With
a little practice - it is easy to produce your own little plants. And
very possible to fill your house or garden with inexpensive cuttings from friends and family.
The process of producing new plants is fairly simple - I will break down the process for indoor and outdoor plants.
Indoor Plants >>> Many plants like Aloe Vera - produce
hundreds of their own little babies (or pups) regularly from the mother
plant. Simply separate the baby from the parent and pot up in new
compost. Many plants like Jade plants readily propagate from a cutting
from the mother plant. Cut off a 4 inch stem and place the stem in a
pot of compost. For say an African Violet. Cut off two healthy leaves
(with stems) and place the cuttings back to back in a small pot. Keep
the pot watered from time to time until the plant starts to produce new
leaves. Often if one method fails - try placing the stem in a jar of
water. Leave it on a window sill and in time the plant will often
produce new roots. Pot up the plant once it has a strong root system.
Outdoor Plants >>> There are 2 types of cutting. Softwood and Hardwood.
Hardwood Cuttings :
are taken towards the end of the growing season when the plant
wood becomes firm and woody. To get a better success rate take lots of
up to 5 inch cuttings. Prepare the cutting by cutting below a node (the
place where leaves come out). Then trim the top of the cutting above a
node. Place the cuttings into a terracotta pot around the edge.
Rooting hormone is optional but not essential. The cuttings should be
ready to pot up after the next growing season in the following spring.
Softwood Cuttings :
are taken about 6 weeks after the first green shoots in spring.
So for most places softwood cuttings start in June and run for the
summer. They are taken in much the same way as hardwood, but take root
much more readily with the warmer weather. Keep cuttings regularly
watered and pot up in about 2 to 3 months.
All cuttings should be pruned regularly in the early stages to
produce a fuller more compact and healthy plant. This can be done by
pinching out the growing tips regularly. Which promotes bushier growth.
When taking cuttings - be careful not to take cuttings from Patented plants - those which are trade marked. These require a licence from the producer to propagate.
Bearing in mind the above - have a go at propagating any plant that takes your fancy. There will be quite a few failures - but with time and practice you will get better. Propagation - is far easier than you think - by putting what is effectively sticks into a pot - you will have an abundance of new plants for your landscape - at little or no cost.
Have a go and start making new plants.
Sage.
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At Kingdom Plants - I propagate a wide selection of indoor and outdoor plants. I pick those plants that are a bit different - or which are attractive in a landscape. I have found that I am able to provide plants to enhance customer gardens - and to sell to the public. With some practice you can propagate many plants in your back yard or garden. In most cases - without the need for a greenhouse.
Feel free to contact me - and I will provide a list of plants I am currently propagating for sale.
