How Long Does It Take to Root Vine Cuttings From Passion Flowers?

Taking Softwood Cuttings

• Softwood cuttings are taken from new growth in the spring once new growth has appeared. On a vine such as the passion flower, Floridata.com recommends stout shoots taken from the base of the plant as preferable to skinny, lankier ones. If you can find such a shoot that is about 4 to 6 inches long, remove it with a sharp, clean pair of pruning shears or a small knife.

Taking Nodal Cuttings

• Nodal cuttings are made at the leaf nodes. Nodal cuttings are a wise choice if you want to make several cuttings from one section of vine. Nodal cuttings are easily measured in the number of leaves, each leaf representing a node. Cuttings should be two to three nodes in length, according to the Passiflora Seed Company. If, during pruning, you remove a large section of vine, you can segment it into nodal cuttings. Leave only one set of leaves on a nodal cutting.

Rooting the Cuttings

• Use either one 6-inch pot or several small, individual pots to root your cuttings. Dip the end of each cutting in rooting hormone, a natural powdered hormone that encourages root growth. A variety of soil combinations can be used when rooting cuttings: sand and peat, sand, compost, garden soil, and vermiculite or perlite. Whichever combination you choose, be sure the medium is very well draining. Stick the cuttings about ½-inch deep in the medium and cover them with a piece of plastic or a plastic bag with holes punched in it for ventilation. If there's a chance the cuttings might touch the plastic, use small twigs, toothpicks or chopstick segments to support the plastic. Place the cuttings out of direct sunlight.

New Growth

• In about a month the cuttings should begin rooting. Give them a small tug to see if they've put down roots. When you're certain the cuttings have rooted, they can be planted outdoors. The quicker they go outdoors, the sooner they get started on establishing a strong, permanent root system and the better chance they'll have at surviving the winter.