Plant propagation is a way to get more plants. Maybe a way to remember an occasion or special person. Yes, I introduce my plants, “This is the Alpinia I got 20 years ago from Will,” or “I have lots of this, want to take a piece?” Some plants are so happy being themselves they just drop a leaf on the ground or send out a “daughter” and before your porridge has cooled you have a whole congregation of genetically identical babies. Sometimes this is a good thing. Not always. There are trees and shrubs which “sucker” or grow out from their roots. The root in this case is acting like a modified stem-producing shoots and roots on nodes. In fact, rhizomes, stolons, tubers and bulbs are all stem modifications. The daughter plants, suckers, or offsets are genetically identical to the mother or parent, because no sex was involved. Seeds are produced at great expense and work (sometimes involving insects or birds) by plants to make attractive flowers, pollen, nectar, and ultimately, fruits and seeds.
Vegetative reproduction is a common way to propagate plants and there are several methods. Cuttings from woody shrubs and trees need to be taken at the right time. Timing is just as important in horticulture as comedy or romance. So, if you have a limited supply of material to use, research the best method and time of year to take cuttings. There are lots of websites, YouTube videos, scientific literature, and equipment to aid your efforts. Herbaceous annuals and perennials can also be rooted from cuttings anytime in water, sand, perlite, vermiculite, or loose well-drained potting soil.
It may be helpful to create a moist [think greenhouse] high humidity environment using plastic or glass coverings. Some growers use a “mist bench,” but you can also fit several flats into a large clear trash bag. Cuttings are going to do best in shade.
Air layering is another method that gives fewer but larger rooted plants. A main branch is wounded, removing the outer bark. Treat with a rooting hormone and wrap the wound site with wet orchid moss. Cover with plastic wrap, foil, or you can slice a soda bottle to create a mini greenhouse. The advantage of air layering is that the mother plant is still supplying nutrients to the stem. After sufficient roots have formed (1-6 months) the stem can be cut below the rooted section and can be potted as a larger plant.
Whatever method of propagation you use they all require good sanitation: clean sharp tools, surfaces, soil, and healthy plant materials. Scrub pots and dip them in a 10% bleach/water solution. This is so important, because the conditions favorable to rooting and germination can also give disease or insects an opportunity to grow.
