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
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Secret to SuccessSecret to Success
Timing & TechniqueTaking cuttings is pretty easyTiming is critical Based on How a Plant
Grows
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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
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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
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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
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Technique - Tools and Technique - Tools and EquipmentEquipmentTaking cuttings:
– Knife or razorblade– Rooting Hormone powders– Sterile Potting soil– Pots– Pencil or wooden dowel
Unheated propagators
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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
Softwood Cutting Step 2Softwood Cutting Step 2
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
Softwood Cutting Step 3Softwood Cutting Step 3
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
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Softwood Cutting Step 5Softwood Cutting Step 5
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
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Lab 2 – Softwood CuttingsLab 2 – Softwood Cuttings
Scented geraniumsColeusHoyaPlectranthusSwedish ivyCuban oreganoAlternatherna
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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
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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
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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
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Lab 3 – Semi-ripe CuttingsLab 3 – Semi-ripe Cuttings
RosemaryLavenderLemon verbenaSagesHyssopHelichrysum (curry)
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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
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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
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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.
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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
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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
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Lab 4 – Hardwood CuttingLab 4 – Hardwood Cutting
Grape vine
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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
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Whole-Leaf Cuttings Step 2Whole-Leaf Cuttings Step 2
Water the cuttingsAllow to drainLabelCover to prevent moisture lossShade from direct sunlight
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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
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Succulent Leaf CuttingsSucculent Leaf Cuttings
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
Succulent Leaf CuttingsSucculent Leaf Cuttings
After 1-6 months the leaves should have rooted
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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
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Root Cuttings – Step 2Root Cuttings – Step 2
Make holes in a pot 1 inch apartInsert the cuttings vertically Cover with ½ inch of mediumFirm and water
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Root Cuttings – Step 3Root Cuttings – Step 3
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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Tools and EquipmentTools and EquipmentMaintenance and CareMaintenance and CareSoil warming cablesArtificial lightThermometerPlastic wrap, freezer bags,
plastic bagsWooden or wire supports for
plastic wrap
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Tools and Equipment optionalTools and Equipment optional
Anti-transpirant – to inhibit transpiration– Wilt Pruf– No Wilt – cloning wax
Willow Water ?
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Potting MixPotting Mix
Sphagnum peat and horticultural sandFill to ½ inch of rimMoisten thoroughly, but not too wet or the
cuttings will rot
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Cutting CareCutting Care
Create a warm, moist environment
Ideal temperature is 64 degrees Bottom heatCover with glass or plastic
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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
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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
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Scientific side – How it worksScientific side – How it works
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Leaf CuttingLeaf Cutting
The leaf blade produces a hormone (auxin)The hormone accumulates at the the base
of the petiole to create a callus
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Leaf CuttingLeaf Cutting
The callus can become any kind of structure
The amount of hormone causes the callus to initiate roots
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Leaf CuttingLeaf Cutting
The roots produce another hormone (cytokinin) that is accumulated in the callus
The concentration of cytokinin stimulates shoot formation
You have a whole plant!
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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
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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
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Early Fall Cuttings - SoftwoodEarly Fall Cuttings - Softwood
Tender PerennialsSoftwood
– Coleus– Rue– Veronica– Alternatherna
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Early Fall Semi-RipeEarly Fall Semi-Ripe
Rosemary Lavender Santolina Pelargoniums (Geraniums) Lemon Verbena Dianthus Lupine Verbena Artemisia
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Suggested Plants for Late Fall Suggested Plants for Late Fall CuttingsCuttingsHardwood
– Rose– Arctic Willow– Butterfly Bush
Softwood– Persian Shield
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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