Post date: Mar 23, 2020 11:30:58 PM
By Nagendra Kumar
Many people have been asking me about 'Rooting' stems. Here are my notes based on what I have done over the last few years...
1. Try to root and sow the cuttings within a few hours after being cut. If you are unable to plant the cuttings within a few hours then just put them in a pail of water until you get the time to do so. Do not just leave them outside…the ends and nodes will dry and your experiment may fail. At the same time, do not leave it in water for more than 2 days…the cuttings will rot!
2. If the stem does not have a sharp clean cut, then please use a sharp knife or a cutter and make a clean cut at the end that goes into the ground.
3. With a knife, peel / scrape off the top layer of the bark, about an inch or so
4. Gently moisten the peeled end
5. Dip the moist peeled end in a rooting gel or powder or solution of your choice and lay it down for 5-10 minutes, just to ensure that the rooting substance is well stuck
6. Use a pot or find a place in your garden with good soil…loose and nutrient rich
7. Using a pencil or stick, push to make a hole that is at least 3-4” deep and wide enough to plant the cutting
8. Gently plant the cutting with the rooting substance and pack the soil around it…ensure no air gaps
9. Keep the soil moist, don’t let it dry or over-water for a couple weeks
10. Depending on the type of plant and weather, it could take anywhere from a week to 3 weeks to see new sprouts at the nodes
P.S. you can choose to clip off the leaves or top of the cuttings as they will anyway dry and fall off. New life always comes out of the nodes.
Others who have experience with rooting, please share your thoughts / experiences. Good luck!