Bring Your Garden Indoors!
Starting Plants from Cuttings in Your
Master Gardener Kit
Because of its oxygen-rich, 100% humidity environment, the AeroGarden is an ideal way to propagate your favorite indoor or outdoor plants from cuttings. Many (but not all) plants can be rooted from cuttings taken from existing plants, and rooting cuttings in the Master Gardener Kit is great fun for those who love to experiment. Follow the steps listed below to maximize your chance of success.
Get your AeroGarden set up and running before taking the cuttings so that the cuttings do not have a chance to dry out between cutting and being planted in the AeroGarden. If you are taking cuttings from outdoor plants it is best to do the whole procedure early in the morning while it is still relatively cool and damp outside.
There are two basic types of plants when it comes to rooting cuttings: herbaceous and woody. Herbaceous plants are the kind with stems that remain tender and green (such as basil, tomatoes, peppers, and petunias). Woody plants are those whose stems become tough and relatively woody with age (such as thyme, roses, rhododendrons, and lilacs). For both types of plants, be sure to only take cuttings from the youngest, newest growth. It is especially important with woody plants that you take cuttings only from the tender new growth that has not yet become too hardened or woody.
Procedure for Rooting Stem Cuttings
1.Choose which plant you wish to take a cutting from, and find a tender growing shoot. Using scissors or a single-edged razor blade that has been sterilized in rubbing alcohol, take a cutting about 4-6 inches back from the tip of the stem.
2.Bring the cutting inside and place the stem on a clean, firm surface. Make a fresh, very clean cut, just above the original one. This is to assure that there are no ragged edges or torn tissues that can harbor pathogens or interfere with new root growth.
3.Gently remove any flowers or flower buds that have formed, as well as any leaves on the lower third of the stem. This assures that the cutting will put its energy into producing roots rather than flowers, and will help keep it from losing too much water through its leaves (called “transpiration”) during the period when it has no roots.
4.To enhance success, you may choose to use a rooting hormone (available at most nurseries or garden centers) on the cut stem end before placing it in the Grow Pod. If you choose to use rooting hormone, be careful to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations on the product label.
5.Soak the Grow Sponge in water until it is thoroughly saturated, which will make it easier to cut. Make a slit about 1 to 1 1/2 inches deep in top the Grow Sponge.
6.This is a good time to review the instructions for “Building a Grow Pod” in the Master Gardener Deluxe Guide. (Available online by clicking here.)
7.Insert the cutting into the moistened Grow Sponge, and place the Grow Sponge into an empty Grow Basket.
8.Depending on how thick the stem is, you may want to secure it more firmly in the Grow Basket by soaking and cutting another Grow Sponge in half lengthwise, and using this to wedge the other Grow Sponge firmly in place, as shown below. (Photo coming soon)
9.Insert the Grow Pod into the Grow Surface opening (refer to “Planting Your Garden” in the Master Gardener Deluxe Guide).
10. Repeat this procedure for each cutting.
11. Cover the Grow Pods and Grow Surface with a clear plastic bag or container to maintain high humidity levels (a clear plastic container works well). Since it is also important to allow some air flow, it is a good idea to poke a few holes in the bag or container. We also recommend misting the cuttings with water once or twice a day to maintain humidity levels.
12. Do not add any nutrient tablets for the first two weeks. After that time, add nutrients according to the schedule found in the Master Gardener Deluxe Guide under “Nutrient Feeding Schedule Options”.
13. Check your cuttings regularly and remove any cuttings that may have rotted or dried up. If any have rotted, your container environment may be too humid. If any have dried up, your container environment may be letting in too much air and be too dry. Check your water level regularly and keep it from dropping more that about an inch below the “Fill to Here” mark.
14. Continue to monitor the cuttings and the water level in the AeroGarden Bowl. Within a few weeks you should start to see roots extending from the Grow Sponge.
For information about transplanting your newly-rooted cuttings into soil, please click here.
