Vegetative Propagation

Vegetative Propagation

General Method

This technique is recommended when the objective is to achieve rapid propagation of selected plants especially when re-enforcing unstable areas. Vegetatively propagated plants also flower more easily and frequently than those propagated from seed.

Characteristics of the selected plant as well as the site conditions will determine the best vegetative propagation technique to use.

Stem cuttings:

Hardwood: Collect during the dormant period. Hardwood cuttings usually do not need rooting hormone treatment.

Semi-hardwood: Collect from woody tissue. Semi-hardwood cuttings should be first treated with a rooting hormone and planted soon after collecting

Softwood or Herbaceous: Collect from new shoots during the growing season and plant hormone treated cuttings immediately.

Collecting: Collect cuttings on or near the outplanting site. Cut hardwoods at an angle at the bottom to ensure that they will be planted right side up and to aid in sticking them in the ground. Generally, semi or softwood cuttings should be collected from late summer to late fall and stored in plastic garbage bags in a cool area.

Pre-planting treatments: Rooting hormone should be used on semi-hardwood and softwood cuttings as well as difficult rooting hardwoods prior to planting.

Planting: Cuttings that root easily can be planted into growth containers and later moved to the propagation site. If proper conditions apply, cuttings can also be established on site by simply sticking them in the ground. Cuttings that are more difficult to root should be first treated with a rooting hormone and planted in growth containers until roots have established and then transplant into larger containers until they have reached a desirable size for outplanting. Fertilization and frequent irrigation is beneficial.

All cuttings are susceptible to rot fungi and disease. Choose a pasteurized planting medium such as fine sand or mixtures of perlite, vermiculite, or peat when possible.