by Sophia Josephina

Created on: July 23, 2009

There is nothing worse than seeing a plant in your friend's garden and not being able to find it in at the local nursery, but luckily there is a remedy for this. Just simply ask your friend for a cutting.

Although taking a cutting from the stem is the easiest you can take a cutting from the leaf or the root of the existing plant.

~ Stem Cuttings ~

For stem cuttings cut the stem anywhere between 4 inches and 6 feet long just below the node these are the little bumps that appear on the stem. The cutting should have at least 2 nodes.

There are two ways to start your new plant. For best results you should place this new cutting directly in the ground in the first part of fall. You will start to see new shoots within 3 weeks.

The other way is to place the stem cutting into peat moss or sand and add water. The peat moss and sand help to retain the water that will be crucial in making your new plant. After placing your stem cutting in the moss or sand place a covering over it, this could be anything from a canning jar to a plastic bag - you just want a covering that will help to keep the water in. It is very important to keep the young leaves moist; you don't want the plant to lose water.

~ Leaf Cuttings ~

This method takes a steady hand because you need to slice the vein of the leaf, but is well worth the reward because you can start more than one plant off of one leaf.

Fill a plastic container with root medium you can buy at any gardening store. Make small slits in the largest vein of the leaf - be careful not to cut all the way through the vein. If you cut all the way through the vein you may not get a new plant from it.

In each of these slits you can add some hormone powder, this is optional. Now place the leaf on top of the root medium and cover with plastic wrap. By covering your leaf it will provide adequate humidity for your new plants. And in just a few weeks you will see new plants in each of the slits that were made on the leaf.

~Root Cutting ~

Because you will need to dig into the ground and cut segments from the root, the plant that you use should be at least a year old. This type of cutting most always forms a new plant.

Cut the existing plant root into segments, then place them horizontally just below the surface of the ground where you want them planted. After a few weeks you will start to see new growth.

Here are a few things to remember when you are making a new plant from any cutting method.

~ Use a plant that is young and disease free, usually a 2- 5 year old plant will do nicely.

~ Use a plant that is bushy and full this will ensure that you will have a healthy plant and increases your chances of forming a new plant.

~ If you are not going to use a hormone to help growth it's best if you cut the stem below the node.

~ Cut all but the top young leaves of your cutting, this will help to reduce water loss - leaves tend to loss water fast.

~ Your cutting will need plenty of moister and oxygen.

By following these simple steps you will have a fabulous new plant to show off to your neighbors.

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