AboutTom Alonzo Expertise I have been growing plants from seeds for at least 20 years. I have grown literally hundreds of different kinds of vegetables, trees, shrubs, annuals, perennials, tropicals, some cacti, water plants, iris, rose, lilies, cannas, etc. I enjoy starting from seed.
Experience I've been growing my own seeds for 20 years with indoor propagation equipment I built myself. I am also an Allexperts volunteer on the perennial forum. I have completed the Master Gardener course through the Kansas State University Extension. I have experience with a wide variety of seeds and I have also read through Norm Deno's books on seed germination.
Question I am a hobbyist and enjoy propagating plants especially using stem cuttings. I have learned a little bit about how to propagate stem cuttings from many articles on the Internet. I still have a few questions though.
1. I spoke with a woman who owns a plant nursery. I asked her about propagating plants through stem cuttings. Her advice seemed to contradict everything I’ve learned about propagating. She said that I don’t need to use a greenhouse or any type of covering to grow my stem cuttings nor do I need to keep heat on them such as a grow light or heat pad. During cold months, I will be keeping my stem cuttings inside my home. I have a few of my plants in pots in plastic zip lock bags. They are in my laundry room sitting on top of my dryer where it provides good heat. I also have a high voltage bulb on them. I also have several plants on a table with no covering and no heat pads in my spare bedroom next to a large window. What is the best way to ensure my stem cuttings grow roots? Should I cover them or not? Should I put them on my windowsill for lighting? How often should I water or mist them? What do you suggest I do to propagate plants using stem cuttings with the pots placed inside my home? I also have a large shed outside. Any advise using it for placing my pots? Any advice will be GREATLY appreciated.
2. Is it that big of a deal if the leaves of the stem cuttings are touching each other in the pots? Is it that big of a deal if the leaves touch the cover of the dome cover (or plastic bag)?
3. At Lowes they have a wire bookshelf with five shelves surrounded with plastic that they call a mini greenhouse that costs about $35.00. If I bought this mini greenhouse, where in my house do you suggest I place it? Or, would you suggest using one of those seed starting kits that have several places you could insert the stem cuttings along with a high dome to cover it? If you like this better, where should I place it in my home?
4. Everyone online seems to suggest greenhouses or cold frames for propagating. These are for outside aren’t they? I want to keep my plants inside my house; consequently, do I really need a greenhouse or cold frame?
THANKS A LOT
Frank
Answer Hi Frank,
Thanx for your questions.
Growing techniques are just like people, they are different from person-to-person. What may work for one does not necessarily work for another, etc. There are some established procedures that most people use successfully and then there are other methods employed by others that work satisfactorily for themm. I have grown cuttings without a greenhouse or bottom heat. These things DO enhance success but are not required. I have grown stem cuttings indoors and outdoors. Some stem cuttings can be left in the ground for the winter and then will have roots by spring. Using the top of a refrigerator or dryer is a good way to employ the excess heat created so you can provide this heat to your cuttings. Ziploc bags can be used to root cuttings. Unless you're using the high voltage bulb for heat, I would just use 40-watt shop lights for light. I don't really see the need for the high voltage bulb if you have sufficient heat indoors. The bottom heat really does enhance rooting success and I would recommend employing a heating pad at least part of the day (say at night..)Covering the cuttings helps retain moisture and humidity. The big boys and girls use misting equipment where the cuttings are misted at regular intervals throughout the day to keep the cuttings from drying out. If the cutting dries out, it won't produce a new plant.
Basically, it has been my experience that using bottom heat, 40-watt shoplights, covering the propating environment with clear plastic or some kind of clear lid (to maintain humidity), rooting hormone and misting the cuttings a couple times a day, enhances success. For your potted cuttings indoors, again, bottom heat of some kind, clear covering to retain moisture and to allow light, rooting hormone will enhance rooting indoors. The outdoor shed can be used to transition plants that have already rooted and are not quite ready to go in the ground. The shed can also be used for overwintering hardwood cuttings. I
You should strip off all but the last couple of leaves of a stem cutting. The leaves should preferably not touch each other or the sides of the propagator to prevent spreading disease.
I have used the mini-greenhouses outdoors when starting new plants. You could place it in your spare bedroom to keep it out of the way but available for you to work with. Personally, I prefer using 10X20 seed flats with warm, wet sand. I put the rooting hormone on the cutting and just stick them into the sand and cover with the plastic dome. Keep them on a special shelving unit my brother and I made (your mini-greenhouses will work...). The shelving unit is right above a heater register (the vent from the heater in the basement) so there is periodic warm air coming up and no need for a heating pad. I just make sure I maintain moisture levels. To be honest with you , I'm not very good at remembering to consistently mist the cuttings.
No, you don't need a greenhouse or coldframe. They can be helpful if you're growing a lot of different cuttings. Greenhouses and coldframes are wonderful for starting large lots of seedlings too. You can grow cuttings indoors with a small shelving unit, 10X20 seed flats and domes, rooting hormone, 40-watt shop lights and heating pads. I hope this helps.
Tom
