To grow a new plant in a shorter time than using seeds, allows vegetative propagation, when a stalk is used for planting. This is a fairly effective method, but requires the observance of certain conditions that are well known to experienced gardeners.
Types of cuttings
There are several types of these parts of plants used for planting. Stem cuttings are parts of the stem or shoots.
The process of obtaining them depends on the type of plant. The grassy stalk breaks off with his hands. At the same time, it is advisable to capture the apical shoot. The stem cuttings of conifers are taken from axillary shoots. It must have a kidney and a few leaves. To simplify the process of rooting cuttings of plants with fleshy leaves, they must be worn for several hours. Too large leaves are recommended to trim.
A leaf stalk is a leaf with a petiole, the length of which is at least 5 cm. It must always be healthy. Leaves located at the very base of the plant are torn off, then a part of the petiole is cut with a knife. After treatment with “Kornevin,” the stalk is planted in the ground. There are garden plants that can be propagated even with a piece of leaf.
Root cuttings are obtained, respectively, from the root, cutting it into pieces of 5 cm and digging it into the ground. Sections should preferably be treated with charcoal to prevent decay.
Favorable timing for cuttings
Each plant has its own period for cuttings, when it occurs most successfully. The rooting of hardwood cuttings is best done in late May - early June. It is best to propagate lilacs, mock licks this way during the flowering period, other hardwoods - during the intensive growth of young shoots. Plants such as barberry, hydrangea, honeysuckle, euonymus, viburnum, broom, wolf, cuttings in the summer.
For conifers, it is recommended to use this type of propagation in early spring, until the buds swell, or in summer, when the period of active growth is over. Many conifers, as well as maple, linden, birch, oak and some other trees, are very difficult to root because of the large size of callus (tissue that promotes wound healing), which depletes the stalk, preventing root formation.
Harvesting cuttings
In order to reduce the evaporation of moisture from the shoots, they must be cut in the early morning or on a cloudy day. The main thing you need to pay attention to when cutting a stalk is its length and thickness. It should not be too thin. The length depends on the size of the internodes. If they are short - there should be 3-4 knots on the handle, shoots with long knots can have only 2 internodes. The average length of the handle is 8-10 cm.
The upper cut of the shoot is done above the kidney and should be straight so that the evaporating surface is as small as possible. The lower one is obliquely and lower than the base of the kidney, but not more than 1 cm. Only one leaf remains in the bosom of the kidney , the rest are removed.
Softwood cuttings secrete resin, which prevents the absorption of moisture from the soil, so it is recommended that they be placed in water for 2-3 hours beforehand, and in order to facilitate root formation, a small longitudinal incision of up to 1 cm is made on the bottom of the handle.
Propagation conditions by cuttings
Root formation depends on many different factors. This is the temperature regime, and climatic conditions, as well as some chemical processes. Rooting takes place faster when the stalk is in conditions of elevated temperature. Therefore, its lower part should be warm. But so that nutrients are not wasted at the same time on the growth of the apex, it is better to keep the air temperature low.
You can create the necessary climatic conditions for the early rooting of grassy cuttings by placing them in pots with soil and covering them with plastic wrap. Nearby it is desirable to put a container of water. Lignified cuttings easily take root in the open ground if it warms up well.
Rooting cuttings in water
This is the easiest of all methods of plant propagation. You just need to place the cut branch in a jar of water.
In many plants (but not all), the roots appear very quickly. Of great importance here is the water level. Air is needed for root formation, so if there is too much water, most of the cuttings will be without oxygen, which can cause it to rot.
It is best to pour melt water into a jar where the stalk will be. This stimulates metabolic processes and positively affects rooting. Water is not recommended to be changed frequently; it is only necessary to top up periodically.
Do not put several cuttings in a jar at once. In this case, the risk of their death is very high.
Rooting in the ground
Plants growing in nature in more arid conditions, root very poorly in water. Therefore, in such cases, a soil mixture is used. Rooting is easiest in the soil, consisting of peat and sand. You can also use individually or mixed with each other such substrates as vermiculite, perlite, coconut briquettes. Before planting cuttings, mandatory drainage is needed. For the first watering use any fungicide.
Storage of cuttings
It is quite difficult to keep cuttings harvested in the fall during the winter. They are tied in bunches and placed in wet sand or sawdust with a slice down. These bundles can be stored in the basement at a temperature of 1 to 3 ° C. If the cuttings are few, then you can put in the refrigerator. In those regions where there is enough snow, many gardeners store planting material in snow piles, under a layer of 50-70 cm. This method is especially good for stone fruit crops, since it is much more difficult to save cuttings, for example, apricot, peach or cherry. . When moisture appears, cambium is warmed up or premature budding occurs. Such cuttings are unsuitable for reproduction.