Can all plants be grown from cuttings?
Written by
Tina Carter
Reviewed by
Prof. Charles Hartman, Ph.D.Increase your garden, cuttings are an inexpensive way to do this. This method essentially allows you to clone your favorite plants like mint or pothos. Not every species, however, is as helpful as others. For example, roses may root readily, whereas lavender seems to take a bit longer. I kill succulents left and right--I am embarrassed by how many I've killed--but each failure was a way for me to learn about how to plant nodes and understand soil pH.
Best Plants for Beginners
- Herbs root in 7-14 days with weekly water changes
- Pothos thrives in indirect light and tap water
- Spider plants produce ready-to-plant pups naturally
Advanced Propagation
- Use rooting hormone gel for woody stems
- Maintain 70-80% humidity with plastic domes
- Bottom heat mats speed up root growth
It is a good habit to sterilize the scissors before cutting stems, I use rubbing alcohol instead of a manufactured solution. For propagating in soil, use potting soil mixed with perlite. The rosemary cuttings I propagated failed from having a shallow pot and not draining well, but once I added sand, they did far better. I take note by marking the plant tag with dates so that I can keep a record of workability.
Water Propagation Issues
- Cloudy water: Replace immediately, scrub jar with vinegar
- Rotting stems: Trim above node, use filtered water
- No roots after 3 weeks: Switch to soil method
Soil Propagation Issues
- Mold growth: Reduce humidity, increase airflow
- Dry cuttings: Mist leaves, check soil moisture
- Pest attacks: Apply neem oil weekly
Save more cuttings for your neighbors. Now my book club members grow identical basil plants from a single mother plant. But do not propagate patented hybrids; this is illegal. Plant tags will be noted when hybrids are patented. Sustainable gardening begins with some knowledge of what to clone and how to clone.
Read the full article: The Complete Guide to Grow From Cuttings Successfully
