There should be at least three sets of leaves on the cutting. Trim the cutting in the following way: Make the bottom cut just below a node (a node is where the leaf and/or the bud joins the stem) (Figure 1). Remove 1/2 to 2/3 of the leaves, starting from the bottom of the cutting.

Plant stems increase in length and thickness by laying down successive layers of cells much as bricks are laid in building a wall. Woody stem growth (girth) is the result of cell division in a thin layer of cells called the cambium. Stem length increases as active cells produce new cells at the stem tips.

You can regrow many plants and shrubs by taking a 3- to 5-inch stem or 4- to 6-inch softwood cutting. Remove any flowers or flower buds and the leaves on the lower half of the cutting.

Just clip a length of stem and watch the roots grow. Growing from stem cuttings is easy if you know the right steps to take care of cuttings. With enough water and humidity, stem cuttings can create new pots of favorite plants that can add to a personal collection or be given away to friends and family.

• 20 Plants You Can Propagate From Cuttings.
• Lavender. Lavender is an easy herb to grow from stem cuttings.
• Geraniums. One of the few flowers that can be regrown from a cutting in the water, the geranium comes in multiple colors.
• Horseradish.
• Hydrangea.
• Sage.
• Fuchsia.
• Oregano.

The stem of a tender plant can be easily damaged by high winds, heavy rains or poor handling. This vital part of the plant transports the nutrients from the water and soil to its blossoms and leaves. If the stem becomes broken or bent, it can interrupt this flow and can cause your plant to die.

Starting new plants from favorites isn’t just for expert gardeners. Even beginners can successfully multiply plants by rooting simple stem cuttings. Known as “propagation,” starting plants from cuttings is one of the easiest and least expensive ways to expand your garden, but there are other benefits, too.

Instructions

1. Take Cuttings From a Healthy Plant. Cut a 3- to 6-inch long piece from a healthy portion of the parent plant’s stem, using a sharp knife or pruners to sever the stem at a 45-degree angle.
2. Trim the Leaves and Apply Rooting Hormone.
3. Plant the Cuttings.
4. Tend the Cuttings.
5. Transfer the Cuttings.

Types of Stem Cuttings. The four main types of stem cuttings are herbaceous, softwood, semi-hardwood, and hardwood.

Rooting will generally occur in 3-4 weeks but some plants will take longer. When the roots are 1-2 inches long or longer the cutting is ready to be potted up. This plant has heavy rooting and is ready to be moved to a pot with potting soil.

Wilted cuttings are the result of increased transpiration from decreased humidity in the propagation environment. Most often, we refer to humidity as relative humidity or the proportion of water vapor in the air equated to how much the air could hold at a given temperature.

Three types of cuttings are commonly used: hardwood stem cuttings, softwood stem cuttings, and root cuttings. Currants, grapes, elderberries, and quinces start well from either hardwood or softwood cuttings. Gooseberries, saskatoons, and blueberries are more easily started from softwood cuttings.

You can grow an apple tree from a cutting, but keep in mind that the resulting apple tree may not turn out identical to its parent because of the influence of the rootstock onto which the parent has been grafted. The cutting should be several inches long.

Fruit trees from cuttings. Propagating by cuttings can be one of the fastest ways of starting a new fruit tree. However, some fruit tree cuttings need to then be grafted onto a rootstock, something we won’t be covering here. There are three types of cuttings: softwood, semi-hardwood, and hardwood.