Bulb propagationĬuttings from the stems and leaves of bulbs will fail as the growing point is inside them. The culture of plant cells within sterile laboratory conditions using high tech equipment to produce clonal copies of plants. Carry out in spring or autumn depending on the preference of the plant and overwintering conditions. Split clumps into sections, each with at least one shoot and a root system of their own. Many herbaceous plants are propagated by division – the separation of one plant into several self-supporting ones. In most cases, trees and shrubs are available to buy ready-grafted onto a rootstock. This is a difficult task and requires lots of skill and practice. Use air layering for plants with brittle wood that won’t bend for tradition layering or where there are no low growing shoots.Ī method that combines material from one plant with prized flowering or fruiting qualities with the roots of another that offers vigour and resilience. Layeringįor producing one or two new plants, simple layering is aeffective for many shrubs. In autumn or spring (evergreens are better in spring) select supple shoots on the outside of the plant for pegging down. Presenter, writer and gardener Ellen Mary, shows you how to propagate your houseplants by taking whole-leaf cuttings. It is an easy way to increase numbers of our favourite indoor plants. Some plants can be propagated from a whole or a part of a leaf. Some plants have thick fleshy roots, which make great cutting material. Pull away a cutting-sized shoot from the main stem, to retain a small tail of bark, or heel, at the base. The heel contains high levels of growth ‘hormones’ (auxins) that help promote rooting. It is not very effective on broad-leaved trees. This method is useful for woody plants that have pithy stems, such as Sambucus (elder), or old plants in less than peak condition. Take semi-ripe cuttings in late summer to early autumn when sections of the current season’s growth has begun to firm. The cutting base is quite firm, whilst the tip is relatively soft. Many plants are propagated using this method. Take later in spring through to mid-summer. Prepare as softwood cuttings, but make them slightly longer, generally 7.5-12.5cm (3-5in) long. They are similar to softwood cuttings but the base of the stem is firmer. Suitable for berry fruits, Ceanothus, Forsythia and Philadelphus. Take softwood cuttings in spring and early summer selecting soft flexible tips. Suitable for a wide range of mainly deciduous shrubs, trees and hardy or tender perennials. See our page on hardwood cuttings Softwood cuttings Take cuttings in the dormant season, however each plant will vary so check individual requirements. Suitable for many deciduous climbers, trees and shrubs as well as evergreens. Use these methods to produce cloned copies of the parent stock. Vegetative propagation is useful for increasing stock of named cultivars which don’t come true from seed. See our page on trees and shrubs from seed. Often seeds from trees and shrubs require more time to germinate. It’s best to research each species for best results. Tree and shrub species sometimes have specific germination requirements such as a chilling period to mimic winter. You will save space this way and in fact some plants prefer direct sowing. If you do not have a greenhouse or are short of window sills, you can sow outside once the soil has warmed up. Some seeds require a warm and protected environment to germinate or you may want to get a head start for the growing season by sowing under cover and protecting your crop from an unpredictable spring. See our page on seed collection and storage. Remember though that many will not ‘come true’, that is demonstrate the characteristics of the plant you collected them from. Most plants can be grown from seed using a variety of methods. RHS Flower Show Tatton Park - 19–23 July 2023.RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival - 4–9 July 2023.
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