Vegetative Plant Propagation
Plant Propagation by Cuttings
Many types of plants, both woody and herbaceous, are propagated by cuttings. A cutting is a vegetative plant part severed from the parent plant that ultimately will form a whole new plant. Plant species differ when it comes to the optimum time to take cuttings (e.g., hardwood, semi-hardwood, and softwood) as well as the plant material (e.g., leaf, leaf-bud, stem and root). Some plant cuttings root anytime during the growing season while other plants only root from cuttings taken during a particular point in the growing season. Cuttings can be collected from mother plants or special donor plants for culturing in the greenhouse. Striking is the process of placing the cutting into soil or a rooting substrate. Often, propagators will say that cuttings have been “struck” to indicate that the cuttings have been placed in the rooting substrate.
Leaf Cuttings
Leaf cuttings are used almost exclusively for a few indoor plants (See Figure 25.1). The four types of leaf cuttings are as follows: 1) whole leaf with petiole, 2) whole leaf without petiole, 3) split vein, and leaf section. Leaf cuttings first must form roots and later shoots. The leaves can be placed on top of the rooting medium or can be inserted into the medium.
Whole Leaf with Petiole
Detach the leaf and up to 1.5 inches (4cm) of petiole. Insert the lower end of the petiole into the medium. One or more new plants will form at the base of the petiole.
Whole Leaf without Petiole
This is used for plants with sessile leaves. Insert the cutting vertically into the medium. A new plant will form from the axillary bud.
Split Vein
Detach a leaf from the stock plant. Slit its veins on the lower leaf surface. Lay the cutting, lower side down, on the medium
Leaf Sections
This method is frequently used with snake plant and fibrous rooted begonias. Cut begonia leaves into wedges with at least one vein. Lay leaves flat on the medium. A new plant will arise at the vein. Cut snake plant leaves into 2-inch sections.
Stem Cuttings
Many plant species are propagated by stem cuttings. For some plants, you can take cuttings at any time of the year. Stem cuttings of many woody plants must be taken in the fall or in the dormant season. There are two types of stem cuttings, depending on the location of the cut. They are discussed below.
Stem-Tip Cuttings
A common method of propagating plants is to take stem tip or terminal cuttings (See Figure 23.2). A wide range of plants can be propagated by stem tip cuttings, including herbaceous plants, such as chrysanthemums and carnations, soft wood plants, semi-hardwood, and hardwood plants. Detach a 2- to 6-inch (5 to 15 cm) piece of stem that includes the terminal bud.
Stem Cuttings
A section of the stem without leaves, but with dormant buds, is rooted in a porous growing medium (See Figure 25.3). This type of cutting is popular to use with plants that exhibit a cane-type of growth, such as dieffenbachia (dumb cane). Cuttings should be 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 cm) in length and taken from vigorous, healthy plants
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