American Farmhouse Style – August 2019

• WORKBENCH •

Follow these simple tips to grow

new plants yourself.

BY WILL LEVIN

PHOTOGRAPHY BY LESLIE F. HALLECK

Plant

PROPAGATION

101

Whether you have

the dreaded brown

thumb or are looking to

maximize your plant-growing

capabilities, plant propagation is

an easy way to increase your new

plants using the plants you’re

already growing. It’s an especially

great method for houseplants.

In Leslie F. Halleck’s new book,

Plant Parenting: Easy Ways to Make

More Houseplants, Vegetables

and Flowers, she shares the tips

you need to know to reap all the

benefi ts of plant propagation.

LEAF-PETIOLE

“Not all plants can develop roots and buds directly from the base of a leaf,” writes Halleck. Many need a section of petiole (the

stalk that connects the leaf to a main stem) or a piece of the main stem. This is common for plants that have short stems and

are very leafy. You can still propagate plants like this from leaf-petiole cuttings. Here’s how.

1. Disinfect your snips, whether that’s a pair of scissors or
   plant shears.


2. Choose a healthy leaf and cut the petiole at a 45-degree angle
   with the cut side facing up.
   3. Dip the bare end of the petiole in a rooting hormone and stick
   the petiole in water, a rooting plug, a root-growing medium or
   an automatic propagator system.
   4. Place your cuttings near natural light or a few feet away from
   neutral light fi xtures. With a bit of time, bud shoots and new
   roots will develop at the base of the petiole.

Cu tt i n g s

14 • AMERICAN FARMHOUSE STYLE