Planting your favorite herb can often be a true satisfaction. Still, this may turn out to be a complicated process and sometimes get on your nerves.
The procedure of planting repeats itself and the waiting process is always a pain in the neck.
However, if you prepare by doing solid research and background on the planting process, you will succeed in it with flying colors. Researchers have been discovering new and upgraded ways to do the planting process easier, and we list the m all below.
If you decide to grow plants from cuttings, you will speed up the process significantly, instead of just going through with the planting from scratch or with seeds.
Growing plants from cuttings will enable you to have the same plants you had before, which will this time around, grow stronger and faster. In case you go with seeds planting or planting from scratch, you expose the plant to failure in growth or providing less fruits.
Cuttings are more popular than seeds, since you get to replicate and replant the very same healthy plant you already planted. You can always exchange cuttings with your friends and ease the planting process tremendously.
In some cases, the plants do not have seeds, so cutting is the only option.
If you want to grow plants from cuttings, you have to pay attention to the following:
The types of cuttings
The process of rooting the cuttings
The list of plants which you can grow from cuttings
Types of Cuttings
Certain plants and herbs can be grown from various stem parts, or even the root or leaves.
Hardwood cuttings: these cuttings are picked in fall and winter and should be ready by spring. You can take them from woody and mature stems, and the preparation process starts once the shrubs begin shedding leaves.
If you do this right, by spring, your plant will grow enough roots to be planted.
Softwood cuttings: these cuttings are taken from newly grown stems and are kept until they grow a root, which happens quickly. The best time to take these cuttings is in spring and will be ready for planting in the same period next year.
Semi-ripe cuttings: these cuttings are a combination of the first two. In this case, the roots need more time to grow, so the best time to take these cuttings in summer and the warmth will help them grow.
Heel cuttings: to take these cuttings, you need an old and mature root, mostly from the parent plant.
Tip cuttings: these cuttings are meant for plants that are still growing, so the growing tip (about 6 to 8 inches) is taken.
Basal cuttings: to take these cuttings, they have to be 6 to 10 inches long and cut as close to the main stem as possible.
Leaf cuttings: some plants, such as the succulents, provide cuttings from their leaves, and other plants like begonias and snake plants, provide cuttings from the stem.
Stem sections: cane-forming plants are sometimes grown from their long stems. When taking cuttings, make sure they are even, and make sure you recognize the root.
Root sections: certain plants offer better root cuttings instead of stem cuttings. Such plant is the Californian tree poppy or the sumac.
Rooting the Cuttings
Once you have collected the cuttings, you have to initiate the rooting process. In some cases, like with the fleshy stems, you have to keep the cuttings a couple of days just so you can form a callus or woody cuttings- remove the outer layer, so you can expose the cambial tissue completely.
When your cuttings are ready, the one thing you need to be mindful of is to keep them moist. To do so, combine sand or perlite and peat moss- this will keep the cuttings moist.
Also, fertilizers are not recommended and the same goes for garden soil. By covering the pots, you will enable the cuttings to grow in a humid environment and enable them to grow faster.
Still, it is important to know that while moisture is relevant, drainage is too. So, if you grow roots in the water, they may become fragile and you have to handle them with caution.
When you are growing a plant that needs more time to root, you can use hormones, but not fertilizers.
Below you can find the list of 20 plants which are easier to grow from cuttings:
Lavender: it is usually grown from tip cuttings, around 3 inches, and you have to root it in a cold frame. When this is done, around 4 to 6 weeks in, you can transfer it to garden beds.
Rosemary: if your rosemary plant is new, you’ll need tip cuttings taken in the spring or basal or heel cuttings taken in fall, also rooted in cold frames. The cuttings should be taken in separate pots, and to be covered with plastic dome- this will prevent the rosemary plant to grow uncontrollably.
Rose: to grow this plant, you’ll need the hardwood cuttings, and take them in fall. Also, these cuttings require plenty of watering during the winter.
Thyme: for this plant, you’ll need tip cuttings and take them in the summer, which should later be transferred in a moist potting medium.
Comfrey: this plant grows from root cuttings, taken in spring or fall. The parent plant provides the root cuttings, which are later planted in worked bed and covered with mulch.
Basil: basil can either be grown from seeds or from tip cuttings. You can take these at any time of the year and store them in a warm room, away from the sunlight.
Snake plant: one snake plant can provide you with numerous cuttings. Just take 2 to 3 parts of the leaf to grow new plants. These new plants won’t possess the original variegation and to keep this you have to plant parts of rhizomes.
Holly: the female bush provides the cuttings, which are taken in fall. You’ll need to dip them in hormone powder and place them in a pot that has a moist rooting medium. The pots are kept at room temperature.
African violets: to grow this plant, you’ll need the young leaves of the leafy stalk. Use chopstick to make a hole at the angle of 70 degrees. Then, place the stalk in a tray of moist compost and sand. Keep plant in a sunshine exposed place.
Geranium: the best way to grow this plant is through the parent plant. Take long cuttings which should root after 12 hours of watering the parent plant.
Fuchsia: spring is the best period to take cuttings from 3 pairs of leaves. Place them in a moist mixture of compost and sand and cover it for warmth. Summer is the best time to plant them so they begin to bloom.
Sage: to grow this plant, you will need semi-ripe basal cuttings taken in fall. Make sure to keep them in medium warm and moist area. Plant them in spring.
Californian tree poppy: December is the best month to take cuttings from this plant, and you’ll need 3 inch sections from the roots. Place these in a tray of moist mixture from compost and sand. Plant cuttings outside during the summer.
Horseradish: you will need 3 inch parts from the root, taken in spring. Plant them in your garden a foot apart.
Weigela: Weigela needs softwood or semi-ripe cuttings taken in spring or early summer. You can also take hardwood cuttings in fall. Plant softwood cuttings in fall, or hardwood cuttings in the spring that follows.
Hydrangea: To plant this you will need tip cuttings with 3 to 4 leaves. Remove the lowest pair, trim the stem closer to the node and place it in a moist rooting medium under plastic sheets.
Aluminum plant: this plant is grown just like the Hydrangea. Take tip cuttings, trim them well and keep the cuttings moist.
Dumb cane: take leafy heads and let them form a callus for a day or two. Place them in separate containers, and keep them in a warm and bright place. You will need bare canes, 2 inches above the soil and separate them into 3 inch sections in trays. The trays have to be full of compost and peat. Make sure they are covered until the shoots grow over the soil line.
Chinese evergreen: use tip cuttings, and place them in a moist mixture of compost and sand. You have to make 3 inch sections of the stem.
Then, place them horizontally in a tray full of moist sand-peat mixture and cover them partially with sand. Seal with transparent plastic. If you have new plants, place them in separate pots.
Philodendrons: grow this plant by using tip cuttings with 2 to 3 nodes. This plant can sometimes grow from the tip and sometimes from the root. You can also use 2 to 3 nodes, which will take longer period of time to grow.
Source: www.dietoflife.com
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