Do you still have clippings left over from the last topiary of your plants. Before the shoot tips end up in the compost, you can also propagate them as cuttings. There are several methods you can choose from for rooting. Read in this article how new plants can soon be created from cuttings.
How to successfully root cuttings?
Rooting cuttings can be done either in a glass of water or in growing substrate. Water roots first form in the water glass, which are then transplanted into soil. Growing substrate creates stronger roots, but rooting takes longer.
Various options for rooting cuttings
After you have cut sufficiently long and he althy cuttings from your preferred plant, you have two rooting options to choose from. Both have their advantages and disadvantages, which is why you should make the decision based entirely on your personal preferences and the available capacities.
Rooting cuttings in a glass of water
Rooting in a water glass requires only a few utensils. Fill jars or vases with fresh water and insert a cutting into each. After just a few days, thanks to careful selection of more usable shoot tips, the first water roots will become visible.
Before you can finally plant the cuttings in the right substrate, you still have to be patient. The delicate water roots would not survive in the soil. Another fallacy is the assumption that the plants cover their fluid needs through the water in the glasses. You cannot yet absorb water through the roots.
It is all the more important that you pay attention to at least one pair of leaves when choosing shoots. If you put a transparent film over the water glasses, the leaves will suck the moisture out of the circulating air. Alternatively, you can also carefully spray the young shoots with water. Only replant the cuttings when strong roots have formed. Extreme caution is required as the young roots are very sensitive.
Rooting cuttings in nursery pots
If you have some patience, we recommend planting your cuttings in substrate straight away. Although rooting takes longer here, water roots do not form, which are useless for actual growth. In addition, you don't have to bury the tender young plants again and possibly injure the sensitive roots.
You can find the right substrate (€6.00 on Amazon) in specialist stores. High-quality soil contains enough nutrients and is very permeable so that waterlogging does not occur. Alternatively, mix sand, peat and compost in equal parts. It is also important with this method to ensure sufficient humidity. Water the substrate only moderately. Instead, as with rooting in a glass of water, stretch a transparent plastic film over the cultivation pots. Condensation forms in the biotope, which provides the plants with the liquid they need. The cuttings feel comfortable in a sunny location (preferably on the windowsill). But remember to ventilate the film once a day to prevent mold from forming due to the heat generated.
Note: In both cases, it is important to use the cuttings immediately after cutting and not to store them for a long time. The longer the shoots are left to dry, the less likely it is that roots will form.
