stem secrets
growers do not have the aforementioned
misting systems. In this case, hand misting
with a sprayer oftentimes is less successful
than using some sort of dome. Depending on your growing environment,
water droplets from misting can
quickly evaporate away, creating
an environment that favors pulling water out from the leaves.
For better results, take your
cuttings, mist the leaves
(top and bottom) and
place them in a plastic
dome top or baggy.
Just make sure that
the environment
is sealed and that
no leaves are touching the
bag or dome, as this will
lead to rotting. Check
on the cuttings every
day or so to make
sure the substrate
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is moist and not waterlogged, that the
leaves are healthy—remove yellow or
brown leaves—and to the check for root
formation. For traditional soilless mixes,
such as peat moss, coco coir, perlite
and vermiculite, the grower is confined to check on root formation
by gently tugging on the cutting
and feeling for resistance. With
cellular-matrix substrates, you
can remove the whole
plug to see if root
formation is penetrating out without
risking damaging
the roots.
Patented plants and
illegal propagation
While some of you
are coming around
to the idea that
cuttings could
be quite lucrative, be forewarned that
the plants you buy from a nursery
have been developed by growers and
are either patented or patent-pending.
That means you cannot reproduce these
plants for profit without notification
and subsequent payment of royalties
for each cutting. However, you can
reproduce plants for your own use (or for
a neighbor, if you are that kind!) so long
as you do not intend to sell them
for profit. MY
References:
Dirr, M. A., & C. W. Heuser Jr. (2006). The
Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation:
From Seed to Tissue Culture (2nd ed.).Varsity
Press, Inc.
Hartmann, H. T., Kester, D. E., Davies Jr., F.
T., & Geneve, R. L. (2002). Plant Propagation:
Principles and Practices (7th ed.). Pearson Education, Inc.