderTent in plastic bagProvide bottom heat of 80 degreesReduce heat to 65-70 after 4 weeks

04/13/2347

Roses – Hardwood Cuttings Roses – Hardwood Cuttings Method 1Method 1For Miniature, Groundcover, Climbing,

Modern Shrub, Old Garden and Species roses

Late summer or autumnPrepare a trench in semi-shade 8 in deepTake well-ripened woody shoots from the

current season’s growth 12-24 in long

04/13/2348

Roses – Hardwood Cuttings Roses – Hardwood Cuttings Method 2Method 2For Miniature and ground cover rosesLate summer or autumnPlace 3” cuttings in rooting medium 3” pots under coverBottom heat of 70 degrees

04/13/2349

Tools and EquipmentTools and EquipmentMaintenance and CareMaintenance and CareSoil warming cablesArtificial lightThermometerPlastic wrap, freezer bags,

plastic bagsWooden or wire supports for

plastic wrap

04/13/2350

Tools and Equipment optionalTools and Equipment optional

Anti-transpirant – to inhibit transpiration– Wilt Pruf– No Wilt – cloning wax

Willow Water ?

04/13/2351

Potting MixPotting Mix

Sphagnum peat and horticultural sandFill to ½ inch of rimMoisten thoroughly, but not too wet or the

cuttings will rot

04/13/2352

Cutting CareCutting Care

Create a warm, moist environment

Ideal temperature is 64 degrees Bottom heatCover with glass or plastic

04/13/2353

Cutting CareCutting Care

Open plastic daily to vent– If drops of water on the plastic, punch a few

small air holesRemove any dropped leaves to prevent

diseaseRemove any cutting that has dried up

04/13/2354

How to tell when roots have How to tell when roots have formedformedWhen tips start to grow rapidly rooting has

probably taken placeLook for roots through bottom of the potsDon’t pull them out yetRemove plastic covers and allow the

plants to harden off

04/13/2355

Scientific side – How it worksScientific side – How it works

5604/13/23

Leaf CuttingLeaf Cutting

The leaf blade produces a hormone (auxin)The hormone accumulates at the the base

of the petiole to create a callus

5704/13/23


The callus can become any kind of structure

The amount of hormone causes the callus to initiate roots

5804/13/23


The roots produce another hormone (cytokinin) that is accumulated in the callus

The concentration of cytokinin stimulates shoot formation

You have a whole plant!

04/13/2359

CallusCallus

Without Callus

With Callus

Softwood (Stem Tip) CuttingSoftwood (Stem Tip) Cutting

Stem Cuttings are faster than leaf cuttings because the leaves contribute– The hormone auxin

(IAA)– Sugars and starches

through photosynthesis

6104/13/23

Softwood (Stem Tip) Cutting Softwood (Stem Tip) Cutting How it worksHow it worksThe hormone

accumulates at the basal end of the cutting

Callus and ultimately roots are formed

04/13/2362

Early Fall Cuttings - SoftwoodEarly Fall Cuttings - Softwood

Tender PerennialsSoftwood

– Coleus– Rue– Veronica– Alternatherna

04/13/2363

Early Fall Semi-RipeEarly Fall Semi-Ripe

Rosemary Lavender Santolina Pelargoniums (Geraniums) Lemon Verbena Dianthus Lupine Verbena Artemisia

04/13/2364

Suggested Plants for Late Fall Suggested Plants for Late Fall CuttingsCuttingsHardwood

– Rose– Arctic Willow– Butterfly Bush

Softwood– Persian Shield

04/13/2365

Where to Get More InformationWhere to Get More Information

Gardening Indoors with CuttingsGeorge F. Van Patten and Alyssa F. BustThe Complete Book of Plant propagation

by Graham Clarke & Alan Toogoodhttp://www.freeplants.com/

– by Mike McGroarty

Business

Raising New Plants Through Cuttings 2002