How to Make Cuttings Root Faster? Know The Fact!

If you love propagating plants, you might want to learn how to make cuttings root faster. 
Whether you’re a newbie, or an experienced horticulturalist, knowing about different types of cuttings and the ways to make cuttings root faster will help you become more successful as a gardener. Besides, it’s a fun and easy process that doesn’t need any heavy equipment. 
 
Today, in this blog post, we’ll share some basics of cuttings propagation and the best ways to make clones root faster. 
 
Here's what you’ll learn: 

What is plant propagation? 

• Types of cutting propagation  
• Required tools for cuttings 
• How to propagate plants using cuttings correctly 
• Ideal propagation media for faster rooting of cuttings 
• Effective ways to make cuttings root faster 
• Plant specific information to make cuttings root faster 
• Tips and Tricks to Root Faster Using Cuttings  

What Is Plant Propagation?

If we put it plainly, cutting propagation means the process of creating new plants from existing ones. You can reproduce your favorite plants through various plant propagation methods such as cuttings or seeds. 
 
Thus, you can maintain specific features or characteristics of the parent plant like flower color or growth habits. There are two main types of propagation techniques. 

Sexual propagation or propagation through seeds  

Asexual propagation or propagation through vegetative parts of the parent plants like stems, leaves, or roots. 

Cutting is a vegetative way of propagating plants. Let’s know what cuttings are and the different types of it. 
 

Different Types of Cuttings Propagation

There are several types of cuttings propagation. You can choose any one of them depending on the plants’ needs and propagate plants in water, soil, or any suggested growing medium.  

Shoot Cuttings: You can take branch tips or stems, including cuttings (apical bud and first nodes) from a plant parent and place them in water, soil, or any planting medium to root and form a new plant.  

Leaf Cuttings: There are certain plants that you can propagate from leaves. For example, begonia, African violates, Pothos, philodendron, and succulents can be grown using leaf cuttings. The adventitious buds of these plants within the leaves can develop into new plants. 

Root Cuttings: You can grow a new plant propagated from root sections. Root cuttings can be suitable for plants like phlox, rhus, Japanese anemones, poppies, Verbascum, and so on. 

Note that it’s the easiest way to grow soft-stem herbaceous plants (e.g., garden flowers and houseplants) through cutting methods. Besides, you can grow many woody plants as well.  

Besides, stem cuttings can be divided into 4 types of “wood” or branch cuttings. 

Hardwood Cuttings: Cutting from sections of mature woody stems, typically taken from deciduous plants during their dormant season. This is ideal for Bougainvillea, Camellia, Hydrangea, Jasmine, Abelia, Hydrangea plants, and so on.  

Semi-Hardwood (Greenwood) Cuttings: Cuttings from sections of partially mature stems, usually taken from plants during a growth phase where the wood is neither too soft nor too fully matured. This can be ideal for ornamental shrubs like camellia, pittosporum, euonymus, holly, and rhododendron. 

Softwood Cuttings: Young, tender shoots or stems taken from actively growing plants such as buddleia, fuchsia, hydrangea, perovskia, hardy and tender perennials (aubrieta, osteospermum, penstemon, pelargonium, verbena). These cuttings are typically harvested during the growing season. They are characterized by their flexible succulent nature which makes them more prone to root quickly.  

Herbaceous Cuttings: Cuttings from non-woody plants like geranium, chrysanthemum, coleus, carnation, and many foliage crops.  

Make Cuttings Root Faster: What You Need?

Cutting propagation is the easiest process. You’ll require no high-level equipment or ingredients. Besides, it will take you 20 to 30 minutes of work to complete the whole cutting propagation process. 
 
Here’s what you need:  

• Sharp pruning shears or knife or scissors 
• Propagation media 
• Rooting hormone or Rooting Gel Agent/ Auxin (plant growth hormone) 
• Pencil or stick 
• Plastic bags 

How to Propagate Plant Using Cuttings Correctly

To develop the root quickly, you need to do the cuttings correctly:  
 

First of all, use sharp pruning shears or scissors to make clean cuts without causing damage to the plant parents and plant stem branches or tips. Plus, you should cut where the leaf attaches to the stem. 

After you cut the plant stems, remove the lower leaves, but leave the top two or three. Note that the part of the cutting that will be buried under the planting medium should be free of leaves. 

remove the flowers or buds from the stems (if any). Flowers are not helpful for the rooting process.  

Avoid using any field soil, get a good-quality potting mix soil as propagation media. Make a hole in the growing medium using a stick and pencil. 

Before placing the cutting in the hole, dip the cutting in the rooting hormone. Then, stick the cutting into the hole that you’ve made in the potting mix. Finally, use the plastic bag to wrap the entire pot and fill it with air.  It'll help to maintain moisture and humidity. You can also use a clear glass-made bell jar instead of a plastic bag.  

Note that In case of growing media, use sterile, perlite, vermiculite, or any well-drained planting medium. 
 

Ideal Propagation Media for Faster Rooting of Cuttings

Certainly, you want your cutting methods to be successful. For this reason, you need to avoid using field soil and choose the right kind of propagation media which is so essential for encouraging quick and healthy root development in cuttings. 
 
The ideal propagation media will provide your expected plant with a balance of moisture retention, aeration, and support for evolving roots. The most common propagation media are coarse sand, vermiculite, or equal portions of vermiculite and peat moss. 

Here you’ll find some effective propagation media options: 

Peat and Perlite Mix: A combination of perlite and peat moss is a popular choice. Peat moss provides proper water retention, and perlite makes sure that your favorite plants and their roots get enough oxygen, and air (aeration) just like humans. The ideal ratio for this mixture is 2:1 or two parts perlites with one part peat. 

Vermiculite and Perlite Mix: Like peat moss, vermiculite enhances water retention, and perlite, on the other hand, contributes to aeration. Use a 1:1 ratio mixture of these two mediums. 

Coconut Coir: This is one of the eco-friendly alternatives to peat that can retain moisture as well as promote aeration. 

Apart from these propagation media, you can use organic compost tea, bark and perlite mix, Rockwool cubes, gel-based propagation products like rooting hormone gel, or rooting hormone alternatives and custom mix. 
 
 

Effective Ways to Make Cuttings Root Faster

If you want to reproduce a plant, propagation by cuttings is a common method. Achieving faster root development is the goal for successful propagation. But how to make clones root faster?  
 
There are some important ways that you can utilize to make plant cuttings root faster. 
 
Here are some effective ways to make cuttings root faster:  

• Selecting healthy stock 
• Choosing the right cutting type 
• Timing 
• Use rooting hormones 
• Planting in suitable media 
• Optimal environmental conditions 
• Monitoring and taking care of expected plants 

Selecting Healthy Stock

First, choose a disease-free parent plant for cutting propagation. Healthy plants produce cuttings with a higher chance of successful rooting. While selecting the mother plant, look for vibrant green leaves with no sign of disease or discoloration. 
 

Choosing the Right Cutting Type

Whether you’re doing it using shoot-cutting, leaf-cutting, or root-cutting, choosing the appropriate cutting type is mandatory. While you cut the plant’s stem, leave, or root, make sure to use the required tools we’ve mentioned earlier in this section. Besides, follow the whole process of how to propagate using cuttings correctly. Those steps will ensure that you’re doing everything right. 
 

Timing

When it comes to successfully growing new plants through cuttings, timing matters. For instance, in the case of soft-wood cuttings, the best time is from mid-spring to early summer. 
Besides, hardwood cuttings can be taken ideally from mid-autumn to mid-winter.  
 

Using of Root Hormone

Use auxin-based rooting hormone to promote faster root growth. Apply rooting hormone to the cut end of the stem. The best method of applying a rooting agent is through dipping cuttings which ensures even and thorough distribution. 
 
Besides, you need to follow the recommended concentration based on the type of cuttings. You can use higher concentrations for semi-hardwood or hardwood cuttings.  
 

Planting in Suitable Media

There are two ways to root cuttings. The first one is placing cuttings in water, and the second is implanting the plant's stem in ideal potting soil or propagation growing medium.   
 
We’ve already talked about different types of propagation media that can be used as an ideal planting medium. However, while selecting a growing medium for cuttings, you should ensure a good drainage system and proper aeration. 
 
Proper aeration indicates the medium is suitable for plants to get all the required air, oxygen, and nutrients.   
 
Plus, it’s important to preserve the right level of moisture since too much or too little moisture can hinder rooting.  
 

Optimal Environment Conditions

You should create a high-humidity environment for cuttings that are sensitive to moisture loss since dry-out cuttings will not do well. According to Apex Publishers, while maintaining relative humidity in the propagation house/ greenhouse, you should aim at a minimum of 85 percent humidity. 
 
For quicker root development, you can employ an intermittent misting system. This is widely used to propagate softwood, hardwood, and herbaceous cuttings to maintain humidity levels. 
 
Besides, in the case of temperature, you should medium temperature both for media, and air. The most suitable bottom heat or media temperature is between 72 to 77°F. Cold-tolerant plants such as dianthus, and petunia also prefer this media temperature for rooting. The air temperature, however, should be maintained between 68-73°F.  
 

Monitoring and Taking Care of Expected Plants

Regular monitoring is required for propagating plants. You should monitor cuttings for signs of rooting. Once roots emerge, transition the plants gradually to their final growing conditions. 
 
As a final note, keeping in mind the above-mentioned ways, practicing them while reproducing plants, you can make cuttings root faster. 
 
 

Plant Specific Information to Make Cuttings Root Faster: A Quick Table

 
The following recommendation can help cuttings root faster and increase the success of propagating plants. We’ve included this table based on some of the information published by the University of Georgia in a blog “Starting Plants From Cuttings for the Home Gardener”. 
 

Tips and Tricks to Root Faster Using Cuttings

So far, we’ve discussed all the possible ways through which you can make propagation cuttings root faster. 
 
You can keep in mind the following enlisted tips and tricks while doing cuttings propagation: 

1. Remove dead or decaying plant material upon arrival. 
2. Inspect for pests and signs of disease. 
3. If the mother plant is healthy, integrate it into your collection; otherwise treat and quarantine for a week. 
4. Before taking cuttings make sure the plant is well-watered and turgid. 
5. Use sharp and clean clippers, and make cuts at a 45-degree angle.  
6. Use a rooting mix that holds moisture and drains readily.  
7. Remember that the optimal cutting length is around six inches with one or two nodes below the soil. 
8. Don’t forget to remove flowers and extra leaves from the cuttings. 
9. Remove excess foliage to reduce water loss and promote root growth. 
10. Maintain a balanced amount of sunlight/light required for your clone plants.  
11. For bushy plants, don’t hesitate to stick more than one cutting in a pot. 
12. Use rooting hormone for faster root growth.  
13. In the case of water propagation, Pothos cuttings can speed up root development. 

The Bottom Line

Propagation is an easy and fun activity for plant enthusiasts. To make cuttings propagation root faster doesn’t require you to know rocket science. You can do it well keeping in mind some of the key points we’ve discussed. Plants are like humans no matter how big or small. If you can provide them optimal growing conditions, and deliver the required nutrients, oxygen, water, and air, they will thrive faster. 
 
However, when it comes to cutting propagation, be sure to choose the healthy and vigorous parent plant, and the right cutting type, use the necessary equipment and dip thorough rooting hormone before inserting them in well-drained planting media. That’s all! Now wait for your adorable plants to form roots, then monitor and take care of them as needed. 
 
 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some questions and answers related to how to make cuttings root faster.  
 

Is There Any Hacks or Tricks for Faster Rooting in Water?

If you’re growing new plant water medium, using Pothos cuttings with slow-rooting plants can speed up root development. Pothos has the superpower to act as a natural rooting hormone. 

Do Cuttings Root Faster in Water or Soil?

In propagation, how fast the root will develop depends on several factors. However, some plants grow faster in water, while others may do well in soil-based planting medium. For instance, Pothos, and Philodendrons can develop their root faster if propagated in water. On the other hand, succulents, and cacti are propagated in soil-based medium.  

Why Do Cuttings Fail to Root?

There are some key reasons that make cuttings fail to root. For instance, propagation using incorrect ways, unhealthy mother plants, pests, diseases, bad growing conditions, and so on can negatively influence cuttings and make them fail to root.