TYPES OF CUTTING
Cuttings
Cuttings are the planting materials in the form of small cuttage from different parts (stem, leaf and root) the plant. They are named as Stem cutting, Root cutting and leaf cutting according to the plant part used.
Types:
They may be classified into different types according to the types of stem cut for the propagation purpose. Different types of cuttings are stem cutting, root cutting and leaf cutting. Stem cutting can be classified as the hardwood, semi-hardwood, softwood and herbaceous cutting.
Hardwood cutting:
Hardwood cuttings are made of matured, dormant, firm wood after leaves have abscised. Mostly brown or dark brown coloured stems are used for this purpose. The branches of current year or post season’s growth with about lead/pencil thickness are collected from healthy, vigorous and young plants. Cutting of 20-25 cm length is prepared. The basal cut is given about 0.3 cm below a bud. The leaves are removed from the cuttings. Holes are made in the rooting media at 2.5 cm apart and 5 cm between rows. Cuttings are planted in these holes by inserting two-third basal part of the cutting in the holes. The soil around the cutting is firmly pressed and watering is done if the rooting media is dry.
Semi-hardwood cutting:
These are made from semi-mature branches (light brown or dark green coloured branches) of the selected trees. The size of the cutting is kept between10-15 cm. The leaves from the 2/3rd basal part of the cutting are removed and the cuts are given as in case of hardwood cutting. Such cuttings are required to be planted under mist.
Softwood cutting:
These are prepared out of immature (Light green coloured) branches from the selected plants. These branches should be 4-6 months old. The leaves are removed only from the basal part of the cutting which is to be buried inside the rooting media. Only the branches growing in full sunlight should be selected for preparing such cuttings. The basal cut is given just below the node and the cuttings are planted in the mist chamber for rooting, the herbaceous (light green coloured parts) cutting are also prepared and planted in the same way as the softwood cuttings. The length of the cutting should be about 10 cm.
Herbaceous cutting:
These are made from succulent non-woody plants. Leaf cuttings are prepared from the leaf blade and petiole. The long leaves are cut into sections of 8-10 cm length and these leaf pieces are inserted up to three- fourths of their length into the rooting medium. In fleshy leaves, the large veins are cut on the under the surface of the mature leaves which are then laid flat on the surface of the propagating medium. Root cutting is taken from young stock plants in late winter or early spring but before new growth starts. It is essential to maintain the correct polarity wile planting root cutting. To avoid planting them upside down, the proximal end may be made with a straight cut and the distal end with a slanting cut. Certain plants are difficult to root and cannot root without any hormonal treatments.