There is a plant in the garden that you really like. Maybe it has lush foliage or produces some delicious berries or it's just too beautiful and you can't help but look at its long, lustrous stems. You wish you could keep her for the rest of your life, but you realize her days have come to an end. You could plant another seed, but the result is not certain; there are no guarantees that the new plant will turn out the way you want it. How will you keep its beauty intact and create another identical organism without sexual reproduction? Don't panic and surf the web. This article offers you the solution: it's time to clone the plant.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Gather the Right Materials
Step 1. Choose a container for cloning
The model depends on the size of the mature plant and how many specimens you want to clone in the same container. Do some research on the species of the plant to figure out how big the pot should be.
- Some people prefer to use pots for this, while others stick to something simple, like a plastic cup with holes in the bottom.
- A clear container is usually best, because you can monitor when and where the roots sprout.
Step 2. Decide if you prefer to clone the plant in soil or rock wool
When you start this project, you need to put a cutting in a substrate so that it can generate roots and grow.
- Rock wool complicates things a bit and requires more preparation than soil. It must be left to soak overnight in water with a controlled and constant pH of 4.5; it also does not contain the same nutrients as soil. You also need to take the time to drill a hole in the center of the substrate block that is not too large, but not too small, in relation to the size of the plant you are about to clone.
- The soil does not need much preparation, you just need to open the bag you bought or collect some from the garden or vegetable garden.
Step 3. Consider whether or not to use a rooting hormone
This product is used during the cloning process to stimulate plant cells to grow. Plants naturally contain hormones, called auxins, which allow them to decide whether to develop the root system more than the foliage. When buying a rooting hormone pack, you should choose synthetic auxin. By applying it, you get the plant to "believe" that it needs more roots and start the cloning process.
- If you are a gardener who follows the rules of organic farming, growth hormones are not part of your "arsenal", as they often also contain pesticides and chemicals that are not environmentally friendly. Many famous brand products are enriched with chemicals that cause skin and upper respiratory tract irritation.
- If you exclude rooting hormones, your experiment is likely not going to be very successful. Plants such as tomatoes are easy to clone, because they produce a lot of auxins in a natural way; other species, however, develop their roots only from the end of the stem and only from the original root system; as a result, it is difficult to get a new specimen without using the synthetic hormone. Do some research on the plant species you want to clone and make the right decisions based on the situation.
Part 2 of 3: Plant the Cutting
Step 1. Fill the pot or container with soil or rock wool
- If you have decided to use soil, fill the container to the brim. Drill a hole in the center to the bottom of the bowl.
- If you have opted for rock wool, you can just put a piece of it in the vase.
Step 2. Wet the earth
Add enough water to wet the soil without soaking it. In the case of stone wool, you should have already soaked it overnight, so no more water needs to be added.
Step 3. Make a diagonal cut on the stem of the plant, using a sharp knife or pair of scissors
Choose a side stem and not a stem. The latter is one of the main stems that come out of the ground, while the lateral ones protrude from the stems.
After making the incision, observe the stem and remove any leaves or buds at the base. The buds and leaves absorb much of the water from the base of the stem and, if they are too numerous, prevent the cutting from taking root
Step 4. Dip the stem in rooting hormone (if you have decided that this substance is good for your plant)
It is usually available in liquid and powder form. In this second case, you must first dip the stem in a little water and then make the powder adhere to its end. Do not cover all the cutting with the hormone, but use it in small quantities focusing only on the terminal portion.
Step 5. Place the stem in the hole you made in the soil or rock wool
Make sure that about a third of the cutting is in the hole.
Step 6. Cover the container with glass or plastic
A plastic bag is often a good solution if you don't have anything better. By covering it, the plant retains moisture inside and can therefore continue to live while it develops its roots. The material to use to cover the cutting depends on the container you have chosen for cloning.
Part 3 of 3: Letting the Plant Grow
Step 1. Store the pot in a warm place where there is some sunlight
If you expose the cutting to direct sunlight, you could cause it too much stress and kill it.
Step 2. Wet the soil daily, making sure the substrate is moist, but not waterlogged as the stem begins to take root
After a week or two, you should see the first roots. Well done! You managed to clone the plant!
Advice
- The stem that is best suited for cloning can be snapped, rather than cut, and must come off neatly. A stem that bends may be too old to take root, while a soft or flexible one may be too young. If you can't find the stem that comes off perfectly, look for the healthiest one available and cut it off with a knife.
- After cutting the stem, gently scrape the side of it. This way, you allow auxins and nutrients to penetrate in greater quantities and help the cutting to root.
