Starting
From Cuttings
Cows, sheep . . . coleus?
While it's cutting edge in the animal world, cloning (or taking
cuttings) has been the staple of plant propagation since man first
began putting peat in pots. Taking cuttings has a couple of clear
advantages over starting plants from seeds. For one, the plant you
wind up with is genetically identical to the "Mother"
you snip it from. It's also much faster than waiting for a seed
to sprout and mature.
And simple? Let me tell
you:
1) Cut: Using
a new sharp blade, cut a 3"-6" segment at a 45-60 degree
angle just below a leaf internode (where a leaf meets the stem).
Cut away all blooms, and trim excess leaves. Take several cuttings
to insure success.
2) Dip: Dip the
cutting immediately into a rooting hormone (available at most garden
centers). If for some reason you can't, then store it in a glass
of water until you can. Cuttings should not be allowed to dry out!
3) Plant: Plant
the cutting in a sterile growing medium, mist, and place under a
clear dome of some sort. The dome should be ventilated, the light
indirect, and the cutting misted several times a day. Don't over-water,
or you'll experience rot. When the cutting can stand on its own
outside the dome for several hours without wilting, voila!
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