Propagating
Houseplants
Ever fancied creating
more of your favorite house plants? Then why not try propagation!
Although the term ‘propagation’ can sound technical and
terrifying to the uninitiated, don’t panic - it’s not
as difficult as it sounds. Put simply it is merely the act of reproducing
plants and is a satisfying task that anyone can have a go at.
There are various ways
of propagating, depending on the type of plant in question and the
method used. If seeds are taken and planted, then it is classed
as sexual propagation; this takes longer and the final quality cannot
be guaranteed. Asexual propagation, however, is where copies of
the parent plant are produced through various means and is far quicker
than using seeds. Some of the main ways of using asexual propagation
are through leaf and stem cuttings, offsets and dividing.
Leaf Cuttings
Some plants, such as African Violet and Peperomia, grow well from
leaf cuttings. Take a single leaf and place in compost. New roots
and leaves will form over time at the base of the leaf.
Stem Cuttings
Stem cuttings work well with many plants, such as Geranium, Busy
Lizzie, and Fuchsia. Find a node the small bump below a leaf and
cut slantwise a few inches from the stem tip. Remove all leaves,
except for those at the tip. If possible, dip the end of the stem
in rooting hormone before planting.
Offsets
Many plants produce their own ‘offspring’ that can easily
be removed from the main plant to create new ones. Examples include
tuberous plants such as Achimenes, succulents, Cacti, Zebrina, Bird’s
Nest Fern and some Ivies.
Dividing
Dividing is ideal for plants that grow fast or become bushy and
have stems at their base. Remove the plant from the container then
gently pull apart, or use a knife if necessary, to form two or more
plants, then re-plant. Ideal candidates for this are things such
as Spider Plants and Umbrella Plants.
For all methods, except
for dividing, put the cuttings in damp compost, covered with a plastic
bag and place out of direct sunlight; lightly water when dry.
There’s no need
to restrict yourself to only propagating your own house plants -
try swapping cuttings with friends or neighbors and before long
you’ll have a windowsill full of plants!
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