The Propagation of Landscape Plants

Materials

• The materials needed for plant propagation are simple and relatively cheap. First of all, find a pair of pruning shears that fit comfortably in your hand. Next, you need peat moss and a media component (something mixed with the dirt to promote growth). Sand is the most inexpensive media, but to produce the best results, it must be mixed with peat, Perlite, or anything similar. Perlite, on the other hand, can be used in conjunction with only peat moss to produce results, because it does not decay and is resistant to abrasion. You also need plenty of small nursery pots (1 or 2 inches) and nursery trays. Finally, to process the cuttings, make sure you have something sharp (a small box cutter or knife works nicely) and a root hormone, either in a liquid or powder form. A root hormone helps the cutting root in the dirt mixture more effectively.

Preparation

• Before actually taking and processing the cuttings, prepare your dirt. Mix together equal amounts of the media component and dirt. Add water until the mixture is completely saturated. Fill your nursery pots with the mixture and place the pots in nursery trays. Now take the cuttings from the full-grown plant that you wish to clone. Whether you take hardwood or softwood cuttings depends on the plant, but a good rule is to make sure the cutting snaps when bent. This shows that it is stable enough to withstand being separated from the mother plant.

Processing

• Processing your plant parts is the most important step in the propagation process. First, cut the plant off right below a bottom leaf, which is called a node. The cutting needs to be long enough so that at least 2 inches of the stem sticks out of the dirt. Next, strip the leaves off the cutting, leaving two to four at the top. Using your box cutter, shave a tiny sliver of bark off the bottom of the cutting. This ensures that the hormone sticks to the stem. Finally, dip the bottom of the cutting in the root hormone and place your freshly processed cutting in the dirt mixture.

Aftercare

• The aftercare of your cuttings is very important. Like any plant, they have to be nurtured. Keep them watered and in a place where there is some, but not too much, sun. When they take root and begin to grow, move them to bigger pots until they are ready to be put in the ground. Finally, don't forget to fertilize. The type of fertilizer you use is up to you: Whether you choose organic or chemical, liquid fertilizer lasts longer. To fertilize with liquid, add 1 tbsp. of fertilizer to 1 gallon of water. It is best to fertilize once every two weeks.