Stem Cuttings

Take cuttings with a sharp knife or razor blade to reduce injury to the parent plant. Dip the cutting tool in rubbing alcohol or a mixture of one part bleach and nine parts water to prevent transmitting diseases from infected plant parts to healthy one.

Stem Cuttings - Using Hormones

This is the most common and easiest way to propagate plants because numerous plant species are propagated by stem cuttings. Some can be taken at any time of the year, but stem cuttings of many woody plants must be taken in the fall or in the dormant season.

  • Prepare the soil first - 20% peat, 20% sand, 60% decomposed bark. You want a lot of air in the soil.
  • Detach a 2 to 6 inch piece of stem, including the terminal bud. Make the cut just below a node. Remove lower leaves that would touch or be below the soil. Remove flowers and flower buds from the cuttings to allow the cutting to use its energy and stored carbohydrates for root and shoot formation rather than for fruit and seed production.
  • Using a pencil or a screwdriver, make a hole into the soil. This helps keep the rooting hormone from coming off the cutting when it is placed into the soil.
  • Use powder rooting - Such as Rootone. Take our a small amount of the powder and put it into a small vial, bag, or glass, etc. (You do not want to dip the wood directly into the container of rooting powder because it could spread diseases throughout the entire rooting powder container) Dip the wood into the powder, making sure the entire bottom of the wood is completely covered with the powder.
  • Gently tap the end of the cutting to remove excess hormone. Then place the cutting into the hole in the soil.
Why use a rooting hormone? To hasten rooting and increase the number of roots.

OR

Use liquid rooting - Such as Dip and Grow. Just as is recommended for the powder hormone, do not dip the wood directly into the entire liquid container. Take some out of the container and use a small part of it. Place the cutting into the liquid for three seconds. Then place the cutting into the hole in the soil.

  • Water the cutting. You do not want the soil dripping wet. In a pot, do not over water, but you do not want to let the plant dry out.
  • You need to keep misting the plants throughout the day. All you want to do is keep the leaves from getting dried out.
  • Place the stem in bright, indirect light.
  • Once you see roots, stop watering so much because it will get root rot.