Laura Walters
Propagation is a great way to get more plants that you love for free. Gardeners can propagate new plants by planting seeds or taking cuttings from stems, leaves, and roots depending on the type of plant.
Cuttings have a few major advantages over planting seeds: the plants mature faster, it is easier to maintain cuttings than seedlings, and the new plant will be identical to the old plant. For instance, if the parent plant has really neat features like variegation, you will get the same results from your newly propagated plant.
However, propagating new plants from cuttings is not totally without its challenges. Sometimes you think you have done everything right, but your prop just turns to mush. Keep reading to learn more about mistakes you might be making while propagating, and how you can up your propagation game.
1. Using Blunt or Dirty Tools
It is important to use clean tools and sharp pruners when you are propagating new plants. Pests and diseases can easily spread between plants if you aren’t keeping your tools clean and these new little plants are more susceptible to these issues in their delicate state. Sterilize your pruning tools by wiping, dipping, or spraying them with 70%-100% isopropyl alcohol between uses to kill pests, fungi, bacteria, and viruses. Find 70% rubbing alcohol and a glass spray bottle from Amazon.
In addition to using hygienic practices on your tools, you should also clean the container your cutting will be placed in. Immerse the pot in a solution of ten parts water to one part bleach and let it soak for around 30 minutes. Rinse them well before planting as bleach may be harmful to plants.
Using blunt pruning shears or snips when taking a cutting from a parent plant can also result in a failed propagation. Blunt shears smash and damage the delicate plant structures that allow your cutting to take up water and nutrients. You should sharpen your snips and shears at least once a year to keep them functioning properly. Felco pruning snips are sharp and precise and can be found on Amazon along with a Felco carbide sharpener that hones the blades with a few quick swipes.
2. Taking Cuttings From an Unhealthy Plant
For the best chance of success, you should choose a healthy, actively growing plant to propagate from cuttings. If your plant shows any signs of disease, pest infestation, or is dropping leaves, it might not be a good candidate for propagation.
Use a homemade insecticidal soap if you notice any pests like spider mites, scale, or whiteflies. Neem oil is effective for pest control and for mold issues. Find neem oil on Amazon to get your plant healthy in no time.
3. Cutting in the Wrong Place
It is also important to take your cutting from the correct place on the plant. It is important to take stem cuttings just below a leaf node. The section below the leaf node is the part of the stem that is able to grow roots. If the node isn’t intact, the prop will fail.
Similarly, some plants have the ability to produce roots from just their leaves, like succulents and snake plants. You can cut a snake plant leaf to propagate anywhere above the soil, but when propagating succulents like ghost plants, sedum, and jade plants need the complete leaf cleanly removed from the stem to successfully grow.
4. Wrong Time of Year
Most houseplants are actively growing in the spring and summer and this is when they will be most easily propagated. Growth hormones are present and flowing within the plant during this active growing cycle so they are ready to go. If you wait until the plant is dormant in the winter, you might be disappointed by the results. You can try to boost your results by applying a rooting hormone powder to the end of your cutting before placing it in soil to grow. This rooting powder from Garden Safe is my go-to and can be found on Amazon.
Different varieties of trees and shrubs need to be cut for propagation in different manners and different times of year. Softwood cuttings are taken from new growth in late spring to early summer. Semi-hardwood cuttings are prepared from the current year’s growth that has begun to mature, typically July through early fall. Hardwood cuttings are cultivated in winter from last year’s growth and only some deciduous shrubs and needled evergreens will be successful when propagated from hardwood.
5. Using the Wrong Growth Medium
It is really easy to root your cuttings in water and the water allows you to see the progress of root growth, but some plants do better if you propagate directly into a propagation soil. This will allow for easier transplanting too, as the delicate new roots won’t be shocked by moving from water into soil. If you are propagating in water, ensure that you are topping off or changing the water every few days to prevent any bacterial growth that may harm your new plants.
If propagating in soil, do not just use regular potting soil. Potting soil and garden soil are too dense and can become too compacted to allow for proper root development. You can purchase a soilless potting mix like this one from Amazon or make your own soilless medium from a mixture of vermiculite, perlite, and coco coir. (Note: Coco coir can have a high salinity which can damage plants. So if using coco coir, either purchase a pre-washed coir like this one from Amazon or rinse it at home before you use it.)
6. Incorrect Light and Temperature
Newly propagated cuttings need more light than you might think. They are doing some hard work so keeping them in a window with bright, indirect light or under a grow light will help them to grow strong roots more quickly. These full spectrum, clip-on grow lights from Amazon have a timer for ease of use.
Propagated cuttings need warmth to develop roots and grow, so try to keep them between 65 and 75 F (18.3-23.9 C). If your house or shed is a little too chilly, add a seedling heat mat like these from Amazon. I have used them for years and I love that they are waterproof so I don’t worry if I accidentally over sprinkle my cuttings or seedlings.
Propagation of cuttings can be easy for some people while others feel like they have a brown thumb. A little extra planning and control of variables can help solve some propagation problems you might not have even known you had. Avoid these propagation mistakes and you are sure to have new, happy plants in no time!
