Plants From Cuttings

The method of choosing and rooting cuttings has been outlined in a

previous chapter (see page 29). In greenhouse work the main difference

is that they are taken in much larger quantities. For this reason it is

usually convenient to have a cutting bench instead of the flats or

saucers used in rooting house plants. The bench should be three or four

inches deep, filled with medium coarse, gritty sand, or a substratum of

drainage material. If possible, have it so arranged that bottom heat may

be given--this being most conveniently furnished with pipes under the

bench boxed in. (The temperature required for most cuttings will be

fifty to fifty-five in the house with five to ten degrees more under

the bench.) The cutting bench should also be so situated that it readily

may be shaded, as one of the most important factors of success is to

prevent the cuttings from wilting at any time--especially just after

placing in the sand. After rooting, the cuttings are put into small pots

or flats as already explained.



Spring stock of some plants, such as geraniums, are rooted in the

fall--September to November. Others, which make a quick growth, such as

petunias, not until early in the spring,--last of January to April, but

for the most part in February. In the former case, cuttings are taken

just before frost from outside plants, or later from stock plants lifted

and taken indoors; in the latter case, stock plants are taken in and

carried through the winter in a more or less dormant or resting

condition; being kept rather dry and started into active growth in

January. The new growth furnishes material for cuttings, which are grown

on as rapidly as possible.



The following plants are treated in one of the above ways; further

details in any case may be found in the first part of the book:



Alternantheres Heliotrope

Begonias, fibrous rooted Ice Plant

Coleus Paris Daisy

Cuphia Petunias

Geraniums Salvias

Ivy Geraniums Vincas

German Ivy