A Comprehensive Guide to Easily Propagate Plants from Cuttings
Hello gardening enthusiasts! Are you frustrated with the frequent failure of your cuttings? Well, you're not alone. In this post, we'll demystify the task of successful plant propagation. It doesn’t matter whether you're dealing with fruit plants, veggies, or ornamentals, the key principles remain the same.
Say No to Water-Logged Soils
An easy but costly mistake that most of us make when rooting cuttings is drowning them in overly waterlogged soils. Fear not, the solution is simple and effective – the sand propagation method. Recommended over and over again,the sand propagation method has proven to be a successful answer to waterlogged soils.
However, if you are more inclined towards using soils, make sure you add extra perlite or vermiculite. This provides added drainage pushing the success rate significantly higher.
"Innovation is key to success, and sand propagation sets a perfect example of it."
Temperature Fluctuations can Harm your Cuttings
Temperature fluctuations pose another considerable issue when trying to root cuttings. It’s pretty crucial for the temperature to stay consistent while trying to root the cutting, ideally at around 70 degrees. A 10-degree fluctuation on either side is manageable, but anything beyond that might be detrimental.
So, if you're failing with rooting your cuttings in a greenhouse, inconsistent temperatures might be the culprit. A little indoor thermometer like the Govee (click to purchase on Amazon) can help keep track of the temperature and humidity conditions.
Keeping the temperature close to 70 degrees will considerably increase your success rates.
Humidity is the Key to Success
Low humidity levels often compromise the success of rooting cuttings. An easy fix to this problem can be adopting the sand propagation method which maintains a high level of humidity due to its enclosed system.
However, if you prefer soils and have your cutting planted in a small container or a cup, keeping the humidity levels in check is as easy as covering the opening with a Ziploc bag and securing it with a rubber band.
Another foolproof alternative is Mike Kincaid's bottle approach where you repurpose a soda bottle by cutting off its bottom and place it over your cutting to maintain a moist atmosphere. Remember, high humidity levels will undoubtedly take your success rates to new heights.
Beware: Gnats can Hamper your Success
A very common plague, depending on your choice of soil, is gnat larvae. They can quite literally devour your cuttings! This is another reason why the sand propagation method wins brownie points because gnats can't lay their larvae in sand.
If you still prefer using soil, it's important to ensure that the soil is sterile. Unfortunately, there's still a risk of gnats eventually appearing. And at that point, the best solution would be to switch to the sand propagation method or use sticky traps or pesticides.
The Simplicity of Rooting Cuttings
Rooting cuttings can actually be very simple and straightforward if we resist the urge to overcomplicate the process. Addressing the above four variables can push your home propagation experiments from constant failure to soaring success.
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Happy propagating!