Bhg
  • Shop
  • News
  • Food
  • DIY
  • Garden
  • Renovating
  • Decorating
  • Property
  • Health
  • TV
Bhg
  • Shop
  • News
  • Food
  • DIY
  • Garden
  • Renovating
  • Decorating
  • Property
  • Health
  • TV
Subscribe
YOU’LL NEED A WEDGE TO HANG THAT DOOR
Watch 6:32

YOU’LL NEED A WEDGE TO HANG THAT DOOR

{headline}

{headline}

The ultimate guide to Australian native flowers

The ultimate guide to Australian native flowers

The music you play at home can affect how your plants grow

The music you play at home can affect how your plants grow

When to pick passionfruit and the best way to do it

When to pick passionfruit and the best way to do it

8 Best Climbing Plants In Australia

8 Best Climbing Plants In Australia

{headline}

{headline}

Succulent plants: 11 types of succulents

Succulent plants: 11 types of succulents

7 of the best carnivorous plants & how to care for them

7 of the best carnivorous plants & how to care for them

How to keep rabbits from eating your plants

How to keep rabbits from eating your plants

{headline}

{headline}

Air purifying plants: 20 of the best for your home

Air purifying plants: 20 of the best for your home

How to fix curling citrus leaves

How to fix curling citrus leaves

How to make wicking beds with old wine barrels

How to make wicking beds with old wine barrels

The indoor plant delivery service you need to know about in 2020

The indoor plant delivery service you need to know about in 2020

Top tips for growing native plants in your garden

Top tips for growing native plants in your garden

How to care for jade plants

How to care for jade plants

Study finds that plants respond to ‘pain’

Study finds that plants respond to ‘pain’

  1. Home
  2. Garden

Grow more plants from cuttings with these must-know tricks

Make more plants for free. - by Better Homes and Gardens
  • 22 Oct 2020
Grow more plants from cuttings with these must-know tricks

Many common garden plants root easily from cuttings, giving you full-grown plants in half the time it takes to start from seed.

Types of Cuttings

There are several types of cuttings you can use to propagate your plants. These cuttings use different kinds of stems. Happily, you can treat them pretty much the same way.

Softwood cuttings are from fresh, new growth, usually in spring or early summer. Plants such as butterfly bush and dogwoods root well from softwood cuttings.

Greenwood cuttings are from young stems that are starting to mature, but still in the first year. They're usually taken in early to midsummer. Plants such as gardenia and boxwood tend to root well from greenwood cuttings.

Semi-ripe cuttings are tougher and more mature. They're usually taken from midsummer to fall. Plants such as camellia and honeysuckle often root well from semi-ripe cuttings.

Hardwood cuttings are taken from woody stems that have gone dormant in late fall or winter. Trees and shrubs such as mock orange and viburnum often root well from hardwood cuttings.

Supplies for Cuttings

  • Sharp knife or pruning shears
  • Containers for potting up the cuttings
  • Potting mix, perlite, vermiculite, or sand
  • Rooting hormone
hands holding soil with small plant
Getty

How to 

Step 1) To make your cuttings, select healthy growth that's 3 to 6 inches long. Try to make a sharp cut; mashing the stems may make it more difficult for the shoots to develop new roots.

Step 2) Clip off the leaves on the lower half of the shoot so you have a bare stem to insert into your potting mix. Then, if you want, dip the end of your stem in rooting hormone. This helps many cuttings root more quickly.

Step 3) Immediately pot up your cutting in moist potting mix, sand, perlite, or vermiculite. Keep your cutting humid by loosely wrapping it in clear plastic or keeping it under a cloche.

Some plants root more quickly than others, so be patient. On average, it takes a month or two for your cuttings to root and become established enough that you can plant them.

planting a stem in soil
Getty

Tips for Cuttings

1. Early morning is usually the best time to take cuttings because the plant usually has the most moisture at this time.

2. Keep cuttings cool and moist until you've potted them up. Avoid exposing the cuttings to direct sun if you can.

3. Many cuttings root faster if they're kept warm and humid, so misting the cuttings frequently can help them grow.

No-Fail Cuttings

Some plants root so easily that you can start them in a glass or jar of water. Examples include:

- African violet (Saintpaulia)

- Coleus (Solenostemon)

- Geranium (Pelargonium)

- Impatiens

- Philodendron

You may also like 

Amazing hack for growing basil

Four clever indoor plant hacks to save money

How to propagate hydrangeas

How to grow roses from cuttings

Better Homes and Gardens
Better Homes and Gardens
Australia's favourite TV show, magazine and website.

Get your mag delivered!-Save 29% off the cover price!

Subscribe for $4.95 per issue

Subscribe Now
Get your mag delivered!

Get your mag delivered!-Save 29% off the cover price!

Subscribe for $4.95 per issue

Subscribe Now
Get your mag delivered!

Recommended to you

YOU’LL NEED A WEDGE TO HANG THAT DOOR
Watch 6:32

YOU’LL NEED A WEDGE TO HANG THAT DOOR

{headline}

{headline}

The ultimate guide to Australian native flowers

The ultimate guide to Australian native flowers

The music you play at home can affect how your plants grow

The music you play at home can affect how your plants grow

When to pick passionfruit and the best way to do it

When to pick passionfruit and the best way to do it

8 Best Climbing Plants In Australia

8 Best Climbing Plants In Australia

{headline}

{headline}

Succulent plants: 11 types of succulents

Succulent plants: 11 types of succulents

7 of the best carnivorous plants & how to care for them

7 of the best carnivorous plants & how to care for them

How to keep rabbits from eating your plants

How to keep rabbits from eating your plants

{headline}

{headline}

Air purifying plants: 20 of the best for your home

Air purifying plants: 20 of the best for your home

How to fix curling citrus leaves

How to fix curling citrus leaves

How to make wicking beds with old wine barrels

How to make wicking beds with old wine barrels

The indoor plant delivery service you need to know about in 2020

The indoor plant delivery service you need to know about in 2020

Top tips for growing native plants in your garden

Top tips for growing native plants in your garden

How to care for jade plants

How to care for jade plants

Study finds that plants respond to ‘pain’

Study finds that plants respond to ‘pain’

Bhg
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
Bhg Magazine Subscribe
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy

Brands

  • All Recipes
  • BHG Shop
  • Girlfriend
  • Home Beautiful
  • New Idea
  • New Idea Food
  • Practical Parenting

Our Network

  • marie claire
  • Beauty Crew
  • Who
  • Women's Weekly Food
  • Bounty Parents
  • That’s Life
  • Perth Now
  • The West Australian
  • 7Plus
  • Airtasker
  • 7NEWS
  • SocietyOne
  • Health Engine
  • Starts at 60
© 2021 Are Media PTY LTD
Get more from Better Homes and Gardens

Magazine Subscription Offer

Get your mag delivered!-Save 29% off the cover price!

Shop This Offer
Get your mag delivered!