During this time of nearly endless price increases, it’s nice to know that you can grow more of your plants for free. That’s the magic of plants and there are many methods to do this: seed propagation, cutting, layering, division, grafting, budding and tissue culture techniques.
Today’s article will focus on the popular method of taking stem cuttings from your favorite tender plants, shrubs and herbaceous perennials.
Taking a plant cutting simply involves making a clean snip just below a leaf node (the point where a leaf attaches to the stem), removing the lower foliage to redirect energy and placing the stem in either water or moist soil to encourage root growth.
Following are the specific steps:
• Pick a healthy, green stem (4-6 inches long) with new growth and at least three leaf nodes. Avoid stems with active flowers or buds as you want the plant to focus its energy on rooting not blooming.
• Using clean scissors, cut the stem at a 45-degree angle just below a leaf node to maximize surface area for roots to grow.
• Remove two thirds of the lower leaves leaving a few leaves at the top.
• Root cuttings in water or a well-draining potting soil, keeping it consistently moist but not waterlogged.
• Place the cutting in an indirect light location. Ideal temperature: 75 degrees.
• Cover with a plastic bag to maintain high humidity.
Roots typically develop in a few weeks and can then be transplanted into a larger pot with regular potting soil. For more info go to: https://ucanr.edu/sites/default/files/2022-01/362563.pdf.
Our Madera Master Gardener Propagation Team will be starting cuttings from the 3 Sisters Garden this month to sell the plants in October at our Fall Festival (date to be announced soon).
Once again, if you are interested in becoming a Master Gardener, please go to https//link.ucanr.edu/MADERAMG for more information or stop by the 3 Sisters garden at 30277 Ave. 12, in Madera, any Tuesday morning and we would love to answer any of your gardening questions.
Happy gardening!