Vegetative propagation by stem cutting is one of the most popular ways to increase stocks of plants without sowing seeds. There a number of aspects of the propagation process that will help to increase your chance of success.

Timing

There are no firm rules as to when cuttings should be taken for a particular plant; if cuttings fail to root in the spring, simply take another cutting later in the season, adapting the method to maturity of the shoots. However, it is often better to take cuttings as early in the season as possible, to give the new root systems chance to develop before the winter.

Rooting Environment

Cutting compost has an open structure which encourages free-drainage. This prevents the soil from becoming too wet, which may rot the cuttings. Alternatively, a multipurpose compost may be used with the addition of some extra grit or perlite.

Soft and semi-ripe cuttings root best in a sterile and humid atmosphere, as they would otherwise lose moisture by transpiration. A warm rooting medium will speed up development of the roots: 18-25°C (65-80°F) is a good range for most temperate plants. Cuttings should be grown either in a heated propagator or by covering them with a clear plastic bag, held clear of the cuttings and put in a warm place - not in direct sun. Hardwood cuttings that have been planted outdoors should be protected by either a clear plastic tunnel or a cold frame.

Cutting Care

After insertion into the rooting medium, the cuttings should be watered in well, preferably with a weak solution of fungicide to help prevent disease. The rooting medium should be watered regularly and sprayed periodically with a fungicide. Once rooted, the cutting should be potted up individually.

Potting On

Once a root system has been established, the cuttings should be potted on into a nutrient-rich compost to enhance the rate of growth.

Turn the pot upside down, using your fingers and palm to retain the cuttings, and knock the edge against a hard surface to separate the pot from the cuttings. Separate the cuttings carefully from the compost, making sure to preserve as many roots as possible. Re-pot, either into a multipurpose or potting compost, and return the pots to the propagator (or their original growing environment) for a few days until the plants are well recovered.

Keep the rooted cuttings well fed with weak liquid fertilizer in the growing season to prevent stunting. They should be then be hardened off before planting out. Although cuttings of hardy plants can be planted out once they have been hardened-off, plants rooted in autumn should be protected in a cold frame until spring.