Cloning
Growing cuttings is a popular way of obtaining young plants without the constant use of seeds. With the right equipment, growing cuttings indoors is not only a cheap but also a convenient and simple alternative. Advantages of growing cuttings
When propagating many indoor and garden plants, cuttings are a simple and cost-effective alternative to seeds. Cuttings are plant parts - usually top or side shoots - that are separated from a mother plant in order to grow them into a healthy new plant. If you follow a few rules when cutting, pulling and planting, you can achieve considerable success in a relatively short time.Cutting and planting cuttings
One of the most important prerequisites for obtaining cuttings is a healthy and well-grown mother plant, from which shoots about ten centimetres long are cut off - preferably not during the flowering phase. This will give you sufficiently long stems that you can then plant so that they develop roots. An average cutting should have around two to four pairs of leaves that are not too large.
The watered planting medium should be prepared before cutting to prevent the cuttings from drying out. Rockwool cubes, coconut swelling tablets or substrate mats, for example, are suitable and easy to use, but depending on the plant species, there are also special, low-nutrient Growing Media and substrates that can be filled into swelling pots. Soilless substrates, coarse sand, vermiculite and perlite are particularly suitable for growing cuttings. You can start measuring the pH and EC value of the planting medium at this stage in order to achieve optimum cultivation results later during indoor growing.
Faster root formation can be promoted with various root stimulators - powders, sprays and gels - in which either cuttings or rock wool are dipped or which are mixed with the growing medium. Beforehand, the cuttings should be slightly injured at a height of two to three centimetres to make it easier for the rooting agents to be absorbed. The cuttings are placed in the moist planting medium; the leaves should not touch the soil or the cover, as they will quickly begin to rot.Care until rooting
Place the prepared cuttings in a warm and bright place. Optimum growth is achieved either with a transparent protective cover that is fixed over the pot - but there are also special cutting greenhouses in various sizes and equipment, for example with heating mats. The ideal temperature for rapid growth is between 26 and 32 degrees.
In the first two days, the cuttings need a lot of nitrogen, so the plastic cover should not be opened during this time. The greenhouse should then be ventilated once or twice a day to prevent the formation of mould and bacteria. If necessary, the young plants can be misted with a foliar fertiliser solution. They like it nice and moist, but should never be overwatered - rule of thumb when caring for cuttings: only water when the surface is dry.How the cuttings survive repotting
Depending on the plant and the time of year, it will take between ten days and four weeks for new roots to form. As soon as the roots penetrate the plant pots or rockwool cubes, it is time to repot.
To make the traumatic experience easier for the plants, it is best to repot in the late afternoon so that they can recover overnight. The cuttings should be well watered two days beforehand, enriched with vitamin B1 or other repotting solutions.
Grow pots and containers are available in different sizes depending on the type of plant - rule of thumb: the more space for the roots, the more space for flowers and leaves. Grow soil optimised for the respective plant species ensures good growth and relatively high tolerance to fertilisation and watering errors. The soil should be well moistened for repotting, but not overwatered. In the first few days after repotting, fertilisers with a high phosphorus content make it easier for the plants to adapt. During this time, less intensive or, if necessary, filtered light is also conducive to growth.