How to Propagate House Plants?

PROPAGATING HOUSE PLANTS – METHODS AND INSTRUCTIONS.

Propagation is a technique used to develop new plants from older ones. It is a very old technique that is used for developing new plants from the parts of old plants. ‘Cuttings’ is a very popular way for propagating plants. This method is very easy; however, it has to be carried out with proper techniques. Without the correct conditions and proper equipment, even a small technique like cutting can be tough. Propagating plants using cuttings can be even in water, but the most appropriate method would be propagated by using soil.

 

Stem cuttings:

The most popular way for plant propagation is using the stem cutting method. Stem cuttings and side stems are the prime sections that are used. They can easily grow into a new plant in water, but the best conditions they can grow in is soil. They can be used for growing leaves, flowers, etc. You have to cut just below the node. Then you can remove the leaves. Then you need to dip the cut stem in a rooting hormone that can initiate the rooting process in the propagating plant. The best seasons to grow a new plant by propagation is during spring and the summer season.

 

Leaf cuttings:

Another popular method of propagating new plants is by using the leaf-cutting method. You can propagate a new plant by a leaf cut, including petiole or just the leaf or just a part of it.

You can take the whole leaf, including the petiole. No woody stems are to be used in this. There are many ways in which you can use leaf proportion methods to propagate a new plant.

 

Root cuttings:

 For this method, you can take root and cut it to a decent size. It has to be sectioned in 2-4 inch size pieces. If you are using this method, make sure that the end of the root is placed directly into the soil, and it produces new shoots. The best period for using the root cuttings for propagating plant growth is during the wintertime when the temperature is low. It is the dormant period that prepares the plant to grow for the spring season.

 

Cane Cuttings:

Many plants are propagated using the cane cuttings. The process includes taking a stem and making it into sections of at least 3 inches. The sections should have nodes and buds. This can help the roots and shoots to propagate into a new plant. These cuttings can be placed easily on top of the soil support and then pushed deep into the half. Some even use these cuttings vertically upright, and new plants can be propagated from them.

 

Re-potting: This is another very useful technique that is used for propagating new plants. You can use these cuttings, and they can be used as potted to grow a new plant. With the leaf cuttings, you need to remove from the plantlet before you re-pot them for plant propagation.

 

Things needed for proper propagation:

When even you are using cuttings, they need good conditions to grow in. The most popular way used for plant proportion is using a polythene sheet so that it can trap the moisture and help in the growth.  There are also rooting bags that have suitable cutting soil. They can also be used with plastic propagators.

Bottom heat is also very essential for the growth of the plants being developed by the method of propagation. Providing an appropriate amount of heat helps in the root formation and its promotion.

 

Placing the cutting for the water:  Some plants can easily propagate in water than others. Though not the best way, some plants can easily grow in water than in soil. Later, when the growth is happening, you can shift it to a pot that can help in plant propagation.

 

Sowing seeds:

It is one common method that is used by most professional growers and plant nurseries. It is more of a tough technique that needs the correct environment and the proper conditions for plant growth. You can just buy seeds from stores of multiple stores and online, and they are easy to propagate to a new plant.

One has to place the seeds on the top layer of the soil in a pot with some space in between them. Then a layer of compost is placed over the largest seeds only. This creates a warm environment with the least amount of light that is given to them. When the seeds start germinating, you take the cover of the pot away and bring them into a location with light, but no contact with the direct sunlight is made.

 

Plantlets and offsets:

Plantlets are small stems that we call as stolons. Many plants produce the baby plants on these stolons. The plantlets can easily be replanted in moist soil with proper heat conditions for a new plant to grow.

Offsets are found on the sides of the main stem of multiple plants. They are also called pups. However, they have to be of reasonable size so that they can be removed to propagate a new plant. Once they have reached the appropriate size, you can just follow the process that we do in stem cuttings, and we can propagate a new plant from the offsets. For example, Aloe vera is a very common plant with multiple offsets that are used for growing a new aloe vera plant out of them.

 

So in the article above, we discussed the different techniques we can use to propagate a new plant from its parent plant. Be it the stem cuttings or the root cuttings, or even the leaf cuttings, these all can be used to develop a new plant by cutting a part of their parent plant. Offsets and plantlets can also be used by following the same method and techniques that we used In the above cuttings to make a new plant. Soil is said to be the best way where the cuttings can be sowed into for developing a new plant. Some plants can, however, grow in water as well.  However, they can only grow into a new plant when provided with the proper conditions and given the right amount of care..