A Beginners Guide to Plant Propagation.
Plant Propagation is the creating of new plants. Plants are naturally dispersed through wind and insects, but they can be also be artificially propagated. Today we are going to look at two methods- stem cuttings and germinating dormant seeds. Propagation is a cost effective and rewarding way to watch your garden grow.
Plant Propagation is the creating of new plants. Plants are naturally dispersed through wind and insects, but they can be also be artificially propagated. Today we are going to look at two methods- stem cuttings and germinating dormant seeds. Propagation is a cost effective and rewarding way to watch your garden grow.
Source: SGA
Stem Cuttings (Vegetative Method) :
This is probably the method most of us are familiar with. It involves getting clippings from plants that are already in your garden. Its brilliant because a) you already know the plant will thrive in your garden and b) its free! By cutting from existing plants, you are making an exact genetic replica.
There are three types of cuttings, depending on the time of the year- softwood (Spring) , semi-hardwood (mid-summer) and hardwood (end of summer) .
· Always choose a stem without any flowering buds. The flowers will use up too much energy and your cutting will not thrive.
· Cut just below where a leaf meets the stem, called the node. The size of the cutting will vary from species to species. As a rule of thumb, try and cut a piece about 3” long and with a least 3 nodes on it.
This is probably the method most of us are familiar with. It involves getting clippings from plants that are already in your garden. Its brilliant because a) you already know the plant will thrive in your garden and b) its free! By cutting from existing plants, you are making an exact genetic replica.
There are three types of cuttings, depending on the time of the year- softwood (Spring) , semi-hardwood (mid-summer) and hardwood (end of summer) .
· Always choose a stem without any flowering buds. The flowers will use up too much energy and your cutting will not thrive.
· Cut just below where a leaf meets the stem, called the node. The size of the cutting will vary from species to species. As a rule of thumb, try and cut a piece about 3” long and with a least 3 nodes on it.
Source: SGA
· If you wish, you can dip the end of the cutting in a growth hormone. Did you know that honey is an organic option for root growth hormones? Make a mixture of raw honey and willow water, in a ratio of 1:3.
· Place the cuttings in some potting mix. It’s best to place the cuttings in one pot together, rather than in individual pots. Having the cuttings clustered together increases the chances of roots forming. It’s easier to do this if you have made insertions in the potting mix first with a pencil.
· Cut the top off a plastic drink bottle and place it on top of the pot with the cuttings. This will help to crate the desired humid conditions required for growth. Keep the pot out of direct sunlight and in a shaded area to avoid cooking the cuttings!
· After about 8 weeks, your cuttings should have established roots. Pull them gently from the pot. If you are met with resistance then you know that the roots are there. Transfer into larger individual pots.
Seeds
· Using seeds for propagation helps to create genetic diversity in your garden. The plants from seeds are never the exact same as the parent plant.
· Many of our native seeds, such as the Acacia, require extreme heat in order to burst. The heat of bushfires usually cracks them open and they will remain dormant until favourable conditions for germinations are present. You can mimic these effect at home . Safely of course.
· Place the cuttings in some potting mix. It’s best to place the cuttings in one pot together, rather than in individual pots. Having the cuttings clustered together increases the chances of roots forming. It’s easier to do this if you have made insertions in the potting mix first with a pencil.
· Cut the top off a plastic drink bottle and place it on top of the pot with the cuttings. This will help to crate the desired humid conditions required for growth. Keep the pot out of direct sunlight and in a shaded area to avoid cooking the cuttings!
· After about 8 weeks, your cuttings should have established roots. Pull them gently from the pot. If you are met with resistance then you know that the roots are there. Transfer into larger individual pots.
Seeds
· Using seeds for propagation helps to create genetic diversity in your garden. The plants from seeds are never the exact same as the parent plant.
· Many of our native seeds, such as the Acacia, require extreme heat in order to burst. The heat of bushfires usually cracks them open and they will remain dormant until favourable conditions for germinations are present. You can mimic these effect at home . Safely of course.
· Scatter some seeds across the top of some potting mix. Pour boiling water on the seeds. Cover the seeds with some potting mix and place a plastic bottle on top (as described above).
· After about 8 weeks, your cuttings should have established roots. Pull them gently from the pot. If you are met with resistance then you know that the roots are there. Transfer into larger individual pots.
Sources: ABC, SGA (Sustainable Gardening Australia)
· After about 8 weeks, your cuttings should have established roots. Pull them gently from the pot. If you are met with resistance then you know that the roots are there. Transfer into larger individual pots.
Sources: ABC, SGA (Sustainable Gardening Australia)
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