Transcript Advantages of Cutting Propagation

Cutting Propagation
Plant Propagation
Advantages of Cutting Propagation
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Integrity of characteristics (cloning).
Economics: it’s cheaper to root a cutting
than to graft or bud a plant.
Avoidance of graft incompatibility problems.
Types of Cuttings
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Leaf cuttings; of little
value in woody,
ornamental plant
propagation.
Leaf-bud cuttings
Stem cuttings
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Softwood/Herbaceous
Semi-hardwood
Hardwood
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Deciduous
Evergreen
Root cuttings
Making root
cuttings
Basic Principles of Cutting
Propagation
Proper Selection/Care of Cutting
Wood
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Select current season’s growth from young
plants or rejuvenated plants. Avoid stems with
flowers.
Use healthy, disease-free stock plants.
Softwood
Cutting
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Keep cuttings cool and moist until they are
stuck.
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Plastic bags, wet burlap, ice chests
Plan your propagation so you can stick all the
cuttings the same day they were taken.
Leftovers should be placed in the cooler
overnight.
Sanitation
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Harmful pathogens and other pests can enter
the system in the following ways:
Propagation facilities: greenhouse, flats, pots, knives,
working surfaces, water system, etc.
 Propagation medium: the medium you stick the
cuttings in.
 Stock plant material: the plants that the cuttings are
taken from and the cuttings themselves.
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Propagation Facilities
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10% solution of Clorox bleach in water (1:9
dilution).
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Pots and flats should be soaked for 30 minutes, then
rinsed.
Physan 20
Greenshield
Label for
Physan 20
Propagation Medium
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Generally speaking, bagged propagation media
and media components are pretty clean and do
not require pasteurization.
Stock Plant Material
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Stock plants that have insect and disease
problems should be treated with the proper
pesticides before cuttings are taken.
Cuttings should be disinfested prior to sticking.
5% solution of Clorox bleach in water with liquid
detergent.
 Rinse
 Fungicide drench with a broad-spectrum fungicide.
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The Propagation Medium
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Since most cuttings are propagated under
intermittent mist drainage is critical.
A general, all-purpose medium for cutting
propagation:
2 parts coarse perlite : 1 part sphagnum peat moss
Softwood cutting
propagation in
flats at Spring
Meadow Nursery
Propagating in Sand
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Many large nurseries propagate softwood and
hardwood cuttings in sand.
Use a coarse, sharp sand.
 Disinfest the sand between cutting cycles.
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Methyl bromide
 Vapam
 Basamid
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Propagating in sand
Sticking Methods
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Ground level beds.
Flats filled with medium.
Small pots filled with medium (direct sticking).
After rooting, cuttings can be shifted up to
larger pots or transplanted directly to the field.
The Propagation Environment
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Light
Proper temperatures
Air temperature
 Medium temperature
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High humidity
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Since cuttings do not have roots, but may have
leaves, transpiration must be minimized or the
cuttings may wilt.
Ability to lower humidity after the cuttings have
rooted.
Air Temperatures
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Air temperatures in the propagation facility will
vary depending upon the type of cutting you
stick.
Softwood cuttings: around 70 degrees F.
 Hardwood cuttings: around 40 degrees F. with
bottom heat.
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Maintaining Air Temperatures
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Shade
Whitewash
 Saran
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Ventilation
Fog Cooling
Saran
Shading
Compound
Greenhouse with
“open ventilation”
Fog Cooling
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High pressure
fog nozzle
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1,000 pounds of water
pressure.
0.006 inch orifice
diameter.
Droplets 10 microns in
diameter (less than one
tenth the diameter of a
single strand of hair).
As the fog evaporates the
air is cooled.
Medium Temperatures
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Optimal medium (basal) temperatures in the
range of 70 – 80 degrees F. for softwood and
hardwood cuttings.
Reasons:
Faster rooting
 More uniform rooting
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Bottom heat
Electric propagation mats
 Hot water system
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Electric
propagation mat
Biotherm bottom heating
Intermittent Mist
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Water forced through a small opening under
pressure hits a deflector and sprays out in a
circular pattern.
Large, coarse water droplets immediately fall
onto the cuttings.
Regulated by a misting controller.
Minutes between “on time”.
 Seconds of burst duration..
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Misting Nozzle
Deflector Pin
Reasons for Misting
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Maintain humidity.
Evaporative cooling.
DGT mist nozzle
Phytotronics
Misting Controller
Hardening-off
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After cuttings have rooted they need to be
“hardened-off ”.
Lower humidity (reduce mist frequency and
duration).
 Lower temperatures (softwood cuttings).
 Brighter light.
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The End