Propagation: taking cuttings

How to do it

1. 1Softwood cuttings (spring): take a roughly 10cm non-flowering shoot tip, cut just below a leaf node, remove the lower leaves, and insert in free-draining compost.
2. 2Semi-ripe cuttings (late summer): similar method, but taken from wood that's started to firm at the base.
3. 3Hardwood cuttings (autumn/winter): pencil-thick dormant stem sections inserted directly into a sheltered bed or pot, left to root over winter.
4. 4Keep all cuttings out of direct sun and consistently moist (not wet) until rooted, using a clear cover or propagator to hold humidity for the softest types.

Plants that use it

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