Vegetative Plant Propagation

Vegetative, or asexual reproduction in plants, is a type of reproduction process. It involves a new organism being created by splitting or taking a bit of a ‘parent' organism. The part of the stem that forms new roots and shoots is called a node. These growing points produce leaves, flowers or shoots when the plant is growing normally but, if a bit with two or more nodes is cut away and planted, the nodes can be encouraged to grow roots or shoots. Sexual reproduction in plants, on the other hand, need a male reproductive cell and a female reproductive cell. What happens is the male reproductive cells go through a process called ‘meiosis’.

Meiosis used for the process of creating ‘gametes’, in this case, the eggs and sperm from the plants. After the male cells create ‘sperm’, the female reproductive cells go through meiosis and create female ‘gametes’ which is the egg. The node of the plant is the part where new roots and shoots grow. After the cut is made, remove all flowers or leaves to lessen any transpiration. The sperm then merges with the egg to fertilise it and create a ‘zygote’. A zygote is the fuse between sperm and egg. This zygote goes through the process of ‘mitosis’ which is when a cell splits into two cells which are identical to the original. After mitosis, the zygote turns into an embryo. The embryo goes through mitosis and turns into a new organism. The sexual reproduction of plants has a totally unique path than an asexual reproduction method and this path can distinguish between asexual and sexual reproduction in plants.

Cuttings

One method of vegetative propagation is using cuttings. To start a cutting, you need to have a healthy plant and clean ‘secateurs’. Secateurs are scissors which are used to cut and prune plants.The part of the stem that forms new roots and shoots is called a node. In some cases, roots are encouraged by the addition of a growth hormone (sold as a rooting powder or gel) but often just burying the cutting in propagating mix and providing the best growing conditions stimulates root formation without the need for additives.These growing points produce leaves, flowers or shoots when the plant is growing normally but, if a bit with two or more nodes is cut away and planted, the nodes can be encouraged to grow roots or shoots. A cut is made beneath the node of the plant. The node of the plant is the part where new roots and shoots grow. After the cut is made, remove all flowers or leaves to lessen any transpiration.

Transpiration is water movement through a plant and water evaporates from leaves or flowers from the stem. After removing flowers and leaves, the cutting is dipped into hormone gel or powder. The additives will help the development of the roots in the plant. In some cases, roots are encouraged by the addition of a growth hormone (sold as a rooting powder or gel) but often just burying the cutting in propagating mix and providing the best growing conditions stimulates root formation without the need for additives. Many plants can regenerate from a single bit of themselves. Usually it’s a piece of stem but it can be a root or even a leaf. Many perennial plants are grown from root cuttings, while Rex begonias and African violets (pictured) can be grown from a single leaf. Plants that are grown from a cutting are the same as the plant they were taken from and are literally clones of the original plant.

Budding

The budding of a plant involves slicing off a bud when it is connected to the stem. To slice, a vegetative knife is held parallel to the stem above the bud. An incorrect slice would be to chop the bud off directly. To make a proper cut for a bud, the knife starts cutting a few centimetres above the bud, scraping a bit of the original stem. Then, a knife is used to cut a T shape into the stem of another plant. The two flaps made by the T are opened up a bit and the bud piece is inserted into the T shape. That is one way of budding. Another way of budding is to make a different type of cut when removing the bud.