How to Make Plant Cuttings

Taking plant cuttings, also referred to a taking a slip from a plant, is a quick and inexpensive way to propagate houseplants, shrubs and trees. Once rooted, the cutting results in a plant identical to the parent plant making it easy to add new plants to your landscape or home without the added cost of purchasing them at the nursery or waiting for seeds to germinate and seedlings to mature.

Things You'll Need

• Garden clippers Sharp knife/razor blade Rooting hormone Potting mixture Plastic bags

Instructions

1. Determine the type of stem cutting you will be rooting. Herbaceous plants, those that die back to the ground in the fall, require a short section of stem taken at any time and can usually be rooted easily in a glass of water. Softwood cuttings are taken from woody plants and shrubs in late spring or early summer when new growth is still pliable. Hardwood cuttings are taken in fall, winter or early spring when the plant is dormant.

2. Cut a 4 to 6 inch segment from the tip of a branch. Remove all leaves on the lower 2 inches. Remove any buds or flowers. Place herbaceous cuttings in a glass of water and place in an area that receives filtered lights. Roots will form quickly, sometimes within a few days.

3. Prepare softwood cutting by removing lower leaves, buds or blooms. Pour a small amount of rooting hormone onto a paper plate or in a disposable cup. Insert the bottom 2 inches of softwood cuttings into the rooting hormone. Place in seed starter or potting soil. Keep soil evenly moist and watch for new growth. Test for root formation by tugging the cutting. If it resists your efforts, roots have been established.

4. Remove the outer bark on one side of hardwood cuttings by slicing with a sharp knife or razor blade on the bottom two inches of the branch. Dip or roll in rooting hormone. Shake or tap to remove excess rooting hormone. Place in growing medium. Cover the pot with a clear plastic bag to maintain humidity and encourage rooting. Place in a warm area out of direct sunlight. Remove the bag and move to a sunny location when roots have become established.

References

• New York State University