by Susan Klatz Beal

Created on: July 12, 2009

There are several advantages to propagating plants from cuttings. The most obvious is that it takes considerably less time for a cutting to develop roots than it does for a seed to germinate and grow into a mature plant. Since plants that are allowed to grow in greenhouses or out in the open can freely cross pollinate, one will never know whether seeds that are harvested from a plant are true to the plant from which they came.

When it comes to plants that flower, the best time to take cutting is either before or after the plants have flowered. If one is going to take cuttings before the plant flowers, it is important to take the cuttings before the plant starts to develop any type of buds. When one is taking cuttings after the plant has bloomed, the cuttings should not be taken if there are still maturing seed pods that are waiting to be harvested on the plant.

BRUGMANSIA -

There are many named varieties of Brugmansia plants. These named plants must be propagated by cutting in order to legitimately bear that plant's name. Although the plants do produce seeds, a plant grown from the seeds of a parent plant cannot bear the name of the parent plant.

There are two ways by which to propagate a Brugmansia. Some people simply stick a thick cutting in dirt. Ideally, the cutting will come from a stem that has formed a Y. This means there are two branches growing off of the main plant stalk. Alternatively, one can stick the bottom of the cutting in a rooting hormone called "Rootone" and then plant it in dirt. The cutting should then be watered thoroughly and placed in a bright and sunny location.

CACTI AND SUCCULENTS -

When it comes to many cacti and succulents, the "cutting" that one takes from the plant is usually a leaf section. More often than not, this section will not yet have its own root system, so it will be necessary to do what is necessary to help the leaf or section grow roots. Although not necessary, sticking the end of the leaf or section in rooting hormone may expedite the rooting process.

Any type of succulent or cactus should not be planted in ordinary potting soil. Potting soil doesn't contain enough Perlite, sand or peat moss to allow the soil to breathe and drain adequately and quickly. To root a cactus, a succulent or any plant that is related to these, one should either plant the leaf or leaf section in plain sand, in plain Perlite, or in a mix of 50% peat moss and 50% Perlite.

Miracle Gro and other companies make a cactus soil mix that will also

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