Grow Plat cuttings in water

Plants with Root Nodes

In Water only:

* Not all cuttings that will root in water have root nodes.

* Cuttings are taken in the spring or fall. 

findthe Root Node

Root Nodes

Cut  a six-inch shoot with a pair of very sharp and very clean clippers 1/4″ below the Root Node.

Choose a shoot that isn’t trying to flower or remove the flower before the next step.

Place cutting in a glass with enough room temperature water to cover the nodes of the cutting.

Change out the water every 3 days.

Starting in Soil

Trim off all but two sets of leaves near the end.  Remove everything else - unnecessary leaves and flowers because I want this new plant to devote all of its energy to developing roots rather than continuing to feed leaves and make flowers.

Roots will appear 3-6 weeks, even months depending on the plant.

Prepare a soil mixture that is about ⅔ potting mix and ⅓ sand. I want the soil to hold moisture, but not become waterlogged. 

Each stem that is prepared to this point will be:

* dipped into a rooting compound

*Then placed directly down into the soil of a plastic greenhouse tray (or plastic fruit containers from the store. 

 At least 2 of the ”nodes” where the leaves were cut off before planting will need to be below the surface of the soil. This is where the new roots will develop.

Finally, place a plastic tray cover or a plastic bag over the whole container. When making cuttings you want to keep them evenly moist and warm until they begin to sprout roots.

Easy plants:

Morning Glory

 Lavender-best to cut in the fall, but late spring will work. Pick the shoots that are firm - not the delicate, brand new growth. Look for an established branch of the lavender that is still green and not woody.

Natural Rooting Compounds

Honey Tea

Add a spoonful of honey into a cup of warm water and allow it to dissolve. Spritz, water, or soak your cuttings in the tea for best results. 

If you have comfrey (Symphytum spp.) in your yard, you can make tea from any part of the plant. Use this as your rooting compound.

Willow or Cottonwood Tea

Willow (Salix spp.) or cottonwood (Populus spp.) tea can be used interchangeably and might be the most commonly used for rooting. To make, cut new spring growth (green or yellow shoots only) into short lengths and soak them in warm water for 48-72 hours. Take your cuttings and soak them in the willow tea for several hours or overnight. If that is not possible, you can use it to water the soil where you’ve planted your cuttings at least twice. Willow tea can be kept up to 2 months if tightly sealed and refrigerated.