Cutting Techniques Chapter 10. Cutting techniques Types of cuttingsTypes of cuttings –Stem HardwoodHardwood –Deciduous –Narrow-leaved evergreens Semi-hardwoodSemi-hardwood

Cutting TechniquesCutting Techniques

Chapter 10Chapter 10

Cutting techniquesCutting techniques• Types of cuttingsTypes of cuttings

– StemStem• HardwoodHardwood

– DeciduousDeciduous– Narrow-leaved evergreensNarrow-leaved evergreens

• Semi-hardwoodSemi-hardwood– Broad-leaved evergreensBroad-leaved evergreens– Leafy deciduous plants in summerLeafy deciduous plants in summer

• SoftwoodSoftwood• HerbaceousHerbaceous• Rhizome/StolonRhizome/Stolon

Cutting techniquesCutting techniques

• Types of cuttings Types of cuttings – LeafLeaf– Leaf-budLeaf-bud– RootRoot


• Hardwood (deciduous)Hardwood (deciduous)– Mature, firm, dormant (after leaf drop)Mature, firm, dormant (after leaf drop)– 4 - 30” cuttings4 - 30” cuttings– Basal cut just below a node & top cut just Basal cut just below a node & top cut just

above a nodeabove a node– Stick 2 - 3” into rooting mixStick 2 - 3” into rooting mix– Can wax tops or place in high humidityCan wax tops or place in high humidity

Cutting techniquesCutting techniques• Hardwood cuttings (narrow-leaved evergreens)Hardwood cuttings (narrow-leaved evergreens)

– Slow to root (make sure they don’t dry out)Slow to root (make sure they don’t dry out)– Low-growing species root easiest (some junipers)Low-growing species root easiest (some junipers)– Upright growing often difficult to root (firs, hemlock, pines, spruce)Upright growing often difficult to root (firs, hemlock, pines, spruce)– Take late fall to late winterTake late fall to late winter– Include 4 - 8” of last years growthInclude 4 - 8” of last years growth– Require high irradianceRequire high irradiance– High humidityHigh humidity– Prefer sand or peat/perlitePrefer sand or peat/perlite– Bottom heatBottom heat


• Semi-hardwood (greenwood)Semi-hardwood (greenwood)– Broad-leaved evergreens orBroad-leaved evergreens or– Leafy deciduous plants in summerLeafy deciduous plants in summer– Taken in summer after a growth flushTaken in summer after a growth flush– 3 - 6” cuttings3 - 6” cuttings– Trim large leaves to reduce transpirationTrim large leaves to reduce transpiration– Collect cutting in early morning (turgid)Collect cutting in early morning (turgid)


• SoftwoodSoftwood– soft, succulent new Spring growthsoft, succulent new Spring growth– Deciduous or evergreen speciesDeciduous or evergreen species– Taken DURING a growth flushTaken DURING a growth flush– Sometimes root easierSometimes root easier– Prone to disease and water stressProne to disease and water stress


• Herbaceous cuttings (different than softwood!)Herbaceous cuttings (different than softwood!)– From succulent, nonwoody plants From succulent, nonwoody plants

(Coleus, geraniums, mums)(Coleus, geraniums, mums)– 3 - 5” cuttings3 - 5” cuttings– Leaves kept on top (remove any that would go below Leaves kept on top (remove any that would go below

the surface of the rooting mix)the surface of the rooting mix)– Auxin usually not requiredAuxin usually not required

Cutting techniquesCutting techniques• Leaf cuttingsLeaf cuttings

– Leaf blade with or without petiole attachedLeaf blade with or without petiole attached– Adventitious buds/shoots and roots must formAdventitious buds/shoots and roots must form– Limited # of species will respond to produce shootsLimited # of species will respond to produce shoots

• BegoniaBegonia

• African violetAfrican violet

• Snake plantSnake plant

– Offsets = plants develop along the leaf marginOffsets = plants develop along the leaf margin• KalanchoeKalanchoe

• Piggyback plantPiggyback plant


• Leaf-bud cuttings (single eye or single node)Leaf-bud cuttings (single eye or single node)– Leaf blade, petiole, & stem piece with axillary Leaf blade, petiole, & stem piece with axillary

budbud– Only adventitious roots need to formOnly adventitious roots need to form– Camellia, maples, rhododendron, tropical shrubsCamellia, maples, rhododendron, tropical shrubs– Insert stem 1/2 - 1” into rooting mixInsert stem 1/2 - 1” into rooting mix


• Root cuttingsRoot cuttings– From young stock plants in late winter/early From young stock plants in late winter/early

spring spring – High in CHO’sHigh in CHO’s– Polarity is important… proximal end upPolarity is important… proximal end up– Or can lay horizontally in the mixOr can lay horizontally in the mix– Cover lightly, 1/2” maximumCover lightly, 1/2” maximum


• Ways to improve rooting of cuttingsWays to improve rooting of cuttings– Proper rooting mediumProper rooting medium– WoundingWounding

• StrippingStripping• GirdlingGirdling

– AuxinsAuxins• IBA best or a combination of IBA & NAAIBA best or a combination of IBA & NAA• K-IBA (talc or water solution) for softwood & semi-K-IBA (talc or water solution) for softwood & semi-

hardwoodhardwood• IBA in alcohol best with dormant hardwood cuttingsIBA in alcohol best with dormant hardwood cuttings


• How to prepare an IBA quick-dip!How to prepare an IBA quick-dip!– Know which form of IBA you have so you know Know which form of IBA you have so you know

which solvent to usewhich solvent to use

Ex: You want 1 liter of a 5,000 ppm solutionEx: You want 1 liter of a 5,000 ppm solution

FACT: 1 ppm = 1 mg/LFACT: 1 ppm = 1 mg/L

Therefore: 5,000 ppm = 5,000 mg/L or 5 g/LTherefore: 5,000 ppm = 5,000 mg/L or 5 g/L


QuestionQuestion: You want 200 ml of a 5,000 ppm : You want 200 ml of a 5,000 ppm solutionsolution

5,000 mg5,000 mg 5g5g

LL LL

5g5g X gX g

1000 ml1000 ml 200 ml200 ml


1000 g•ml = 1000 X g•ml1000 g•ml = 1000 X g•ml

Divide through by 1000Divide through by 1000

X = 1 g per 200 mlX = 1 g per 200 ml


• Quick-dip:Quick-dip:– 500 - 10,000 ppm (0.05 to 1%)500 - 10,000 ppm (0.05 to 1%)– Dip base in about 1/2 - 1” for 5 - 10 sec.Dip base in about 1/2 - 1” for 5 - 10 sec.– Easy, consistent, stableEasy, consistent, stable– If in alcohol… it will evaporate over time If in alcohol… it will evaporate over time

and the auxin will become more and the auxin will become more concentratedconcentrated


• TalcTalc– 1,000 - 10,000 ppm (0.1 - 1%)1,000 - 10,000 ppm (0.1 - 1%)– EasyEasy– Can be inconsistent (amount of talc adhering Can be inconsistent (amount of talc adhering

to the cutting base will vary)to the cutting base will vary)– Generally less effective than a similar Generally less effective than a similar

concentration of IBA applied as a liquidconcentration of IBA applied as a liquid


• Other auxin application methodsOther auxin application methods

– Spray on foliageSpray on foliage

– Immerse herbaceous cuttings in 50 - 250 ppmImmerse herbaceous cuttings in 50 - 250 ppm

– Soak cuttings (basal portion) in 20 - 200 ppmSoak cuttings (basal portion) in 20 - 200 ppm


• Disease prevention while taking cuttingsDisease prevention while taking cuttings– Start with disease-free stock plantsStart with disease-free stock plants– Apply fungicides Apply fungicides

• In auxin talc or solutionIn auxin talc or solution

• Drench medium after stickingDrench medium after sticking

– Clean workspace and tools with sterilantsClean workspace and tools with sterilants• Bleach (10%)Bleach (10%)

• Physan 20 or Green Shield Physan 20 or Green Shield

• NoteNote: Rubbing alcohol is not effective against : Rubbing alcohol is not effective against virusesviruses

Cutting techniquesCutting techniques• Mist systemMist system

– Intermittent mist - Intermittent mist - • Time clock and solenoidTime clock and solenoid

• ““Leaf” and solenoid (Mist-O-Matic)Leaf” and solenoid (Mist-O-Matic)

– FogFog• High pressureHigh pressure

• UltrasonicUltrasonic

– ProblemsProblems• Algal growthAlgal growth

• Water quality (pH, salts, debris)Water quality (pH, salts, debris)


• Cutting nutrition:Cutting nutrition:– NO fertigationNO fertigation– Can use slow-release fertilizers but not Can use slow-release fertilizers but not

recommendedrecommended

• Weed controlWeed control– by hand!by hand!


• Hardening-off:Hardening-off:– The process of gradually acclimating rooted The process of gradually acclimating rooted

cuttings from high humidity to reduced cuttings from high humidity to reduced humidityhumidity

– First reduce mist frequencyFirst reduce mist frequency– Finally, remove from mist, pot up and keep Finally, remove from mist, pot up and keep

in an area out of excessive sun and windin an area out of excessive sun and wind

Documents

Cutting Techniques Chapter 10. Cutting techniques Types of cuttingsTypes of cuttings –Stem HardwoodHardwood –Deciduous –Narrow-leaved evergreens Semi-hardwoodSemi-hardwood