Propagating Plants

Materials:

small pots for replanting
plant stakes
cutting mix
plastic bag or plastic wrap
gardening scissors or a sharp knife
plants for propagating
water glass

• There are several ways to propagate plants, but some methods work better for certain types of plants. Keep in mind that you should only propagate a plant that is healthy.

• One of the simplest methods of propagation is water propagation. Plants that work well for this method are coleus, impatiens and Swedish ivy. We have demonstrated with a coleus. These are commonly used outdoor plants that you can bring indoors once the growing season is over.

• Simply snip off the ends of the coleus and place in a glass of water. The roots should begin to appear in 10 to 14 days. Once the roots appear, the plants can be placed in cutting mix and watered. Now, these new plants can be used during the next growing season.

• Tip cuttings are another method of propagation. Geraniums are great for illustrating this method. Cut the plant at the tip. The stem should be about four to six inches long and have several leaves on it (figure A). Cut it with a clean blade at an angle just below the node, which is where the leaf joins the stem. Dip each end of the cut tip into a root-inducing hormone powder, which is available at most nurseries. This enables the cutting to root more quickly. Make a hole in the soil about two inches deep, then stick the stem down inside the soil so it will firmly stand up. Put a couple of tall stakes in the soil and cover with plastic.

• The most common way of propagating is to take a stem cutting. To illustrate how to use this method we are using a dieffenbachia. Other plants that work well for stem cuttings are pathos and dracaena. Simply cut the top of the foliage and chop the stem pieces into logs about four inches long. Place in soil horizontally (figure B). Place them in plastic wrap and place in a warm location. It should take approximately 21 to 30 days for the roots to appear.