By PT Horticulture
When you receive unrooted cuttings, they are ready to be stuck into the propagation media. Rooting for most cuttings occurs at the nodes, so the lower leaves are stripped from the cutting where the roots emerge. There are only a few leaves that remain on the unrooted cuttings because the leaves transpire water which can cause the cutting to lose turgidity (wilt) and possibly die. Cuttings should be stuck as soon as they arrive, but if this is not possible, store them cool, respecting temperature minimums for cold intolerant plants.
Unrooted cutting propagation can take from 3-6 weeks for a finished liner. Typically most plants are grown in larger celled, propagation trays, such as a 105 flat or larger. In propagation trays with smaller cells, for example 288’s, the cuttings are stuck much closer together so there can be increased loss from bacterial disease and often flowering is delayed in liners by a few days.
Growing Medium: A good growing medium should have both good water holding capacity and high air porosity. Many types of growing medium can work, but misting / fogging needs to be adjusted to work with the growing medium selected. Too much or too frequent application of mist / fog keeps the growing medium saturated, excess water will flow from the bottom of the trays and rooting will be delayed. Applying mist / fog too infrequently will increase transpiration from the leaves and cuttings will lose turgidity and could die from drying out.
Ideally, the growing medium should have peat to retain water and aggregate such as perlite or vermiculite to increase air porosity. Often growers want a blend of coarse peat with perlite, which provides desirable properties, but it is difficult to have a coarse peat that is free from sticks (tree roots). Premier Tech Horticulture has designed a new product, called PRO-MIX® YP (Young Plant) which has a very ‘clean’ Canadian Sphagnum peat moss with minimal fines, horticulture grade perlite and coir fiber to further improve air porosity, reduce compaction and will not contribute sticks. Sticks are not only a problem in small-celled propagation trays, but also tear paper or other materials used as encasement around “wrapped pots” for young plant propagation. PRO-MIX® YP also includes wetting agent, limestone and a fertilizer charge with low solubility to provide nutrients for the plant throughout the rooting phase.
Temperature: To improve success with rooting of cuttings it is best to maintain media temperatures between 68-77°F; even cold tolerant crops such as pansy, dianthus, osteospermum, petunia, etc. prefer these media temperatures for rooting. Warm growing medium temperatures accelerate cell division which leads to faster callusing, root initial development and subsequent root growth. It also speeds up the dry-down rate of the growing medium, which also helps encourage better rooting. The best way to warm the growing medium is through bottom heat.
Air temperature is not as important for rooting, but it is suggested that it should be set between 65-75°F. Air temperature becomes important when new shoot growth begins; in that, warmer temperatures encourage faster top growth.
Once roots have grown to the bottom of the plug, growing medium temperatures can be reduced or plants can be taken off bottom heat systems. This will aid in the hardening process to help the plant get used to cold shipping and growing temperatures.
Misting / Watering: Mist or fog has to be applied often early in propagation to minimize transpiration so the cutting will not lose turgidity. Some growers will spray an adjuvant on the leaves of their cuttings to allow for uniform water coverage, slowing transpiration. Frequency of misting / fogging is often dictated by the growing medium and the needs of the cutting. The goal is to apply enough water to keep the growing medium wet, but not saturated. Tests should be conducted to determine the optimum duration and frequency of misting / fogging for each crop and for the time of year. Remember a wet environment invites disease that can rot cuttings or cause foliar diseases. Plants that are sensitive to excess misting (and more prone to disease) include begonia, bracteantha, heliotrope, verbena, etc.
Once cuttings start to callus, reduce mist / fog frequency and allow the growing medium to dry out more between irrigation events. Avoid saturating the growing medium as this will minimize oxygen in the growing medium which will stress the cuttings and inhibit root development. Plants that are sensitive to excess water and easily rot include begonia, bracteantha, calibrachoa, coleus, petunia, sutera, verbena, etc.
Once roots begin to develop, usually within 4-28 days, depending on the type of plant, remove plant from mist / fog and bottom heat. Place them into the main area of the greenhouse where they are exposed to full light and lower humidity and allow the growing medium to dry between waterings to encourage root growth (growing medium surface should turn light brown to tan between watering).
Fertilization: Determining if fertilizer should be applied to unrooted cuttings depends on the nutritional status of the stock plants from which the cuttings were taken. According to research by Santos, if the stock plants were nutrient deficient, then the unrooted cuttings will quickly decline in nutrient levels before rooting. Continuous misting / fogging leaches the growing medium of any starter fertilizer that is provided by the manufacturer. If cuttings from certain plants are prone to deficiencies or arrive with nutrient deficiencies, apply a 50-100 ppm N solution once after sticking or use a growing medium that provides a “slower release” starter fertilizer as found in PRO-MIX® YP.
When cuttings begin to callus, apply another 50-100 ppm N drench and also again at 100-200 ppm N once roots emerge from the callus tissue. To tell if roots have emerged, lightly pull the cutting to check on root development. When roots grow to the bottom of the plug, constant feed at 100-200 ppm N. This rate should be maintained until the time of transplant. Try to avoid higher application rates and this may encourage too much top growth and limit root growth.
Remember any fertilizer application rates above our guidelines should be tested on a small percentage of plants to verify it will work for you. Lower rates are for light feeders (Bracteantha, New Guinea Impatiens, etc.) and higher rates for heavy feeders (petunia, calibrachoa).
Light: Light is important when it comes to rooting cuttings. During the winter in northern climates, most plant cultivars would benefit from supplemental lighting. Research has shown that this speeds up the rooting process and the liners can finish up to 10-14 days faster. In the summer, especially in southern climates, high light can damage cuttings mostly from excess transpiration of water through the leaves or also through heat build up. Cuttings should be shaded to slow transpiration and keep them cool.
Plant Growth Hormones: Not all unrooted cutting need rooting hormones. The need depends on the rate at which they root. If it takes less than 10 days to root, rooting hormone may not be required. Those that take longer would benefit from root hormone. Often 1000-3000 ppm IBA, NAA or a combination of both is suggested as a cutting dip. Verify rates with the manufacturer and other products may also work well to assist in the rooting of cuttings.
Following these general tips should help improve your success with cutting product. Please note that plant companies provide more detailed information for each crop, so please consult with them or visit their websites.
For more information on growing medium, such as PRO-MIX® YP, please contact your Premier Tech Horticulture Sales Representative or Grower Services Representative.
This article was previously published on PT Horticulture's Training Center Blog
References :
- www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/floriculture/reports/Florex/florex_8.pdf
- Dole, J.M, B.E. Whipker and P.V. Nelson. 2002. "Producing Vegetative Petunias and Calibrachoa" Greenhouse Product News March 2002
- Santos, K., P. Fisher and B. Argo. 2009. "Nutrient Supply in Propagation" Greenhouse Product News February 2009: 35-37