How To Take A Soft Wood Cutting

1. How to take a soft wood cutting
Session objectives
By the end of the session we will:
Explain the genetic characteristics of a clone
Identify area of the plant in which new cells are
produced
Describe how a cutting produces root cells
List the factors required for a cutting to grow
successfully
Take a softwood cutting correctly

2. What is vegetative
reproduction?
growing a new plant
from some part of an
existing plant e.g.
strawberry
a plant that is
produced in this way
is genetically
identical to the
original plant – it is a
clone

3. How does it work?
Newly produced plant cells
contain all the genetic
information needed to make
a new individual (totipotent
cells)
New plant cells are made by
plant meristems
They divide and under the
influence of plant hormones
become part of plant organs
(e.g. roots)

4. What happens when a cutting is
taken?
The cutting is taken
at a leaf node, there
is a large area of
meristem.
The cells divide
quickly and form
callus
These callus cells
divide and become
root cells

5. Health and safety
The scalpels are very sharp. Take care when
cutting.
Some people are allergic to the sap of some
plants – use the latex gloves if you are or may
be affected.
Do not get the hormone rooting powder on
your skin. Use the wet wipes if you do. Do not
inhale the hormone rooting powder – put the lid
on when not in use.

6. To take a cutting 1
Chose a side shoot from
the ‘mother’ plant and
cut it with the secateurs
just above a leaf node
about 10cm from the tip
Then cut the stem of the
cutting with the scalpel
on the tile just below a
leaf node about 6-8cm
from the tip
Remove the lower
leaves with the scalpel
so that the cutting has a
length of bare stem and
2-3 sets of leaves at
most
Dip the base is hormone
rooting powder –
carefully

7. To take a cutting
Make a hole in the
compost with a
dibber or pencil.
Insert the cutting into
the hole up to just
below the bottom set
of leaves.
Firm the compost
round the cutting
with your fingertips
gently
Label

8. After care of a cutting
To grow a cutting needs the following:
•Moisture
•Warmth
•Light
•Oxygen
•Nutrients
These are known as limiting factors

9. How to take a soft wood cutting
Session objectives
By the end of the session we will:
Explain the genetic characteristics of a clone
Identify area of the plant in which new cells are
produced
Describe how a cutting produces root cells
List the factors required for a cutting to grow
successfully
Take a softwood cutting correctly