How to Grow Plants from Cuttings
Plants can be grown from the seeds or from the cuttings as well. Monsoon and spring seasons are considered as the best season for plant’s propagation. If you want to prepare a plant from cutting, then this is the most suitable time.
In this article, we will cover all the important points such as:
What is plant propagation from cutting?
Benefits of planting from cutting
Best time for planting from cuttings
How and where to take cutting from the plant?
What is plant propagation from cutting?
It is a method of plant propagation, in which plant parts such as root, stem or leaf are separated from the plant and placed in a suitable environment, so that it can give birth to new plants.
Benefits of Planting from Cutting
1. Cost next to nothing
Growing plants from cuttings is a best way to fill your garden with lush flowers, herbs, and other plants without spending any money.
You can prepare cuttings of most plants at home without any cost. They can be borrowed from any friend or relatives.
Generally, cuttings of many different plants are available in your surroundings only. So, cuttings are more easy to find and it costs nothing.
2. Immediate availability
Sometimes, when people are on a trip, they come across different plants. So, regardless of their seed or searching for new plants, it is better to take cuttings of the plants they love. The same new plant can be grown by cutting the old one.
3. Best time for planting from cuttings
Best time to grow any cutting is the growing period of that plant.
Spring and Rainy seasons are considered the most approachable seasons for gardening.
Moreover, the rainy season should be given more preference because during this time the environment holds humidity also which locks the moisture in air.
Moisture in air acts as a catalyst for the growth of the cuttings. In the spring season, cover the plant with any plastic to block the moisture in it.
4. Selection of cutting
Selection of cutting matters a lot because “as you sow so shall you reap”. Always draft a healthy plant to take a cutting.
It should not be contaminated with any diseases, bacteria, or fungus.
Never choose any weak plant because firstly the cutting of weak plants would not grow or any shaky plant would come out.
5. How to take cutting from the flourishing plant?
Always hunt for the cutting having 2-3 nodes (joints) in it and make a cut just above the node. Cuttings can be divided in two categories:
1. Soft Stem Cuttings
For soft stem plants (like Jade plant or any pothos), just take cuttings from the healthy plant with 2-3 nodes.
2. Hard Stem Cuttings
In hard stem plants, select the stem for cutting approximately like the thickness of Natraj pencil.
If the stem is too thick- More thick stems would take more time to emerge the roots and the growing period of a particular plant might get over.
If a too thin stem is taken then it might punch towards decaying.
6. Perfect Soil Mixture
A perfect soil is required to grow plant from cutting. This mixture consists of :
Pure river sand ( can be taken from any construction site)
Vermicompost
Perlite (organic compound and holds water also)
Note:
Vermicompost and sand should be taken in equal quantities whereas perlite (easily available at any nursery) should be half of sand. Mix all three properly.
If this mixture is not available at any point then keep the cutting in water for sometime ( do not let it get dry) and after that shift the cutting in the above mixture.
How to raise the Cuttings?
Remove all the leaves from the cuttings.
If all the leaves are removed from the stem then this stem would spend all its energy to get the new roots. Leaves can be removed by using a pruner.
Keep the upper side and bottom side of stems intact and remember while placing it in the soil mixture. Sow the chopped side of the stem in soil.
Avoid using any plastic bag or weak container to grow the cutting.
Always use good quality pots (ceramic, clay or plastic pots) so that cutting would get proper alignment and support to grow.
Moreover, cuttings take 1-2 months to grow so the durability of pots matters here. Weak pots might break down in between during the growing phase and repotting of the plant would disturb the cutting.
Now fill the pot with the soil mixture and add water, so that mixture would settle down.
Apply the rooting hormone on the part of the cutting which will go inside the soil. Rooting hormone helps the stem to release the roots fastly and it is easily available in the market.
Sow the cutting 3 inches deeper inside the soil and keep 3-4 inches above the soil. Make sure at least 2-3 nodes go inside the soil to root out properly.
All the plants can be grown from cuttings and some can be grown from the leaves also.
How to take care of cutting after sowing?
Cuttings do not require direct sunlight, it might dehydrate the stems. Moreover rain water also should not fall in them directly, stems are weak they would come out by the force of rain water. Keep the cutting at the place where there is enough bright light.
Check the soil every 3-4 days by touching it with your hand. If it is dry then give water but in less quantity. Water should not come out from the bottom hole. Moisture should be maintained with nothing more than that.
Time taken to grow the roots is different for every cutting. Keep on monitoring your cutting patiently. Some cuttings might grow within 15-20 days or others might take 2 months time. Do not disturb your cutting again and again. Keep a watch very patiently on it and the results would be fruitful.
Always grow 3-4 cuttings of one plant so that you get at least 2 cuttings propagated.
Sow your cuttings and see the amazing results without any expense.
It was all about cuttings and its propagation.
Happy planting & Gardening!
Must watch video on Cuttings Tips/ Plant propagation tips