Plant propagation techniques - How to propagate plants from hardwood cuttings.

Plant propagation is an extremely interesting process for gardeners, as it creates a lush thick look with more plants all free of cost. But, propagating plants successfully has been a challenge to gardeners till date. There are various factors that play a role in successful propagation of plants. But, choosing the right cutting is the most important thing when it comes to propagating plants from  cuttings.  

Here we will see about propagation of plants through hardwood cuttings. The in-depth process of plant propagation techniques using hardwood cuttings has been given here. Following these gardening techniques and gardening  tips will lead to successful growth of new plants from plant cuttings.

 

 

 

Hardwood cuttings are even simpler to prepare than softwood or herbaceous cuttings, as we use cuttings from dormant deciduous trees and woody plants, and this technique is very useful for propagating fruit trees such as figs, pomegranates, mulberries and quince. Some plums can grow well from hardwood cuttings too, while other’s don’t do so well, it depends on the variety.

This technique is also used for propagating vines such as grapes and kiwi fruit, and the currant family – blackcurrants, redcurrants, golden currants and gooseberries.

 

Step by step process to propagate plants from hardwood cuttings.  

 

Kind of stem cutting to be used for various types of plants:

 

When it comes to stem cuttings, there are are various types of stem cuttings, and for each plant, the kind of stem cutting that has to be chosen varies. The type of stem cuttings are to be decided based on whether it is a herb, shrub, tree or indoor plant. Also certain stem cuttings are easy to root and thus easy to propagate. Whereas certain stem cuttings such as semi hardwood plant cuttings and hardwood plant cuttings are quiet difficult to root and propagate. They also take a longer tie period to root. 

Herbaceous cuttings are made from non-woody, herbaceous plants such as coleus, chrysanthemums, and dahlia. A 3- to 5-inch piece of stem is cut from the parent plant. The leaves on the lower one-third to one-half of the stem are removed. A high percentage of the cuttings root, and they do so quickly.

Softwood cuttings are prepared from soft, succulent, new growth of woody plants, just as it begins to harden (mature). Shoots are suitable for making softwood cuttings when they can be snapped easily when bent and when they still have a gradation of leaf size (oldest leaves are mature while newest leaves are still small). For most woody plants, this stage occurs in May, June, or July. The soft shoots are quite tender, and extra care must be taken to keep them from drying out. The extra effort pays off, because they root quickly.

Semi-hardwood cuttings are usually prepared from partially mature wood of the current season’s growth, just after a flush of growth. This type of cutting normally is made from mid-July to early fall. The wood is reasonably firm and the leaves of mature size. Many broadleaf evergreen shrubs and some conifers are propagated by this method.

Hardwood cuttings are taken from dormant, mature stems in late fall, winter, or early spring. Plants generally are fully dormant with no obvious signs of active growth. The wood is firm and does not bend easily. Hardwood cuttings are used most often for deciduous shrubs but can be used for many evergreens. Examples of plants propagated at the hardwood stage include forsythia, privet, fig, grape, and spirea.

Here is an in-depth information on which kind of stem cutting has to be taken for the most common plant varieties. 

How to propagate plants successfully like a pro - Gardening tips for Plant propagation.

Propagation has been the most looked out method for multiplying plants as we would like to fill our garden space with beautiful plants in an cost-effective manner.  Multiplying the plants in our garden and balcony, to give that jungle look to our living space, using plant propagation, has also become trending among young gardeners. 

Moreover, Propagating plants can easily add more plants to either your indoor or outdoor collections. 

There are various methods of plant propagation and propagating plants through cuttings is one of the easiest and cost effective methods. 

When it comes to Growing new plants through plant cuttings, it can either be through stem cuttings, leaf cuttings, or root cuttings. 

Now we will see about the process and few plants that can be propagated through stem cuttings. The list will include a mix of indoor and outdoor plants. 

When it comes to stem cuttings the kind of stem can be categorised as 

1. Herbaceous

2. Softwood

3. Semi hardwood

4. Hardwood

Herbaceous stem cuttings:

These are done for herbaceous plants that are non - woody. 

Herbaceous stem cutting propagation method can be used for Coleus propagation, Chrysanthemum propagation, Philodendron propagation, propagating Impatiens, propagating Poinsettias, wandering Jew propagation and Dahlia propagation. Rosemary cuttings are very easy to propagate. Thyme and mint propagation can also be done from herbaceous stem cuttings. 

Softwood stem cuttings:

These are the soft, succulent, young, stem cuttings from woody plants. These softwood of the plant will snap when bent and will also have leaves that are not yet fully mature. 

The bending test is the best method for finding the right softwood for plant propagation. 

• ‌New growth will generally be greenish and will not break easily when bent. 

• ‌Soft wood will easily break when bent and this is just right for propagation of plants through stem cuttings. ‌

• Hardwood will not break easily. 

Some plants that can be propagated through softwood stem cuttings are, coleus, gardenia, geranium, hibiscus, lilac, salvia, etc. Hydrangea cuttings, lavender cuttings, jade plant cuttings,

Semi hardwood cuttings:

Semi hardwood cuttings are collected from the stem that has grown in that season, but has hardened and matured. 

These stems will have leaves of full size. 

Semi hardwood cuttings take longer to form roots. 

Some plants that can be propagated using semi hardwood cuttings are Coprosma (taupata), camellia, azalea, New Zealand broadleaf (Griselinia), hebe, Fuschia, Leucodendron, boxwood, rhododendron and holly. 

Hardwood cuttings:

Hardwood cuttings are nearly 1 inch in width and are taken from stems that have grown the previous season. They are not easy to break. 

Examples of plants that can be grown from hardwood cuttings are figs, Pomegranates, mulberries, grapes, gooseberries etc. 

Here is the exact process of propagating plants from stem cuttings. 

Want to grow huge amounts of potatoes successfully in containers at home? - Then you must definitely know this.

Most of us like to grow our own veggies and this trend is rising all over the world. Potatoes are one of the most commonly considered vegetable to grow at home. Potatoes though considered to be grown easily, has some nutrient requirements based on the stages of growth. Knowing these gardening tips and nutrient requirements will help you grow potatoes as a pro. 

Whether it is growing potatoes in containers or direct ground, these are certain things that you should definitely know. 

This diagram demonstrates the different growing stages of potatoes. 

Understanding these stages are important for understanding nutrient and fertilizer management. 

Click here for In-depth information on nutrients for successfully growing huge amounts of potatoes at home

Growing potatoes successfully at home requires an wide array of knowledge right from, information on the right season for growing potatoes, the soil mix for growing potatoes at home, the right container size for growing potatoes etc. 

It is possible to grow potatoes in any large container, from large pots or nursery containers to big garbage cans. Even trash bags or stacks of tires will do, though you have to be cautious about these because they can get very hot in the sun. Here is all about growing potatoes at home. 

Highly effective homemade fertilizer for your vegetable garden - Gardening tips and Gardening ideas.

Mostly your vegetable plants and fruit plants require a wide range of nutrients, and potassium is one of the most important nutrients out of the three major ones. We will see about an easy to make homemade fertilizer that can supply your plants, especially vegetable plants in your terrace garden or balcony garden with high amounts of potassium and also other vital nutrients. 

Most of us generally get this fertilizer at home on a daily basis, but tend to neglect it because of not knowing its uses for plants. This is none other than wood ash. Yes, when you burn  wood for any purpose, it leaves out ashes and these ashes are rich sources of nutrients for your plants. 

Nutrients in wood ash which makes it a good homemade fertilizer for your garden:

Even if you don’t burn wood at home regularly, it is a very good option to burn wood just for the purpose of getting a fertilizer that enhances the flowering and fruiting of your plants. Wood ash contains a good amount of potassium and Phosphorus, which are highly essential for plant growth. Wood ash also contains micronutrients such as calcium, zinc, manganese and iron, which are essential for healthy plant growth. 

Let’s see how to use this wood ash for your plants. There are 3 common ways of using wood ash for your garden. Each one has its own uses. 

1. Using wood ash in compost:

Wood ash  can be mixed with either your kitchen compost or your vermicomposting. If you are using wood ash along with your kitchen compost you can add a thin layer of wood ash for every 6 inches of your compost pile. 

Uses of wood ash in compost: 

Wood ash is alkaline in nature and thus it tends to reduce the acidity of the compost. Once the acidity is reduced, the worms can easily work on your compost and help it to decompose faster. This kind of compost that is less acidic is very suitable for mulching your vegetable plants in the garden. The compost that is made with adding wood ash to it is also richer than the general kitchen compost as they have the worm decomposed nutrients in it. 

2. Using wood ash directly in your garden soil:

Most of the vegetable plants generally require a soil pH of about 6.5 to 7.0, if your soil is below 6.5, then it is highly recommended to add wood ash to the soil directly as it would balance the soil’s nature. Moreover, if you use lot’s of cattle manure in your garden soil, then it is highly useful to add wood ash, because cattle manure tends to make the soil acidic. 

You can also add wood ash in your potting mix when you are potting a new plant or while repotting.  

3. Adding wood ash around the plants:

Plants such as cabbage, Brussels and fruit bushes that love alkaline soil can be given a side dressing with wood ash. This also prevents club root formation in plants which is mostly common in acidic soil. 

Caution - if using wood ash: 

Wood ash is not to be used for acid loving plants such as berries and potatoes, especially, blueberries and raspberries need acidic soil for maximum growth and production. 

Do you notice these common signs in your plant - BE ALERT - Gardening tips and Gardening ideas.

Plant nutrients and it's importance: 

Plants, just like us need nutrients and having great interest in gardening, we would have definitely tried out different fertilizers. We will now see about what nutrients plants actually need and in addition to this we will also see when is the right time to provide the plant nutrients. 

Importance of noting various signs in plants, to identify the kind of nutrient lacking in the plant: 

You need not be an expert farmer or gardener to know these, as this is not rocket science. These are just simple gardening tricks and gardening tips that you need to know. 

Signs in the leaves and what do they indicate: 

First we will see certain signs in leaves and will see which nutrient deficiency causes these signs, so that we can supply the plant with those specific nutrients. Check out for brown spots in the leaves especially in the edges, yellowing of veins, yellow edges and brown veins. 

In addition to these signs curling of leaves, purple spots under the leaves should also be looked for. Mostly these deficiency symptoms will begin to appear in older leaves. 

What happens if these signs are left unnoticed: 

This when left unnoticed will lead to overall reduction in plant growth including reduced root development, seed and fruit development. If you notice any of these or most of these symptoms then it is definitely due to potassium deficiency. Potassium is the 3rd most important nutrient required by plants. 

Potassium deficiency and plant diseases:

Moreover, potassium deficiency will lead to more diseases in plants, this is because the thickening of cell walls in plants will not happen properly. This is because when adequate amount of potassium is present, silica will be accumulated and incorporated into the cell wall thus strengthening the cell wall which functions as a physical barrier to the pathogens which cause plant diseases. So now let's see what we can do to increase the level of potassium. We will look into certain natural sources of potassium. 

Natural sources of potassium: 

Seaweed, wood ash, crop residue, manures, kelp meal, green sand (which can be got in the nursery), fruit peel fertilizer - especially banana peel fertilizer and coffee grounds. 

Wood ash is one of the richest and fastest accessible source of potassium for your plants. You can easily make it at home and provide a feast for you plants in the garden.

5 extra nourishing homemade liquid fertilizers made with weeds in your garden - Gardening ideas for beginners.

Using homemade fertilizers for the garden has become an area of interest for almost every gardener. Gone are the days when we need to look upon the inorganic chemical fertilizers to keep our vegetable garden, indoor plants and other plants in our garden flourishing. These are also expensive. Let’s look into some easy to make liquid fertilizers. These fertilizers are made from certain plants in the garden and also from weeds which are generally considered as a hindrance to plant growth. Here are some gardening ideas on how to convert the useless weeds into nourishing homemade organic fertilizer. Gardening for beginners will also become easy with these homemade fertilizers. 

We will look into a list of 5 liquid homemade fertilizers, which you wouldn’t have known. We will also look into the benefits of each liquid fertilizer and here is the list of overall benefits of using such homemade liquid fertilizers for your plants. 

Benefits of weed fertilizer for plants:

• Enhances the proteins synthesis in plants, thus making the plant build up its structure well

• Prevents stunted plant growth and improves yield

• Reduces pest and other  plant infections

• Increases root growth

• Makes a strong cell wall, thus preventing plant damage

• Enhances the productivity of plants

• Increases foliage health

1. Alfalfa liquid fertilizer:

Alfalfa which is generally used as a livestock feed can also be used to feed your plants a nourishing food. Alfalfa is rich in potassium, folic acid, vitamin A, nitrogen, calcium and also contains other trace minerals. It is actually a weed that can be used to produce a nitrogen rich fertilizer tea for your plants. 

2. Comfrey liquid fertilizer: 

Comfrey is actually a shrub that grows up to 5 feet tall, in the backyard. This is rich in magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, vitamins A, B and other trace minerals. Comfrey fertilizer can actually add that extra required dose of phosphorus and magnesium to your plants. 

3. Willow liquid fertilizer:

These weeds contain high amounts of growth hormones and thus willow liquid fertilizer can be used to feed transplants and seedlings. 

4. Horsetail liquid fertilizer:

Another important liquid fertilizer made from weeds is horsetail liquid fertilizer. This is actually rich in iron, silica and potassium. Iron and silica are generally not found in other weeds, because these horsetails grow deep rooted and thus draw up the nutrients in deep soil. Using this to make your fertilizer tea will actually boost the nutrients for your plants. 

5. Stinging nettle liquid fertilizer: 

One caution while handling stinging nettle is to wear gloves as these are itchy when they come in contact with skin. Otherwise, stinging nettle liquid fertilizer is an excellent natural insect repellent, and also resists fungal attacks. Stinging nettle when used as a fertilizer for your plants provides iron, zinc, selenium, boron and magnesium which are rarely found in other fertilizers. It is also a rich source of calcium, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. 

How to make these fertilizers?

These fertilizers are just to be made in the same way as making any weed fertilizer. Here are the steps to make any liquid fertilizer using weeds.