taken are 2-5 inches long with several sets
of leaves. The cut is made with a very
sharp blade which makes a clean, straight
cut, rather than a scissor which pinches
and injures the tissue. As the cuttings are
made they are placed in a bowl filled with
lukewarm water to prevent them from
drying out.
Once all the cuttings are taken, they are
trimmed of their lower leaves, leaving only
one or two sets plus the growing tip. This
helps to prevent the cutting from being
water stressed. If the leaves were left on
the cutting, they would create water
demands that the stem end, with a limited
draw, cannot meet. Any large fan leaves
are also removed for the same reason.
Next, the rooting solution is prepared.
Liquid type rooting compounds are the best
to use because the active ingredients are in
solution and are guaranteed to come in
contact with the stem. Powders are often
scraped off as the cutting is set in place,
and drop off when placed in water. Some
popular rooting solutions which work well
are Olivia’stm, Klone Concentratetm,
Hormextm and Wood’stm. The solution is
used as directed for woody plants.
The trimmed cuttings are placed either
in water or a rooting medium such as
vermiculite, rockwool or floral foam which
has been watered with one quarter strength
flowering formula fertilizer solution. At least
¾ inch of stem is inserted in the rooting
medium which is patted down to make sure
that the stem is in direct contact with it.
The cuttings growers make are placed
in an area of high humidity to limit water