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Propagation: Proper Selection of Plant Cuttings


We have had many recent inquiries about difficulty to
propagate plants from cuttings. The usual problems
relate to improper taking of the cutting.

The following has been edited from our exhaustive
discussion of plant propagation at
http:/www.rooting-hormones.com

Basics of taking plant cuttings

Plant shoot cuttings are usually taken from plant growth of the current
growing season. Cuttings may be taken from various stages of plant growth.
The range of cuttings is from succulent to hardwood. It is not possible to
state one type of cutting which is useful for all plants.

Adjust the timing to take cuttings based upon the locale.

Cutting for most plants propagated in the greenhouse can usually be taken at
any time. Cuttings from deciduous plants are usually taken in early summer.
Cutting should not usually be taken from the end of a branch nor the top
part, rather, in between. Testing and experience will allow you to select at
what stage of maturity each type of plant will root best.

Select the 'best' time to take cuttings from the stock plant

Some cutting from the same stock plant may root while others may not. There
may be a 'best time' to take cuttings from the plant. Rooting of cuttings is
affected by many variables. Some plants have different rooting ability at
different times of the year. A few weeks difference in taking of cuttings
may produce success or failure. Woody plants are especially influenced by
timing. After a certain age, often years, some plants may even have
difficulty producing cutting viable to produce roots.

Juvenile cuttings

Some plants produce better rooting when cuttings are taken from juvenile
parts of the plant. When taking shoot cuttings from the same stock plant at
the same time some cuttings may have different rooting ability. While a
cutting may be young in growth age they may be old relative to the stem from
which the cutting is taken. Physically young cuttings taken from the top of
a two year old tree branch may exhibit root initiation performance as if
they were two year old cuttings.

Cuttings taken from near the base of the plant may exhibit rooting
characteristics similar to the real age of the cuttings; months old rather
than years old. One reason may be the position of the shoots on the plant.
Current years shoots may root different from second year shoots. Shoots from
the lower part of the plant may have less sunlight than the upper shoots.
The upper shoots may be a few weeks older than the lower shoots. Younger
shoots need less stimulation, to root than older shoots; use a lower
Rhizopon AA concentration. The younger shoots require a more stable
propagation environment.

Sometimes it is beneficial to induce juvenility by maintaining relatively
young mother plants or to hedge the young mother plants. Pruning of the
mother plants should be limited since the mother plant must constantly
produce energy to produce new shoots. Change the mother plants frequently to
induce better quality cuttings.
An excellent short description of juvenile plants, taken from 'Donor Plant
Maturation and Adventitious Root Formation' by Wesley Hackett in
Adventitious Root Formation in Cuttings, is reprinted in the DISCUSSION
FORUM at

http://www.rooting-hormones.com/discussi.htm

Keep good notes

When taking cuttings it is important to keep notes. Include data such as the
number of days after a key repeatable event, such as the flowering of
forsythia to account for seasonal variation. Also note the origin of the
cutting, the time and weather when the cuttings were taken and time of
sticking, the date, etc.

Care of cuttings before Rhizopon AA treatment

Plant cuttings to be rooted should be propagated soon after being taken from
the stock plant. Cuttings of some plants may be kept fresh by keeping the
basal end wrapped in moist fabric until ready to treat and plant. Do not
keep unused cutting for an extended period. Stored in plastic, some
cuttings, such as prunus root stocks, can be kept fresh by storing in a cool
place. Keep the cuttings for a day or so in cold storage (about 40F) with a
high relative humidity (95%) to give the cuttings a good turgor. Tropical
plants are often stored at room temperature.

Wounding: notching the cuttings before treatment

Some plant cuttings, such as hardwood cuttings, root more easily if a small
notch or wound is made at the basal end before treating with Rhizopon. The
cuts often 1/2-3/4 inch long made with a 'v' cut. Tropical and other
herbaceous plants are usually not 'wounded'.


Treatment

Treat the cuttings with the Rhizopon rooting hormones according to the need
of the plant and the desired method.
http://www.rooting-hormones.com/drydip.htm and
http://www.rooting-hormones.com

Selection of media for rooting of cuttings

Different kinds of media are used for rooting cuttings of different species
of plants. The grower should select the media appropriate for the plant.
Some media variations commonly used are all peat moss, combinations of peat
with sand, all sand, rockwool, and pearlite or vermiculite with soil mixes.
When you use media, such as rockwool, which have no retention properties you
must lower the Rhizopon concentration.

regards
Joel Kroin

*************** Hortus USA Corp ***************
PO Box 1956 Old Chelsea Sta., New York NY 10113 USA
US Importer of Rhizopon Rooting Hormones
******* http://www.rooting-hormones.com ******
************ info@hortus.com ************

  *************** Hortus USA Corp ***************
PO Box 1956 Old Chelsea Sta., New York NY 10113 USA
     US Importer of Rhizopon Rooting Hormones
  *******  http://www.rooting-hormones.com ******
  ************    info@hortus.com    ************

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