How to Root Plants from Cuttings

Posted by Amos Fred on May 30th, 2019

Gardening is one of the purest joys we can have in this world. After all, we are surrounded by plants and life on this planet survives because of them. For someone who loves to garden, there are different techniques to propagate your favorite plants. One of them is rooting plant cuttings. This is considered one of the simplest methods anyone can try, regardless of your expertise.

When it comes to rooting plant cuttings, you need to consider one crucial factor: the type of plant. It determines when you should cut it, where, and how. Depending on what kind of plant you’re trying to propagate, you will decide on how to do it: softwood cutting, semi-softwood cutting, and hardwood cutting.

From their names, you can have an idea when you can cut the plants. For softwood cutting, the perfect time is when the plant is not starting to harden yet. This is used in most plants. Semi-softwood cuttings are usually done in summer when the plant is almost mature. And lastly, hardwood cutting is done when the plant is grown and woody.

Steps on how to root plants from cutting

1. Select a healthy plant

This is a critical step since you can’t just pick any plant and expect it to live. You need to ensure that you’re cutting from a healthy plant for it will provide healthy tissues which are ideal for propagation.

2. Make a clean cut

Once you have the plant already, make sure that the blade you’re using is sharp enough to make a clean cut. Avoid as much damage as you can. You should also remember to clean it before using it on your precious plant.

3.  Potting mix

Prepare a potting mix that’s moist enough to promote root growth, but make sure that it is not too wet because your cutting might rot. It’s advisable to use potting mix without soil. If you’re using root stimulator for plants, dip it in the powder or submerge it for a few seconds. To put the cutting into the potting mix, use a pencil to dig a hole. You can insert the cutting up to one inch. Once it is in, press the surrounding potting mix to provide more support.

Should you use plant rooting powder?

Many experts suggest the use of root powder for plants to make it propagation much easier. However, it’s imperative to note that there are some plants which can’t benefit from it. If you decide to use it, make sure that you’re doing it correctly because there are cases where they can cause harm to your plant.

The following are ways to use rooting hormones properly:

• Use the right rooting hormone concentration
• Follow instructions – some are ready to use root powder, some are concentrate
• Don’t submerge your plant too long; it can get damaged
• Don’t use rooting hormones on mature plants; they are for propagation only.

Rooting from plant cuttings is easy, and if you do all the steps right, you will be propagating your favorite plants in no time.