Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
New plants from old
|
There are certain rules for propagating houseplants. Here's how you do it
|
Recycled Cuttings from old plants can bear new shoots
The simplest way for the average houseplant grower to acquire new specimens for her indoor garden is from cuttings and slips from the already established plants.
These should be started in a good rooting medium - moist sand, mixed with compost. Place moist rooting medium in a clay pot or other containers with drainage; insert the cuttings and pack firmly with the soil and cover with polythene bags, place in diffused light in a warm place. Keep well watered and check for roots after six to seven days by pulling gently on the cuttings. When it resists, it means the roots have formed and the plant is ready for potting.
Plants such as geranium, impatiens, coleus, ivy and philodendron may be rooted in water from a cutting containing three or four leaves with a piece of stem cut just below a joint or growing point.
These are called terminal cuttings. They may also be planted in damp soil.
Leaf cuttings will start new plants from Kalonchoe, Peperomia, Bryophyllum (a leaf and short stem). Jade plant and prayer plant will start from stemless leaf cuttings.
Propagating of Sansiveria (mother-in-law's tongue) is by taking leaf cuttings. Slice sansiveria leaves into 2" sections and insert them to half their depth in gritty compost. Begonia rex leaves are sliced through the main vein; then peg the leaf flat on the surface of a tray of compost.
Root division can be made from root clumps of Boston fern, Bilbergia, Canma and Bird of Paradise.
Layering: Plants that produce runners (most shrubs) can be reduced by layering, select young ripe branches and pin them down onto the soil and they will produce roots from the nodes. Offsets or small plants around aloe, Sansiveria, Caladium if pulled out with a few roots will make new plants.
CHITRA RADHAKRISHNAN
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
|
