Plant Propagation
Strong plants are a result of strong starts. When
taking cuttings or growing plants from seed it is
very important to provide a balanced diet from
the beginning in order to get the most out of
your garden.
Propagation is the production of new plants by
seeds, cuttings, grafting, air-layering or other
methods.
We will concentrate here on the simpler, more popular methods- seed germination and
cloning. As a general rule of thumb, a plant desires a temperature of 80 F and 80% humidity
during propagation.
Humidity domes and heating mats can be effective aides in stimulating strong initial growth.
Seed Germination
When a seed springs to life it is called germination. A seed will
germinate, or sprout, when conditions are right for survival. These
conditions include adequate moisture, oxygen, air circulation, heat,
and light.
Seeds are extremely resilient. Scientists in Russia discovered seeds
in the permafrost that germinated after over 30,000 years frozen
underground.
A seed is in a resting condition, and germination is its resumption
of growth. A seed contains within itself virtually all the materials and energy needed to ensure a
healthy start. But they can be helped with the use of compost tea or a seawater-based mineral
supplement like Earth Tonic. There are also many other rooting agents that can help catalyze
early growth.
The germinating seed sends its first root (radicle) into the soil and the first stem with the first
leaves (cotyledon) toward the sun. Some seeds require pretreatment, such as scarring or
soaking, before they will germinate.
For those looking to get a jumpstart on the growing season, or for those interested in growing
indoors year-round, an indoor grow light can be a very effective way to get your plants started
with success.
Cloning
Cloning is not as scary as it sounds. Most everyone has experienced
rooting a houseplant in a glass of water on the window sill. That’s
cloning.
Cloning helps ensure strong genetics in your plants and also
decreases the time to maturity in plants.
When a strong plant is recognized, the genetics of this plant can be
cloned to utilize the strength of the "mother" plants.
Most plants started by cloning will actually produce roots from a cutting much faster than if
allowed to mature to corresponding size from seed, saving valuable time.
Rooting gels and solutions are a good way to ensure rooting success. The more love you can
give your freshly growing plants, the better and stronger they will grow. Consider introducing
beneficial microbes from Earth Recharge early on in the process.
There are also cloning machines that enhance the process even further due to the high levels of
oxygen in the root zone. Plants actually breathe oxygen through their roots.
Step-by-step cloning:
1. Select a branch or stem that has at least 2 or 3 sets of leaves. Locate a spot on the
branch between, or next to, a set of leaf nodes where your cut will be made (leaf nodes
are where the branches come out of the stem). Leave at least one set of nodes above
the cut.
2. Make a clean, neat, 45-degree slice with a sharp blade. The 45-degree angle ensures the
most surface area for newly emerging roots. Where you cut is where the roots come
out. With this in mind, it is a good idea to submerge at least one severed node in your
growing medium or starter plug making sure to swab the entire exposure with a good
rooting gel.
3. Remove the lower 1 or 2 sets of branches,
leaving the upper sets of leaves to be placed
above the growing medium. Trim any flowers or
buds that remain. Ideally a cutting should be
taken from a vegetatively growing plant. Plants
in flowering stage take longer to root.
4. To prevent an air bubble (called an embolism)
consider taking your cutting under water,
immediately place in a container filled with
rooting solution or dip in gel. If using a gel, pour
it out into a separate container and do not dip
your cutting directly into your product container to avoid any possible contamination.
5. Keep your growing medium moist and warm for best results. Keep your growing
medium wet and expect roots within 5-7 days for soft tissue plants.