1. Asexual Plant Propagation

2. Why is asexual propagation needed?
Not all plants produce seeds
Hybrids
Some plants are difficult to grow from seed

3. Cuttings
Pieces of leaves, stems, buds, or roots used for propagating plants
Most commonly used (especially commercially)
Softwood cuttings-taken when plant tissue is soft and tender
Hardwood cuttings-taken when plant tissue is hardened and more woody

4. Essentials needed to root:
Conditions must include:
Moisture
Oxygen
Warmth (40 degrees F or above)
Light
Needed for photosynthesis (food production)
Not needed for stored hardwood cuttings
Sterile rooting medium to prevent disease

5. Why do roots form?
Downward movement of materials from the leaves (photosynthesis) is incomplete
Materials accumulate and start healing and rooting
Cuttings from young plants root must faster
Soft, newly formed shoots also root easier

6. Softwood and Semihardwood Cuttings
Taken after the current or present season’s growth has partially matured or hardened
Should be able to bend
Must have parent plant that has grown 2-6 inches of new growth during current year
From the tip of a branch
A shoot that is growing from the base of the plant
Early morning is best time to take cutting
Remember to keep the right side up (use leaves and buds as help)

7. The Process: 1. Collect the wood and label
2.      Fill container with rooting medium
3.      Make the cutting
Use mature stem
3-4” long
Include 2 or 3 buds on each cutting
Cut top straight across
Cut bottom at angle
Allows more surface area

8. The Process: 4. Treat the cutting with rooting hormone
5.      Insert cutting in the rooting medium
6.      Water to settle the medium around the cutting
7.      Insert the label into the rooting container
8.      Control atmosphere by covering with plastic and placing in indirect sunlight

9. Herbaceous Cuttings Made from succulent greenhouse plants
Ex: geranium, carnation, chrysanthemum
Most florist crops propagated this way
Cuttings are made 3-6 inches long with leaves left on the stem
Sterile rooting medium needed
Fungicide may be necessary
Very successful