4 Most Important Methods for Plant Propagation.
Tags: Cutting, Plants, Methods, Process

There are 4 methods for a plant propagation.

Cutting is very common and the most important method of vegetative propagation. Parts of the plant which are capable of producing roots and shoots after inserting in the soil are used for cutting. It makes use of totipotency as an inherent property of plant cells.

Cutting are always taken from healthy plants. There are three subtypes of stem cutting namely softwood cutting, semi-hardwood cutting and hardwood cutting.

Examples: Rose twig, Hibiscus twig.

1) The cutting should be preferably about one year old and should be mature.

2) Early morning is the best time for performing cuttings.

3) The shoot of the selected plant is cut about 9–12 inches long and about 1cm thick.

4) The upper circular cut is given slightly above the upper node and the lower slanting cut is given slightly below the lower node.

5) Each cutting must have two to three nodes having vigorous buds. The upper leaves are kept intact and all the other leaves are removed to avoid excessive transpiration and drying of the cutting.

6) The lower end of the cutting is dipped in root growth hormone solution.

7) The two third portion of the twig is planted in soil with the slanting portion in the pot.

8) The cutting is watered regularly after planting.

9) The high humidity is maintained by covering the pot around the cutting.

10) Cutting are generally done for propagating Acalypha, Geranium, Coleus, Grapes etc.

Layering is the development of adventitious roots on a stem while it is still attached to the parent plant (i.e. development of roots in situ). The rooted branches are then detached and function as new individual plants.

Examples: Acalypha twig, Guava twig.

1) One or two year old shoot is selected for layering.

2) The leaves of the selected shoot branch are removed.

3) 2–3 cm wide bark of the stem is removed below the bud in a ring.

4) The rooting medium is applied to the ringed portion.

5) The ringed and the adjacent part of the stem are covered with moist moss and wrapped with a polythene sheet.

6) Both the ends of the polythene sheet are tied with strings.

7) When enough adventitious roots are visible through the plastic sheet, the stem is detached from the parent plant and planted in a pot having rooting medium.

8) Air Layering is generally done for propagating Ficus, Pomegranate, Guava, Mango etc.

In grafting a branch or a shoot of one plant is inserted into the root system of another plant and both unite to grow as one plant.

The branch or shoot that is inserted is called scion and the lower portion of the graft is called as root stock.

The stock and scion are placed intimately so that the vascular cambiums of both organs come in close contact and ultimately unite.

Grafting is done to improve the plant in its multiplication for its useful characters.

Example: Mango.

1) Two independent plants having their own root system are grafted together.

2) The chances of success in this grafting are maximum.

3) One of the plants is selected as stock and another as scion where the thickness of the branches to be approached or grafted must be equal thickness.

4) A thin slice of bark and wood (up to pholem) is removed from the stock and from the scion at their approachable junctions.

5) The exposed cambium layer of scion and stock should then be placed closely without any air gap.

6) The scion and stock are tied with jute or polythene tape and grafting wax is applied at the joints. The Union is complete, within 2 to 3 months.

7) The upper portion of root stock is cut after the union. The scion should also be detached from the parent plant. i.e. below the graft. e.g. Mango, Jack fruit, Custard apple.

Budding is form of grafting in which a single vegetative bud is taken from one plant and inserted into stem of another rooted stock. So that the two unite and grow as one unit. It is a quick and efficient method practiced mostly in ornamental, flowering plants.

Example: Rose.

T-budding

1) ‘T’ like cut is given on the stock;and it is also called shield budding because scion (bud) looks in appearance like shield.

2) A vertical cut is of 2.5 cm long is made on the root stock, with the help of a budding knife. Then a horizontal cut a cross the top at right angle to the first cut is made that resembles like ‘T’.

3) Two flaps of the bark can be lifted to this cut by twisting the knife to insert the shield bud.

4) The scion is selected from an improved variety branch of current year growth.

5) The bud is removed by a shallow cutting or scooping and is placed or inserted inside the flap at ‘T’ cut on the stock.

6) The union is wrapped by a polythene strip keeping the tip of the bud exposed to air.

7) In 3–4 weeks when the bud unites with the stock and starts growing, then polythene strip is removed.