Do you want to propagate your plants? By rooting cuttings in a glass of water, you are sure to succeed in cultivation. The great thing about this method is that you can literally watch the roots grow. Our instructions will show you how it works.
How to root cuttings in a glass of water?
To root cuttings in a glass of water, cut he althy leaf or shoot cuttings from the mother plant, place them in a glass of fresh water in a bright, warm location and change the water regularly. After a few days or weeks, roots will form and the cuttings can be transplanted into suitable substrate.
Characteristics of vegetative propagation
If plants are not pollinated by insects or wind, but are propagated by their own plant parts, this is referred to as vegetative, asexual or asexual reproduction. This includes both the simple rooting of cuttings and the previous grafting process. In contrast to seed propagation, when growing from cuttings you get an exact clone of the mother plant. This is particularly advantageous if you want to preserve the properties you love from your existing plant.
Instructions
- take as many cuttings as you like from the mother plant
- be careful not to cause major wounds to the mother plant
- Place cuttings in a glass of fresh water
- store in a warm, bright place
- Renew water regularly
- Roots form within several days/weeks depending on the plant variety
- Carefully transplant into suitable substrate
Separating cuttings
As already indicated in the instructions, the mother plant must not suffer from cutting off the cuttings. Therefore, only use children from a he althy, mature plant. A sharp knife is also essential. With a dull blade you tend to saw off the cuttings. The unclean cut heals only slowly and offers bacteria and fungi access to the interior of the mother plant. Botany differentiates between two different types of cuttings:
- Leaf or shoot cuttings
- Scion tip cuttings
The leaf or shoot cuttings are simple leaves that you separate from the mother plant and place in the water glass. In a suitable location, they will soon develop their own roots. Cuttings from the shoot tip increase the risk of damaging the mother plant. This is the uppermost part of the driving tip (about 5 to 10 cm). Since they contain the first pairs of leaves, they have the optimal properties for rooting in a glass of water. Since they transpire less than leaf cuttings, the water requirement is reduced, meaning that root formation is also possible in small containers. However, they also represent an important glucose store for the mother plant. Cutting them off weakens the existing specimen.
Requirements for the cutting
Although you should think carefully about whether your existing plant can handle cutting off several leaves, rooting in a glass of water only works if the cuttings have at least one leaf, the so-called nodium. After you Once you have cut off the Kindel, you should immediately place it in the water glass. When stored for a longer period of time, the cutting breaks down valuable carbohydrates, which reduces the chances of successful root formation.
Note: Cuttings taken lose water through transpiration. Unfortunately, before the first roots have formed in the water glass, the young shoots are not able to absorb water through the stem. Therefore, ensure high humidity at the location so that the cuttings can supply themselves with liquid via the air.
