Propagation of Plants

by Sexual and Asexual Methods

By Kim Murphy
 Part A: Propagation of seeds

Stage 1: Sowing Seeds

Method:

1. Seeds were placed in bowls for easy handling with labels to identify which seeds were which.
Some seeds with a harder testa were soaked overnight to aid germination time.
2. Propagation trays were filled with compost and tapped onto a hard surface to remove any air
pockets. The compost was not compacted down or pressed; this is so to ensure free movement
for root growth.
3. Labelling each propagation tray, we sowed the corresponding seeds by taking a small handful
and lightly sprinkling them on top of the compost making sure to sow them thinly and well-
spaced out. The variety of seeds we sowed included cornflower, cherry tomato, spring onion
peas and lettuce.
4. We then placed a light coating of vermiculite over the seeds once planted.
5. Once all the propagation trays had been sown with seeds, we covered them with their lids and
placed them in the heated propagator.
6. After a few days, 3 of the seed trays had germinated and the cotyledon leaves had grown. In
fact, they were left slightly too long in the heated propagator and the stems had become a bit
leggy. The other trays took a few more days to germinate. Once signs of germination had
occurred, the tray were taken out of the heated propagator and placed on a windowsill with
access to sunlight to allow for growth and to prevent the seedlings from becoming leggy in their
search for the sunlight.
Stage 2: Pricking off

Method:

1. Once the seedlings were germinated and the seedlings grown strong enough, I was time to prick
them off. To do this, we gently turned the tray upside down, keeping our hand underneath so
the seedlings could be removed gently and carefully.
2. The roots of the seedlings held the compost together so it came out in one block.
3. Next, we gently teased apart the seedlings from the compost making sure not to damage any
stems or roots.
4. Seedlings were handled by their cotyledon leaves at all times. This is critical to avoid bruising the
tender stems which can ultimately kill the seedlings.
5. Once the seedlings were gently teased apart, they were placed on newspaper with distance
between them in preparation for potting on.
Stage 3: Potting up

Method:

1. This was the final step in propagation by seeds. Once all the seedlings were pricked off it was
time to pot them up.
2. The first step was to fill small pots with compost. We added the compost up to the lip of the pot,
gently scraped off the excess and tapped it down on a hard surface to remove air pockets.
3. A general-purpose compost was used.
4. Once the pots were filled, we made a hole in the compost using a pencil, picked up the seedling
by it’s cotyledon leaves and placed the roots gently down into the soil.
5. Then we tucked the compost in around the seedling, firming it in gently.
6. The final step was to label the pots and water the soil being careful not to wet the leaves.
 Part B: Propagation by Division

Stage 1: Dividing and Potting Up

Method:

1. To start, the desired plants for propagation were dug up making sure to include their roots.
2. The plants chosen for division were Hosta, Aster and Bluebells.
3. Using a handsaw, we cut through the roots along the natural divide between the plant.
4. Once we had divided all the plants, it was important to pot them up immediately as it is not
good to leave roots exposed to air for too long.
5. We filled a pot for each division part ways with compost.
6. Then we placed each new cut plant into each of those pots and filled in the rest with compost
firming it in gently around the plant.

Part C: Propagation by Cuttings

Stage 1: Preparing Potting Medium

Method:

1. Cuttings Require a free draining medium in order for them to take root correctly.
2. To create this free-draining medium we mixed ordinary compost with perlite, which is a granular
material that aerates soil and aids water retention
 3. The correct ratio of perlite to compost for stem cuttings is around 1:4
4. Once this mixture was made up, we used it to fill some pots in preparation for cuttings.

Stage 2: Cutting and Preparing Samples

Method:

1. To prepare a stem cutting for potting up there a few steps that need to be followed.
2. The plants chosen for propagation were Contorted Willow, Heather and Forsythia.
3. Each cutting was taken below a leaf node as this is essential in order to have successful rooting.
4. When cutting below the node, we made sure to cut at an angle as this also aids rooting.
5. Leaves were removed from around the stem, leaving a maximum of 2-3 leaves at the tip of the
cutting. If there are too many leaves remaining on the cutting, the plant takes up too much
energy feeding the leaves and will therefore struggle to root.
6. If the remaining leaves were too large, we also cut the tips of the leaves.
Stage 3: Hormone Powder

Method:

1. It is possible for a stem cutting to root without additional aid. However, root hormone powder
when used at the base of a cutting encourages faster and stronger rooting of the new plant.
2. Before potting up our cuttings, we dipped the base of our stem cuttings into a small container of
root hormone powder, making sure to gently tap off the excess powder.
3. The cuttings were now ready for potting up
Stage 4: Potting Up

Method:

1. As our cuttings had no been correctly prepared, it was no time for potting.
2. Using out pre-prepared potting mixture and pots, we made small indentations along the edge of
the pot.
3. This is where we placed out cutting, burying it two nodes deep for a higher chance of rooting.
4. Once the cuttings were in place, we firmed them in gently making sure there was no air pockets
around the base of the stem and ensuring they were correctly submerged into the compost.