Plant Propagation
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The reproduction of new plants from seeds
or vegetative parts of a plant.
Asexual Propagation
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The reproduction of new plants from the
stems, leaves, or roots of a parent plant.
No seeds are used, just portions of the
parent plant which are placed in soil
Benefits of Asexual Propagation
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Produce plants faster
Disease free stock
Works when seeds are hard to germinate
Plants produced are genetically identical to
the parent plant “Clones”
Plants with or without reproductive parts
can be produced
Less Expensive in some cases
Where Can Cuttings be Taken
From?
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Roots
Stems
Leaves
Methods of Asexual Propagation
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Stem Cuttings
Leaf Cuttings
Leaf Bud Cuttings
Root Cuttings
Stem Cuttings
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Softwood Cuttings
Herbaceous Cuttings
Semi-hardwood Cuttings
Hardwood Cuttings
Conifer Cuttings
Softwood Cuttings
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Taken from soft, new spring growth of
woody plants
Root easy but require more attention
Usually 3 to 5 inches in length
2 or 3 nodes
Cut at 45 degree angles ¼ inch below a
node
1/3 of lower leaves are removed
Herbaceous Cuttings
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Also considered softwood cuttings
Numerous succulent greenhouse plants
3 to 4 inches long
Contain several leaves
Root easily
Semi-hardwood Cuttings
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Woody, broad leaved plants
Taken in the summer from new shoots
3 to 6 inches in length
Handled the same as softwood cuttings
Hardwood Cuttings
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Prepared during the dormant season
Deciduous or evergreen plants
6 to 8 inches in length
Taken from year old wood
Form callus tissue during the winter
Develop roots in the spring
Conifer Cuttings
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Early winter
Narrowleaf evergreens
May take several months to produce roots
Leaf Cuttings
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Consist of a leaf blade or leaf blade with
petiole
Used when plant material is scarce
Used when a large number of new plants
are needed
Houseplants or foliage plants
Leaf Cuttings Cont.
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Leaf blades can be cut into pieces and
inserted into medium
Some leaves can be cut on the primary veins
and laid flat on top of the growing medium.
Leaf and petiole cuttings are place petiole
down the the medium
Leaf Bud Cuttings
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Consist of a leaf, petiole, and a short piece
of stem with lateral bud.
Must have well developed buds, and
healthy, actively growing leaves.
Insert in medium with the lateral bud just
below the surface
Root Cuttings
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Made from root pieces of young plants
During late winter or early spring
Roots are dug, cleaned, and treated with
fungicide
2 to 6 inches in length
Placed horizontally or vertically
Quite laborious
Rooting Hormones
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Material that promote the development of
roots
Applied to the bases of the cuttings
Powders or Solutions
Do not use too much, it may cause the stem
to rot
Root-Inducing Environment
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High humidity to reduce water loss
Indirect sunlight
Growing medium