Tips for Beginners: Success with Rooted Cuttings

Posted by Amos Fred on March 25th, 2019

For those who already have the facilities to begin their foray into testing their green thumb, the task should be easier than those who don’t have the initial knowledge or resources to pull it off. However, there are plenty of ways to grow your garden without necessarily having your own greenhouse. Sometimes, it all begins with a small plastic pot. Investing in a plant rooting hormone is also a good way to start growing your garden.

How to Create the Cuttings

If you’re experimenting with rooted cuttings, the first thing you’ll need is a clean pot, about six inches in size. Put in a mixture made of peat moss and perlite. Make sure that the mixture is even in distribution. Put in the plant rooting hormone at this point. You will need a clean plastic bag to hold the pot with cuttings, which you’ll be selecting in a while.

Upon selection of the root cuttings, remember to choose easy root kinds, especially if you’re a beginner. You can try five or six different cuttings in a single pot, but make sure that these each have their space to grow. Make sure that the cuttings are taken moist, rather than dry. At the same time, the cuttings should be bendable to about 90 degrees. If they are not bendable enough without breaking, then the cuttings will possibly not take root due to their condition. Make sure that the stem is also not too dark, as this will also affect the rooting process of the cutting.

To prepare the medium, mix the ingredients you’ve prepared and add warm water. Put the mix in the plastic pot and firm it until the surface is flat and has reached up to the brim. For the cuttings, make an angled cut below the leaf node. Remove a narrow strip of bark to half an inch above the cut. This will expose the layer where rooting occurs, and help facilitate the rooting process.

Once this is done, dip some of the cut area into the rooting hormone. Create a hole in the mixture you’ve made previously, and plant the cuttings. Put in as many cuttings as possible, while taking into consideration that there must be room for roots to grow. Firm the mix around the cutting.

Taking Care of Your Cuttings

Water your cuttings well. Make sure that they’re well-watered but also not too hydrated to the point of drowning the plant. Keep the cuttings in an area with good light, but not directly by the sun, as this will tend to overheat and burn the plant. Make sure that the temperature is at least 70 degrees Fahrenheit to achieve optimum growth. Getting the right heat may be tricky at first, but it’s later much more beneficial to the plant in the long run.

Leaving your plant as is should be good enough, until they have taken root. You’ll have the break for three or four months, and then you’ll need a new set of a care routine for your plants once they have already grown.