Grow New Plants from Softwood Cuttings | Printable

Plant Cuttings in Each Season

Each stage of a plant’s growth offers different propagation opportunities.

Late spring is the time for softwood cuttings from many plants, perennials, shrubs, and vines. These young cuttings are eager to root but also at high-risk for drying out without proper care. After softwood comes the greenwood phase.

Summer is the time for semi-ripe cuttings, when the base of the shoots are hardening up (maturing) but the tips are still nimble. The ripe phase is next.

By autumn, the plant growth is mature. Fall and winter hardwood cuttings can be slow to root but more stable than tender young cuttings, allowing over-wintering in a cool greenhouse or under some protection outdoors.

Other propagation methods include: starting from seed, leaf-bud cuttings, tender cuttings, basal cuttings, leaf cuttings (vein, midrib, leaf slashing and squares), root cuttings, layering, division, offsets, and more.

Related: 5 Basic Plant Propagation Methods

Tips for Choosing Donor Plants

There are dozens of plants suitable for softwood cuttings listed below. The plant you take the cuttings from is called the donor plant.

You can take softwood cuttings in late spring or early summer or plan ahead for next year: a donor plant pruned this year will provide nice softwood shoots next spring.

To select softwood shoots for cuttings, try the bending test:

• New growth is too green and will bend but not break.
• Softwood will snap when bent. This is just right.
• Hardwood is too woody to snap.

Depending on the plant, you may choose lateral (side) or apical (main) shoots.

Plant List | Softwood Cuttings

Mid-Spring to Early Summer | After Last Frost

Take cuttings from new growth.

Here’s some suggestions (there’s lots more than I’ve listed here).

Summer Semi-Ripe Cuttings

Take cuttings on maturing stems (base is hard, tip is soft) in late summer.

Free Printable

Recommended Books

If you want to grow lots of different plants, consider getting a good, illustrated guide to propagation:

Step-by-Step Instructions

How to Take Softwood Cuttings

This is a generalized version of what I do for all types of cuttings from softwood to hardwood. I love seeing what other gardeners do as well. There’s lots of minor variations in methods but ultimately, they all seem to achieve the same result: newly rooted plants. You might also want to ask for advice at a local garden nursery if they do their own propagation.

Because some cuttings just won’t root, always take more than you need.

Supplies

• Soil-less potting mix
• 6-8″ flower pot (clay or plastic) | plastic works best
• Rooting hormone powder
• Sharp, clean knife
• Plastic food bag and damp paper towel
• Softwood cuttings (6 per pot)

Step 1: Prepare Pot for Planting

Have your flower pot and organic soil-less potting mix ready. Water potting mix thoroughly and top up as needed.

Step 2: Take Cutting from Donor Plant

Obtain your cutting in the morning, if possible, when stems are fully hydrated. Use a sharp, clean knife and cut just above a leaf node. Be careful never to crush or squeeze the stems. Wrap cutting in damp paper towel and place in plastic bag or bin. You can root up to 6 cuttings in one pot, so get a bunch of them.

Step 2: Remove Lower Leaves

Remove lower leaves.

Step 3: Trim Stem

Trim stem directly below leaf nodes (where you just removed the lower leaves).

Step 4: Apply Rooting Hormone

Place small amount of rooting hormone powder on plate. Dip stem in rooting hormone powder. Gently tap off excess.

Step 5: Plant Stem

Push stem into potting mix, approximately 2-inches deep (up to remaining leaf stems). The ideal position in the pot is against the inner wall.

Step 6: Plant More

You can fit approximately 6 cuttings around the inside of a 6-inch pot.

Step 7: Care & Growth

Keep soil moist, not soggy. Keep pot in a warm, sheltered location (to avoid drying out). Provide humidity, either by misting the cuttings twice daily or using grennhouse misting system. Growth rate varies by species and vigor of mother plant. Freshly-cut stems may wilt and look rather pathetic for the first week or so. Don’t panic: with even watering, they will perk up.  In most cases, roots form after 4-6 weeks, which means the cuttings are ready for transplanting into individual pots. You may also notice new leaf growth (hooray!). After another month, plants should be ready for planting in the garden.

Once you see how simple it is, it’s addictive!

Here’s the instructions for rooting hardwood cuttings in fall and winter. It’s another excellent way to get free plants.

~Melissa the Empress of Dirt ♛