Propagation – pricking out and making cuttings

Making cuttings

Cuttings are useful for plants that have soft to firm stems and grow quickly

• Take a 10 – 20cm long cut from the top, cutting on an angle
• Cut the leaves off for the bottom 2/3rds of the cutting, making sure the last cut is just below the ‘node’ – above where the last leaf was.
• Cut in half any big leaves and remove any flowers or pods
• Make a hole in the pot about 3cm deep using a chopstick
• Lightly dip the cut end into the cutting powder and tap off excess
• Press the cutting about halfway into the soil.
• Lightly press the soil down around the pot.
• Water gently and leave in a shaded, preferably warm environment, keeping the soil damp

Pricking out

These tiny plants need to be carefully handled. Their roots have formed and they are ready to go into a small ‘tube’.

• Fill the tube with potting mix to about 2cm from the top and gently knock it down on the table
• Make a centre hole halfway down the pot, using a dibber
• Use the dibber to gently lift up the seedling
• Use tweezers to gently grasp the seedling about halfway down and lower it into the hole so the root drops down straight. The leaves should be about 1cm above the surface
• Lightly press down the soil around the plant without damaging it
• Use a fine spray to wet the pot
• Water gently and leave in a shaded, warm environment, keeping the soil damp

When new growth appears, gradually place pots in the sun. Make sure the soil is always damp but not wet. These will be ready to plant when fine roots appear through the holes in the bottom of the pot.