The most used reproduction technique, by far, is by cuttings . When you want to get plants grown in a very short time, what you do is cut branches or leaves, as the case may be, plant them in pots with well-draining substrates, and keep them moist so they don’t dry out.
But what is the best time to get a cutting? How is it done? We will talk about this and more below.
Index
- 1 Types of cutting
- 2 What do I need to obtain the cutting?
- 3 And to take care of them?
Types of cutting
There are 5 types of cuttings, which are:
- Woody cuttings: they are obtained from deciduous trees, in autumn or winter. The branches must be at least 1 year old and between 15 and 75cm long.
- Semi-woody cuttings: they are obtained mainly from bushes, in spring or early autumn. The branches must measure about 15cm and have at least two buds. Leave 2 or 3 pairs of leaves at one end so that it can root better.
- Tender cuttings: they are obtained from plants that have not been lignified, that is, they do not have woody stems, such as flowers. They are made in spring or summer, cutting stems that measure about 15cm in height, removing the flowers so that they do not take away energy.
- Root cuttings: they are obtained from woody plants, in spring and autumn. Roots should be cut with the thickness of a pencil, and with a length of about 5cm.
- Leaf cuttings: they are obtained from succulent plants, and more specifically from Echeveria and Haworthia, in spring and summer. You simply have to cut a whole leaf and place it lying down in a pot with porous substrate.
What do I need to obtain the cutting?
To obtain cuttings, the only thing you will need is a pruning shears or a small hand saw ; even if you just want to take tender cuttings, kitchen scissors will suffice. Of course, before using it, it is very important that you disinfect them with alcohol from a pharmacy to avoid possible infections.
In addition, in the case of woody or semi-woody cuttings, healing paste must be applied to the wound that we have caused to the plant. In this way, we will ensure that your health will not be harmed.
And to take care of them?
To take care of a cutting so that it roots as soon as possible, I recommend the following:
- As soon as you get it, moisten the base with water and then impregnate it with powdered rooting hormones.
- Plant it in pots with porous substrates , such as black peat moss mixed with equal parts perlite, coco coir mixed with 20% peat moss, or akadama or vermiculite alone or mixed in equal parts.
- Water it from time to time , about 2-3 times a week.
- Spray it every 2 days so it doesn’t get dehydrated.
- It is highly advisable that the temperature remains more or less stable , that there are no drastic increases or decreases.
- Sprinkle the surface of the substrate with copper or sulfur , in spring and/or autumn. They are natural fungicides that will keep fungi away.
Be careful if you have pets, as they are toxic to them. In this case it is better to use any other natural fungicide sold in nurseries, or cinnamon.
