Cutting (plant)

  Plant cutting, also known as striking/cloning, is a technique for vegetatively (asexually) propagating plants in which a piece of the source plant containing at least one stem cell is placed in a suitable medium such as moist soil, potting mix, coir or rock wool. The cutting produces new roots, stems, or both, and thus becomes a new plant independent of the parent.

Additional recommended knowledge

Essential Laboratory Skills Guide

Weighing the right way

How to ensure accurate weighing results every day?

Technique

Typically, striking is a simple process in which a small amount of the parent plant is removed. This removed piece, called the cutting, is then encouraged to grow as an independent plant.

Several compounds are used to promote the formation of roots such as the auxins. Among the commonly used ones is indole-3-butyric acid, or IBA, used as a powder, solution or gel. This compound is applied either to the cut tip of the cutting or as a foliar spray.

Many vegetative parts of a plant can be used. The most common methods are

• Stem cuttings, in which a piece of stem is part buried in the soil, including at least one leaf node. It produces new roots, usually at the node.
• Root cuttings, in which a section of root is buried just below the soil surface, and produces new shoots.
• Leaf cuttings, in which a leaf is placed on moist soil. These have to develop both new stems and new roots. Some leaves will produce one plant at the base of the leaf. In some species, multiple new plants can be produced at many places on one leaf, and these can be induced by cutting the leaf veins.

Some species, such as willow, blackberry and pelargoniums can be struck simply by sticking into moist ground. Most species, however, require humid, warm, partially shaded conditions to strike. Particularly difficult species may need cool air above and warm soil.

References

See also

• Division (horticulture)
• Grafting