Transcript Cuttings - Spencer FFA

Cuttings
 When
 After
to take cuttings?
current season’s growth
has partially hardened
 Should be able to bend
 Younger growth easier
 Collecting
 Parent
cutting wood
plant that has made 2
to 6 inches new growth
during current year
 Early morning is the best
time to take cuttings

Preparing Container & Rooting
Media
Containers: holes in the bottom for
drainage
 Medium should be sterile
 Mix medium to assure uniform
mixture

 Processing
 Take
the cutting
as many 3-4 inch
cuttings from one shoot
 Include 2-3 buds on each
cutting
 Cut just below bud
 Processing
 Cut
the cutting
bottom at an angle
 Maximize potential rooting
area
 Better water absorption
 Cut
top straight across
 Treat
with rooting hormone
 Promotes
root development
 Stronger hormone for
woodier cuttings
 Rooting hormones may
contain fungicide
Place cutting in medium no
more than 2 inches deep
 Do not press media around
cutting
 Water media to settle around it
 Label cutting

 Name of rooting hormone
 Date cutting processed
used
Control the atmosphere if
possible
 Keep humidity close to 100%

 Plant
loses water through leaves
(transpiration)
 No roots present to take up water to
compensate loss of water
 Enclose
containers in clear
plastic
 Place out of direct sunlight
 Keep temperature down
 Checking
 Holding
for roots
cutting and tugging
gently
 Resistance = roots developing
 Hardening
off
 Root
ball is 2-3 inches
 “Toughens” exterior plant
tissue
 Planted
outside
 Succulent
greenhouse
plants
 Can make numerous
cuttings from parent plant
 Cuttings 2-6 inches long
Take cuttings 2-6 inches long
 Remove bottom leaves

 Roots
will grow from the node
where leaves were attached
Rooting hormone not
required?
 Using hormone may speed
rooting process

 High
humidity
 Bottom heat helps speed
rooting
 Place
in sand/media in a
flat
 Water
 Cover with glass or plastic
 When roots develop
transplant