Back To Top Selecting the Cutting Stem cuttings should not be excessively large as too many leaves will cause the plant to dry out and die. The actual size will vary with the facilities available and the type of plant being propagated. Only healthy, insect-free cuttings should be selected. Current season s growth is the most successful. Stems making vigorous, but not extremely rank, growth usually root best.
Early morning is the best time of day to take cuttings.
Take care to prevent them from drying. Therefore, remove the cutting from the parent plant by cutting just below the node. Rooting Two things can be done to improve rooting before cuttings are placed in the rooting area, namely wounding and applying a rooting hormone. Wounding is not necessary on herbaceous plants but does increase rooting with most woody plants. First, strip the basal 1 to 2 inches of the stem of leaves.