University of Vermont Extension System
Department of Plant and Soil Science

Dr. Leonard P. Perry, Extension Professor

• Seeds: 50, 72 (70), 128 (125), 288 plug sizes
• smaller the size, more precise attention to detail
• Vegetative--method depends on grower; generally 18, 32, 50, 72, 128; often depends on plant size, habit
• trays or flats
• direct stick or plant

• cuttings : division : seed (7:1:2, or 4:2:4), often for large growers
• cuttings : division : seed (4:5:1), often for medium growers
• cuttings : division : seed (1:7:2), often for small growers
• root cuttings (good winter job)

Vegetative propagation: culture

• Water: watch quality as for plugs; winter watering: less is best
• Tools: any that work and appropriate for plant and method; pruners, knives (single edge razor blade), reciprocating saw
• rooting hormones for cuttings; varies with grower, plant; powder, liquid

• similar concerns as for plugs
• often few/no nutrients, rather in growing on mix
• sand, sand and peat (1:1), perlite, perlite and vermiculite (1:1)
• gritty (alpines): sand, peat, pea gravel (1:1:1)
• loamy (woodland, ferns): loamy soil, peat moss, perlite or vermiculite (1:1:1)

• Mist-- timers or "leaf sensors"; better control, zones, too moist for some?
• Fog-- commercial foggers (large scale), humidifers (short lived), orchid foggers; may inject bromine into water or mist, lessen algae and disease, alternative to chlorine

• Easiest when plant wants to be vegetative and not reproductive
• spring: if stock indoors, no retail conflict
• summer: many, outdoor divisions
• fall: Geranium, Sedum, Dianthus, Salvia, Sempervivum, Tiarella, Heuchera, others
• winter: root cuttings, grasses, division of stock indoors

• may grow indoors for access year round
• multisource if buy in; only 20-25% from any one source, avoids problems in shipments and quality
• keep 2-3 years max; young is easiest to work, roots better
• may repot plants to sell, root offsets

• If retailer, display
• maintain hard-to-find, not readily available selections
• you have a propagation "trick"
• maintain own selections, often from "sports"
• have the space, facilities, staff

• tip, terminal-- cut just below node, avg. 3 nodes per cutting; eg. Amsonia, Euphorbia, Phlox subulata
• stem, leaf node, interdodal-- section of stem, root at leaf nodes; eg. Agastache, Ajuga, Chelone, Lamium
• leaf--leaf with small section of stem (eg. Sedum)

• basal--at base of plant where tops join roots; if roots attached, "heel" or "rooted" cuttings; early as plants sprout; eg. Achillea, Aster, Coreopsis, Geranium
• rhizome--underground stem; treated similar to root cuttings; eg. Bergenia, Darmera, Dicentra

• Thicker the better, pencil size ideal
• thicker the roots, more orientation seems to matter in placing upright in cells
• Acanthus, Anchusa, Asclepias, Brunnera, Papaver
• mark roots with angle cut on bottom, straight tops
• specific plants in references; Pulmonaria species, not cultivars (division)

• Take 1" - 2" long
• stick thicker in 50-70 tray to root, orientation?
• Scatter thin roots on mix
• make sure covered with mix
• water, keep fairly dry until rooted (4-8 weeks)
• alternative: throw in bag of just moist mix, remove and pot as roots form

• pull offsets from crowns with root initials; eg. Hemerocallis, Heuchera, Leucanthemum
• crown division; best to pull apart most using forks or similar
• cut woody crowns (eg. Astilbe, Epimedium)
• "Rossing" for hostas-- quarter crown with cuts, top or bottom half; early spring or fall, for following year division

Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the United States Department of Agriculture. Lawrence Forcier, Director, UVM Extension System, Burlington, Vermont. University of Vermont Extension System and U.S. Department of Agriculture cooperating, offer education and employment to everyone, without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, and marital or familial status.

Last reviewed 12/01