During this time of nearly endless price increases, it’s nice to know that you can grow more of your plants for free. That’s the magic of plants, and there are many methods to do this: seed propagation, cutting, layering, division, grafting, budding and tissue culture techniques.
Today’s article will focus on the popular method of taking stem cuttings from your favorite tender plants, shrubs and herbaceous perennials.
Taking a plant cutting simply involves making a clean snip just below a leaf node (the point where a leaf attaches to the stem), removing the lower foliage to redirect energy and placing the stem in either water or moist soil to encourage root growth.
Following are the specific steps:
- Pick a healthy, green stem (4-6 inches long) with new growth and at least 3 leaf nodes. Avoid stems with active flowers or buds as you want the plant to focus its energy on rooting not blooming.
- Using clean scissors, cut the stem at a 45-degree angle just below a leaf node to maximize surface area for roots to grow.
- Remove two thirds of the lower leaves leaving a few leaves at the top.
- Root cuttings in water or a well-draining potting soil, keeping it consistently moist but not waterlogged.
- Place the cutting in an indirect light location. Ideal temperature is 75 degrees.
- Cover with a plastic bag to maintain high humidity.
Roots typically develop in a few weeks and can then be transplanted into a larger pot with regular potting soil. For more information see General Information on Propagation of Stem Cuttings by Jim Fowler, UC Master Gardener, Yolo County. The Madera Master Gardener Propagation Team will be starting cuttings from the 3 Sisters Garden this month to sell the plants in October at the Fall Festival. The date for the 2026 Fall Festival will be announced on the Master Gardener website soon.
Happy gardening!
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Written by UC Master Gardeners Nancy Weeks and Cecelia Sheeter