Propagating a plant

There are all sorts of plants that can be propagated, either by seed or by cuttings. After all, if a plant can’t propagate, how can it exist? That doesn’t mean that it’s practical for every plant species to try to propagate it yourself. But a great many plant species can be propagated well by applying appropriate techniques.

Main ways to propagate

Cuttings are often used to propagate plants. In principle, an existing plant is taken, and it is partly split off, be it via the head or a branch or a leaf, etc. And that split is specially cared for so that it will take root and grow on its own. Such a cutting product is called a cutting or cuttinglet.

Head cuttings

Head cuttings are done by taking a shoot from a plant (called the 'mother plant') from the head of the shoot, 10 - 20 cm long. Then it is wise to remove the leaves from the bottom of the shoot to the middle, for a better energy distribution for the survival of the shoot. It can help to make notches along the bottom of the shoot with a knife. These 'wounds' ensure that the shoot reacts by creating new roots.

It is recommended to do this in the fall, because the sap flow is less then, which makes it easier for the plant to survive. It is also most effective to take the shoot from a plant that has not yet grown, but is still in the growth phase.

Place the processed shoot in a small pot with slightly moist cutting soil and press it down gently. Ensure an ambient temperature of about 20 degrees, and avoid bright sunlight. It takes about 4 weeks for the cutting to develop its roots and be ready to be repotted.

Stem cuttings

Stem cuttings are very similar to head cuttings, except that there is no head on the stem. It is important that a sturdy developed shoot is taken, half a cm thick. This is the most popular way of cutting in the cutting trade.

Leaf cuttings are also often used

There are types of plants that can propagate themselves by cutting a leaf or part of a leaf. Then roots grow from the leaf. Below is an overview of the different ways to cut through a leaf

Leaf of young plant in soil

This exceptional cutting method is only valid for a few plants. It is done by taking a leaf from a young plant and sticking it in the ground. A new plant will then develop that at a certain point separates from the 'mother plant'. From that moment on it has become a fully fledged new plant.

Leaf cutting of leaf with stem