From plants, there are several different types of cutting that you can take and softwood, semi-ripe, and hardwood are considered as the most common. Because these refer to how woody the plant it, you will also be able to know how old the plant stem is.
Softwood cuttings are the easiest and quickest to take root and they are also taken from the youngest part of the stem. This is the reason why it is ideal for anyone trying this for the first time.
Softwood cuttings are taken in May and June from the new growth of the plant. They root easily - between 4 and 8 weeks - but can wilt and die if they lose too much moisture, so they have to be kept warm and moist. And the best way to do this, if you don't have a propagator, is to put the pot inside a polythene bag.
In order to encourage rooting, some experts recommend using hormone rooting powder while others say it is not necessary. I have taken cuttings both using rooting powder and without using it and I have had successes and failures with both. So give it a try and see what happens.
Fuchsias, pelargoniums, hebes, lupins, hydrangeas and chrysanthemums are considered as the most suitable and easiest plants for taking cuttings.
Keep reading to learn how to do it:
Cut about half a dozen growing tips from the plant - about 4" using a sharp knife or secateurs and pop straight into a polythene bag to keep the cutting moist
You can make up a half and half mix of multi-purpose compost and vermiculite or sharp sand or you can use special cuttings compost
Using small 3" pots for individual cuttings, or a larger 5" pot is another thing you can do and place up to 5 cuttings around the edge
Each cutting should be trimmed so that the bottom is just below a leaf joint or node
You can take off all the bottom leaves and leave just 3-4 at the top and also pinch out the growing tip
If you are using hormone rooting powder, dip the bottom end of the cutting in water, then into the powder and shake off any excess
Push the cutting into the compost in the pot up to about a third of its length, and water
Use a clear polythene bag to cover the pot and make sure that the bag does not press against the leaves, and place on a bright, sunny window ledge or in a greenhouse
Check every few days, but they should not need much watering
When you see new leaves appearing, you will know that the cutting has rooted - you can then re-pot the new plant into normal potting compost
And because softwood cuttings are so easy to root, it is also possible just to pop the cut stem into a glass of water, take off the bottom leaves, pinch out the growing tip, and within a couple of weeks you will see the roots starting to grow.
Your family and friends will be so impressed when you give them plants for free so try to follow these simple steps.
Softwood cuttings are the easiest and quickest to take root and they are also taken from the youngest part of the stem. This is the reason why it is ideal for anyone trying this for the first time.
Softwood cuttings are taken in May and June from the new growth of the plant. They root easily - between 4 and 8 weeks - but can wilt and die if they lose too much moisture, so they have to be kept warm and moist. And the best way to do this, if you don't have a propagator, is to put the pot inside a polythene bag.
In order to encourage rooting, some experts recommend using hormone rooting powder while others say it is not necessary. I have taken cuttings both using rooting powder and without using it and I have had successes and failures with both. So give it a try and see what happens.
Fuchsias, pelargoniums, hebes, lupins, hydrangeas and chrysanthemums are considered as the most suitable and easiest plants for taking cuttings.
Keep reading to learn how to do it:
Cut about half a dozen growing tips from the plant - about 4" using a sharp knife or secateurs and pop straight into a polythene bag to keep the cutting moist
You can make up a half and half mix of multi-purpose compost and vermiculite or sharp sand or you can use special cuttings compost
Using small 3" pots for individual cuttings, or a larger 5" pot is another thing you can do and place up to 5 cuttings around the edge
Each cutting should be trimmed so that the bottom is just below a leaf joint or node
You can take off all the bottom leaves and leave just 3-4 at the top and also pinch out the growing tip
If you are using hormone rooting powder, dip the bottom end of the cutting in water, then into the powder and shake off any excess
Push the cutting into the compost in the pot up to about a third of its length, and water
Use a clear polythene bag to cover the pot and make sure that the bag does not press against the leaves, and place on a bright, sunny window ledge or in a greenhouse
Check every few days, but they should not need much watering
When you see new leaves appearing, you will know that the cutting has rooted - you can then re-pot the new plant into normal potting compost
And because softwood cuttings are so easy to root, it is also possible just to pop the cut stem into a glass of water, take off the bottom leaves, pinch out the growing tip, and within a couple of weeks you will see the roots starting to grow.
Your family and friends will be so impressed when you give them plants for free so try to follow these simple steps.
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