Propagation

Vegetative plant propagation is the process of replicating plant species from a singular parent plant, allowing growers and breeders to produce consistency within their plant stock from year to year. There are a number of plant propagation techniques, including micropropagation, division, budding, and grafting, but cuttings are  the easiest and  most popular.

Direct stick

For vigorous, easy to root species, rather than being struck into small cells cuttings can be struck into 9cm liners or even larger pots up to 1.5 litres. This shortens the production cycle and reduces costs. Many HNS plants grown for landscape planting can be grown this way, eg Rubus tricolor, Ivy (Hedera Helix Hibernica) and Cotoneaster dammeri. Pot Plants such as Geranium (Pelargonium) and Pot Mums (Chrysanthemum) can also be grown this way over a shorter crop cycle.

With this production system plants’ nutrient demands change dramatically over time. Initially a low nutrient growing media is required to encourage healthy roots. With a small cutting in a large pot, moss and algae growing on the surface of the growing media can be a problem. After rooting, the plant demand for nutrients will increase as the plant grows rapidly.

Nursery stick and forestry

Cuttings are typically struck into small cells in a humid environment often under mist, fog or contact polythene with bottom heat. Cool tops and warm feet to encourage rooting.

Initially a low nutrient growing media is required to encourage healthy roots. After rooting nutrients are required to develop buds and further roots, any check in plant development at this stage will lengthen the production time and reduce final plant quality. Water soluble feeds are quickly leached in this production system and likely to cause moss and algal growth.