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--Ralph Waldo Emerson

Taking Cuttings
 

Looking for an inexpensive way to increase the number and variety of plants in you garden? Taking a few cuttings from the plants in your garden is easy, and exchanging them with your friends is a great way to introduce new plants into your gardens.

Cuttings are the most common method of propagating ornamentals. Some plants root easily with little encouragement while others need special treatment. Consult your local Agricultural Extension Service for more information about rooting specific plants.

Rooting hormones are synthetic versions of natural plant hormones that can encourage root formation on difficult plants. Commercial rooting hormones are available in garden centers in powder form, but be aware that many contain chemical fungicides. "Willow Water" is a rooting solution that you can make yourself by cutting willow stems into 1" pieces and soaking them in water for 24 hours. Remove the willow stems before placing your cuttings in the water. Soak the cuttings overnight before planting them.

Here's what you'll need to root cuttings:

~ A Sharp knife
~ Rooting hormone or willow water
~ A tray or pot filled with a mix of half course sand and half peat moss or commercial rooting medium.
~ Slender twig for making holes in the sand
~ Watering can
~ A plastic bag that will fit over your tray or pot

Using a sharp knife, take a cutting 4 to 6 inches long. Strip the lower leaves from the stem and remove buds and flowers. After treating the cutting with rooting hormone, make holes in the sand with a twig and plant the cuttings in the holes. Water well and cover the pot with a plastic bag. Make sure the sides of the bag don't touch the foliage. You may want to insert twigs around the edge of the pot to hold the bag away from the leaves.

Place the pot in a warm, shady place. The cuttings should be established and ready to move to individual containers in 5-6 weeks.

Contributed by http://www.gardenguides.com

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