Stem Cutting: Propagate Plants Like a Pro

Stem cutting is a practice that every gardener should learn. It can make your garden, especially herbs, more productive! But what’s the big deal about stem cutting? We are about to find out. 

Stem cutting is a form of asexual propagation that does not use seeds. Instead, it makes use of the grown parts of the existing plants. It is a common, easy, and fast way to propagate herbs, softwoods, and hardwood plants. 

In this full guide, you will learn why stem cutting is important, the types of cuttings, how to choose the best stem cuttings, the best time to collect, wounding, treatments, setting up, best environmental conditions, and sanitation. 

I know it may seem overwhelming, but don't worry, I packaged the information in “small cuttings.”  So let’s now feed our brains with gardening knowledge!

4 Reasons Why it is Important to Learn Stem Cutting

Learning the proper technique for stem cutting will aid in plant propagation, maintenance, and even experimentation. It is a simple way to increase your garden's productivity by multiplying your plants faster. 

I have been practicing stem cuttings, and my garden is thriving! Here are some of the things I realized about why it is important to learn this skill!

1. Plant propagation: Stem cuttings can be used to propagate new plants from an existing plant. This is a great way to increase your plant collection without purchasing new plants again!
2. Saving a plant: If you have a plant that is struggling or is in danger of dying, taking stem cuttings can be a way to save it. You can create new, healthy plants that can replace struggling ones by propagating cuttings.
3. Plant maintenance: Taking stem cuttings can be a way to control the size of a plant. If a plant is getting too big or unruly, taking cuttings can help keep it in check.
4. Experimentation: If you're interested in plant breeding or experimentation, taking stem cuttings can be a way to create new plant varieties.

Before we dive into the technicalities of stem cutting, let us first discuss their different types.

4 Types of Stem Cuttings

Stem cuttings can be classified as 1) hardwood, 2) semi-hardwood, 3) softwood, and 4) herbaceous cuttings. 

1. Hardwood Cuttings 

First and foremost, we have hardwood cuttings. These are deciduous evergreens with narrow leaves. They can be mature, dormant, or firm wood. Examples of plants that can be propagated using hardwood stem cuttings include willows (Salix spp.), dogwoods (Cornus spp.), and roses (Rosa spp.).

2. Semi-hardwood Cuttings

The semi-hardwood cuttings, also known as green wood cuttings, are the next type of cuttings. These are evergreen woody species with broad leaves. Examples of plants that can be propagated using semi-hardwood stem cuttings include camellias (Camellia spp.), azaleas (Rhododendron spp.), and boxwoods (Buxus spp.).

3. Softwood Cuttings

Softwood cuttings, on the other hand, are succulent, non-woody stems with leaves retained at the upper end. Examples of plants that can be propagated using softwood stem cuttings include fuchsias (Fuchsia spp.), geraniums (Pelargonium spp.), and lavender (Lavandula spp.). 

4. Herbaceous Cuttings

Finally, there are herbaceous cuttings. I believe this is the most applicable to everyone; who doesn't want herbs in their garden?  

Herbaceous cuttings are taken from the spring's soft, succulent new growth of deciduous or evergreen species. You can do this when propagating herbs like basil and thyme. Other examples include coleus (Plectranthus scutellarioides), impatiens (Impatiens spp.), and begonias (Begonia spp.).

Choosing the Best Cuttings

Choosing the appropriate stem cutting depends on several factors, such as the type of plant, the season, and the purpose for which the cuttings will be used. Generally, the most preferred part of the plant to use as cuttings are those in the terminal stem section, meaning they are the least mature and are at the end of the stem section. 

At this point, you might ask why? Well, this is because most of the active plant cells are located in that area. Therefore, getting cuttings from that area will ensure more rapid growth and development of your new plant!

But still, there are other considerations, such as: 

1. Choose healthy plants: Select a healthy plant from which to take the cuttings. The plant should be free from disease, pests, and any signs of stress.
2. Choose the appropriate timing: Select the appropriate time of year to take the cuttings. In general, the best time to take cuttings is in the spring or early summer when the plant is actively growing and producing new shoots.
3. Choose the right stem part: Take cuttings from the top of the plant or lateral branches. The stem should be green and firm but not too woody.
4. Choose a mature stem: Choose a stem that is at least 6 inches long, with at least two nodes where the leaves attach to the stem. This will ensure the cutting has enough energy and nutrients to develop roots.
5. Remove lower leaves: Remove the lower leaves from the cutting, leaving only a few leaves at the top to help the cutting retain moisture.

Remember that some plants are easier to propagate than others, and some may require specific techniques such as rooting hormone or bottom heat to encourage root development. (We will discuss more of this later!)

Pro Tip: It's always a good idea to research the specific plant you want to propagate to ensure you choose the appropriate stem cuttings and use the right technique.

You may also wonder, “Is it better to cut the parts of the plant that have flowers or the parts that have yet to develop flowers?”

Flowering is a complex process that may interfere with the growth of your cuttings. Many gardeners remove the flower buds from cuttings to improve, speed up, and allow the plant to focus on root development. I often use this technique in my vegetable garden.

The Best Time to Collect Stem Cuttings

Early morning is the best time of day to collect cuttings because the plant is well-hydrated and the temperatures are cooler. This is because the plant's tissues are turgid and filled with water, which can help prevent wilting and cutting damage.

To prevent transpiration, you can mist the cuttings. In technical terms, transpiration is the process by which your plant loses water—and we all know how important water is in plant development. 

Take Note: Avoid taking cuttings in the middle of the day or in the afternoon, as high temperatures and sun exposure can stress the plant and cause the cuttings to wilt or dry out quickly.

It's also critical to pick a day with mild and dry weather, as high humidity or rain can increase the risk of disease or rot developing on the cuttings.

The Positive and Negative Types of Wounding

Wounding through stripping of leaves, light, and heavy wounding can improve the quality of stem cuttings. On the other hand, unnecessary and excessive wounding could also harm the cutting as it allows microorganisms to enter the stem cutting.  

When propagating a stem cutting, it is best to make a clean cut and avoid unnecessarily wounding the cutting as much as possible. This increases the chances of the cutting to develop roots and grow into a healthy new plant.

So what does it mean to have a “clean cut”? Well, to start, wounds can take many forms. 

The most basic is the stripping of leaves from cuttings. The less leaves there are, the longer the cuttings will last. This is because the leaves promote transpiration, which causes the plants to lose water more quickly, reducing the water supply in the cuttings.

You can also do light wounding, which requires only one to four cuts down each side of the cuttings through the bark of the wood. Heavy wounding can also be done, which involves removing a thin slice of bark from the base of the cutting on both sides.

All of these methods must be done properly to ensure a clean cut. 

Why is this necessary? Wounded tissues are stimulated into cell division, resulting in faster root development. Wounding also permits the penetration of growth regulators and chemicals that you can apply to your cuttings. This will be discussed in the next section.

Treatment of Stem Cuttings

After stem cutting, you could opt to immediately place them on a growing substrate or treat it with rooting hormones first.  I typically use a rooting hormone to help ensure success.

1. Physical Treatment

Before we get into the chemical aspects of treating your cuttings, let's go over the physical methods you can use to ensure their success.

To begin, it is preferable to keep your cuttings in a dark environment. Because the dark environment inhibits metabolic activity, the cuttings can concentrate on growing roots.

Consider using organic or coarse mineral components when preparing your propagation medium. Coco peat is an example of an organic component, whereas coarse mineral components include perlite, vermiculite, expanded shale, pumice, coarse sand or grit, polystyrene, and rock wool. Choose what's available in your area, or purchase online.

2. Chemical Treatment

The use of rooting compounds is also recommended but not required. Rooting hormones commonly made with auxins are the most widely used and effective rooting compounds. 

These rooting hormones promote cell division; therefore, the roots will grow faster. You can purchase from your local bigbox or online.  

4 Ways to Apply Chemical Treatments

• Soaking method: In this method, you need to dilute the solution. You can use 20 to 200 parts per million (ppm) solutions. So this is 1 mL for every 5 liters of water. Soak cutting for about 24 hours.
• Quick dip: This is a concentrated solution dip where 500 to 10,000 ppm solutions are used with water or 50% isopropyl alcohol. The basal tip of the cuttings, which is 1 cm from the bottom, will be dipped for about 3 to 5 seconds or longer.
• Foliar spray: Here, the rooting hormone auxin will be applied as a spray to the whole cutting or at the cutting base.
• Immerse the entire cutting: Here, the entire cuttings are immersed into the concentrated solution dip.

Setting Up Your Stem Cuttings

In setting stem cuttings up, prepare the propagation medium, which can include any of the following: coco peat, perlite, vermiculite, expanded shale, pumice, coarse sand or grit, polystyrene, and rock wool. Then, simply water the cuttings in the growing medium daily or as needed.

Check the photo of my stem-cutting setup below! You can do this!

Stem Cutting Setup in Coco Coir Substrate

Best Environmental Conditions For Stem Cuttings

It is critical to ensure proper environmental conditions so that stem cuttings have the best chance of rooting and growing into healthy new plants. Moisture, temperature, light, and substrate must be monitored for optimum growth. 

Tip: Growing a plant from a cutting in water is a simple process. Just place the cut end of the stem in a container with plain water and change the water every few days until the roots have formed. However, it's not always successful to transfer a water-rooted seedling to soil, so it's usually better to plant the cutting directly into soil.

Sanitation Tips

It is critical to keep stem cuttings clean for them to root and grow successfully. Always make sure that the area is clean and free of pests. Common pests that can affect your cuttings are mites, aphids and mealybugs. These can be controlled through the application of insecticides. 

Some other sanitation tips are as follows:

1. Always clean your tools: Use a sharp pair of pruning shears or a knife to take cuttings. This reduces the possibility of introducing diseases or bacteria into the cuttings.
2. Wash your hands: Before taking cuttings, thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water to remove any dirt or bacteria.
3. Select healthy parent plants: Take cuttings from healthy, disease- and pest-free plants.
4. Remove any leaves or debris.
5. Make use of a clean container. Keep the cuttings and rooting medium in a clean container. Before reusing a container, clean it with hot soapy water and thoroughly rinse it.
6. Sterilize your rooting medium. If you're using soil or another rooting medium, sterilize it by baking it at 180°C for 30 minutes or using boiling water. If using the boiling water technique, add your rooting medium to a large safe container. I use a large storage bin. Afterward, slowly add boiling water to the bin and mix with a trowel or stick. The amount of water will depend on the amount of soil / rooting medium. Afterward, the soil should look like it was watered very well. Allow the soil to cool before adding your cuttings. Either of these techniques will eliminate any bacteria or fungi present. 
7. Keep dry rooting hormone sterile: instead of dipping the cutting in the original container, pour a small amount into a disposable cup or paper towel to dip the cuttings in. This will help reduce the chances of disease to your entire rooting hormone container.
8. Use only clean water. Water your cuttings with clean water. Do not use water that has been sitting in a container for an extended period of time or that has become contaminated with dirt or debris.
9. Keep the trimmings dry. Unless you are watering the cuttings, avoid getting them wet. Bacteria and fungi can grow in moist environments.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Stem cutting is an important technique in plant propagation that involves taking a cutting from a parent plant and using it to grow a new plant. This technique is used by gardeners, farmers, and horticulturists to produce new plants that are genetically identical to the parent plant.

The best part of the plant to use as cuttings is the terminal stem section because this is where active cell division happens. One should collect cuttings during the morning, then choose to treat them with rooting hormones, if needed. 

Cuttings should be placed in a growing substrate and maintain the environmental conditions around it, such as moisture, temperature, and light. I'm excited to hear about your success. So, what are you going to propagate?