Plant Propagation by
Cuttings
Propagation
• Process of making more plants
• Two Methods
Propagation
& Cuttings
Seed
Vegetative Parts
Cuttings
- Method
of
vegetative
propagation that uses sections of
plant stems (root, stem, leaves)
Requirements
Nursery for
Cuttings
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
Good water source
Wind protection/high humidity for cuttings
Good growing media
Containers or production beds
Good plant material
Rooting hormone
 Pruning Shears
 Gardening Gloves
Materials
and
Equipment
 Pots or Bags
 Growing Media
 Rooting Hormone
 Plastic Bags
 Tape/rubber bands
 Labeling materials
 Plant Cuttings
 Should be disease free
 Free of weed seeds
Growing
Media
 Composting
 Soil sterilization
 Commercial mixes
 Examples





Compost
Washed sand
Perlite
Coconut husk
Peat Moss
1. Root
Types of
Cuttings
2.Stem
3. Leaf
 Sections of roots cut from plants that naturally
produce suckers from their roots
 Mainly used in herbaceous plants but some woody
plants can be propagated as well
1. Root
Cuttings
 Root
sections
should
contain
carbohydrates to ensure survival
enough
Thick roots are preferred
Thin roots can be used but longer sections would need
to be cut
 E.g. Passion fruit, Rose, Raspberry, Blackberry,
Lilac
1. Gently uproot the parent plant
2. Select vigorous roots that are about the thickness of a pencil
3. Cut off 2-8 inch sections close to the crown; top cut should be
horizontal, bottom cut at a 45° angle
4. Trim away any root hairs
Propagation
5. Re-plant the parent plant immediately
6. Bury the cuttings about 2 inches apart; ensure that the
horizontal cut is just below the surface of the growing medium
7. Place a plastic bag over the container and keep in a warm area
8. Remove the bag once a day for air circulation; keep growing
medium moist
9. Checks for new roots in two weeks
10. Re-plant after a month in a larger container or in the field
Advantages
- Do not need special care after propagation
- Large numbers of plants can be generated from each
parent plant
1. Root
Cuttings
- Plants are usually large and vigorous
- Plants are free from foliar pests and pathogens that affect
the parent
Disadvantages
- Cannot be used to propagate variegated plants
- Some plants resent disturbance
- Overwatering can cause root rot
 The use of non-flowering sections of plant stems to
propagate new plants
 There are four types:
2. Stem
Cuttings
Herbaceous - taken from non-woody plants; e.g. Thyme,
Mint
Softwood – prepared from soft, succulent new growth of
woody plants; e.g. Crotons, Geranium
Semi-hardwood – prepared from partially mature woody
plants just after a flush of growth; E.g. Hibiscus, Coffee
Hardwood – taken from dormant, woody stems; wood is
firm and does not bend easily; e.g. Ficus, Mulberry
Semi-hardwood
Herbaceous
Softwood
Hardwood
1. Cut a 3-6 inch section of stem from a healthy plant; use a
sharp knife or pruning shear and cut at a 45° angle
2. Ensure that each cutting has 2-3 sets of leaves and at least
one node
3. Remove any leaves from below the node
4. Apply rooting hormone to all wounds
Propagation
5. Insert the cut end of each cutting into growing medium
then lightly compact the medium around it to hold it
upright
6. Place planted cuttings in a semi-shaded area and keep
growing medium evenly moist (not saturated)
7. Check for root development and new leaf growth every 2
weeks; remove any flowers that may have developed
8. Transfer rooted cuttings to a larger container or to the
field
Advantages
- Fast and easy
2. Stem
Cuttings
- Offspring are identical to parent plant (even variegated
plants)
- Plants reach maturity at an earlier age
Disadvantages
- Lack of genetic diversity
- Diseases may be passed from parent to offspring
 Used mainly in indoor plants that have the ability
to produce adventitious roots
 There are four main types:
3. Leaf
Cuttings
Leaf-bud – cuttings consist of the leaf blade, petiole
and a short piece of stem with a bud; e.g. Rubber tree
Leaf-petiole – cuttings consist of the leaf blade and
petiole; e.g. African Violet
Non-petiole – cuttings consist of the leaf blade with
incisions along large veins; e.g. Begonia
Leaf portions – leaf blades are cut into several sections
along the main vein; e.g. Sansevieria
Leaf-Bud Cuttings
Leaf-Petiole Cuttings
Non-Petiole Cuttings
Leaf Portion Cuttings
Advantages
- Uses less planting material that root or stem cuttings
- Fast and easy
3. Leaf
Cuttings
- Best method for propagating indoor plants
Disadvantages
- Overwatering can lead to rotting
- Plants will develop slowly at low temperatures (< 68°F)
- Must be grown in well lit areas (not direct sunlight)
1. Leaf-bud Cuttings:
Propagation
Choose a plant with well-developed
buds
Cut the stem into pieces so that
each cutting has a short piece of
stem, a leaf and a bud
Split the stem in two if there are
opposite leaves
Dip the base of the cutting in
rooting hormone
Plant it in the growing medium
with the bud just below the surface
Place a plastic bag over the
container and keep in a warm
shaded area
2. Leaf-petiole Cuttings:
Propagation
Choose a healthy leaf
Cut off the leaf with about 1
inch of petiole
Place the leaf in the growing
medium at a slight angle, so
the base of the leaf is clear of
the surface
Lightly compact the mix
gently round the cutting
Water with a dilute solution of
fungicide
Place in a warm place (do not
cover with a plastic bag)
Keep the medium moist
3. Non-petiole Cuttings:
Propagation
Take a healthy leaf
Cut through a few main veins on the
underside of the leaf
Place the leaf on the surface of the
growing medium with the top of the
leaf facing upward
Hold the leaf down using small
stones or toothpicks (plantlets will
develop where the veins are cut)
Keep cuttings in a warm, shaded
area and keep growing medium
moist
Cut the new plantlets away from the
old leaf once the buds have formed
shoots;
re-plant
in
separate
containers
4. Leaf Portions:
Propagation
Take a healthy leaf
Cut the leaf into sections, each with
a main vein
Keep the sections in order so you
know which is the top of the cutting
and which is the bottom (cuttings
won't grow if you get them the
wrong way up)
Plant the lower end of each section
about 10 mm in the growing medium
Place a plastic bag over the container
to create a warm humid environment
Roots will develop on the base of the
cuttings, then buds will form
Transfer each plantlet to a new
container