One of the wonders of the world is how easy Mother Nature has made it to propagate baby plants from existing ones. Anyone with a little bit of curiosity and care can reproduce many baby plants from a single one. Not counting seeds, there are many different ways to propagate a plant where you will obtain the exact genetic copy of the parent.
Cuttings, in water or medium: This is the simplest way to propagate a plant and it takes little more than just snipping off a stem with a few nodes (where a leaf or stem emerge from the main stalk) and putting it into a rooting medium or water. Rooting mediums can be either perlite or a combination of perlite and peat moss. Easily rooted cuttings include coleus, mints, geraniums, chrysanthemum and other soft stemmed herbaceous plants.
Cuttings, in water or medium using rooting hormone: This technique requires rooting hormone as the propagated plant either has more of a woody stem than a soft one. Cuttings needing rooting hormone include blueberries, hollies, hops.
Leaves: Some plants, such as begonias, African violets and primrose, can be propagated from leaf cuttings resting in perlite. New plants will emerge from the cuttings.
Other methods not demonstrated: Grafting merges different plants, typically a branch from the desired cultivar and root stock from a hardy native plant, by inserting one into the other. Roses and fruit trees are commonly reproduced by grafting. Division, like its name, takes an existing plant and splits it into many different offspring. Hostas, and peonies are common examples of plants that must be divided as they grow. Bulbs/ rhizome cuttings is a reproduction similar to division when an adjunct rhizome or bulb is separated from the mother to create a separate plant. Daffodils, lilies, and irises are examples of such plants. Layering takes an existing plant and buries part of it to create a root. Once the root is formed, the branch can be separated from the mother and planted on its own. Hydrangea, most vines, rhododendron and forsythia are examples of plants that can be propagated via this technique.
General tips:
• Remove excess leaves and all flowers and buds as they will compete with root production.
• Keep moist and in a humid environment. In the summer it may not be necessary to use a plastic bag cover, which recreates a greenhouse, unless it is in an air-conditioned environment. In the summer if you use a bag, ensure that it is not in the direct sun or you will cook the plant.
• Keep watered but not overwatered.
• Once roots begin to form, transplant into soil
• Acid loving plants should be started in a medium using peat moss.
• Hygiene is very important. Use sharp and clean razor blades and knifes. Sterilize tools in alcohol.
That’s it! Go forth and propagate!
