Root Cuttings & Plants

Horseradish plants are grown from root cuttings.

Asexual plant propagation entails taking a section from a host plant and rooting it in a sterile medium. Stem, tip, leaf and root cuttings are all used in asexual propagation. The use of root cuttings generates healthy plants from small sections of roots taken from a host plant. Root cuttings work well to grow plants that generally have a long flowering time from germination, such as clematis. Root cuttings are also used for flowering shrubs, trees and some roses.

Taking Root Cuttings

Take root cuttings during the dormant period of the year, when most of the plant's energy is stored in the roots. Expose a section of the root ball, as close to the host plant as possible. Use small tools for better control so you don't damage the existing root system. Locate 2- to 3-year-old roots that are healthy and have no damage. With a sharp knife or shears, make a straight cut as close to the root ball as possible. Cut the basal end (the end farthest from the root ball) at an angle. These two cuts differentiate the top from the bottom of the root cutting. Ideally, the root cuttings should be 2 to 6 inches in length.

Storage

Bundle the root cuttings together with the proximal ends (the tops) up and the basal end down and secure the bundle with twine. Wrap the bundle of root cuttings completely in a small piece of burlap or other sturdy cloth. Store the bundles, on their sides, in peat moss, sand or potting soil until you can plant the cuttings in the spring. You may even store the root cuttings directly in the medium without the cloth wrap. The storage temperature should be cooler than 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

Planting

In the spring, dig a trench the same depth as the cutting lengths. Stick the root cuttings into the trench with the tops just below the soil surface. Space the cuttings 2 to 3 inches apart. Fill the trench to cover the cuttings and water the area well. As the growing season progresses, the root cuttings generate shoots. You may keep the new plants in the trench for the first year or dig them up and transplant the new plants in their permanent location.

New Plant Care

Transplant any root cuttings you left in the trench, into their permanent location. Choose the location for your new plants that has the same growing conditions as the host plant, if possible. Allow the plants to grow undisturbed for the next year. Mulch around the new plants prior to winter. If you wish, transplant the new plants into separate containers until they are more mature. Maintain proper sunlight and water until the plants are established.

References

• University of Vermont: Rooting Cuttings; Leonard P. Perry
• North Carolina State University: Plant Propagation by Leaf, Cane, and Root Cuttings; Era Evans and Frank Blazich
• Virginia Cooperative Extension Office: Propagation by Cuttings, Layering and Division; Diane Relf and Elizabeth Ball