Cuttings may be taken from stems, leaves or roots. Herbaceous stem cuttings, sometimes called slips, are commonly used. Popular plants, such as African violet and begonia, are propagated from leaf cuttings. A few plants may be propagated by cutting their long stems into segments. Others can be propagated by simple division.
Herbaceous stem cuttings.
The type of stem cutting most suitable for propagating houseplants is the herbaceous cutting. It is made from tender growth of terminal shoots. Herbaceous cuttings are commonly used to propagate geranium, chrysanthemum or coleus (Figure 1). Cuttings taken from a rubber plant, dracaena or croton usually contain more woody tissue and are frequently called softwood cuttings. Techniques for taking and rooting are the same.Leaf cuttings.
Leaf cuttings include only a leaf blade or the blade and a portion of the petiole. Leaf cuttings of plants such as African violet should not be rooted with long petioles. Trim the petiole to no more than 1/2 inch in length.If a small portion of the main plant stem containing a bud is included with the petiole, the cutting is known as a leaf-bud cutting. Their use is limited. Hydrangea and rubber plants are sometimes started by this method.
