Propagate Plants The Easy Way...With Easy To Make Mini-Greenhouses

An ancient practice for many gardeners has always been propagating plants from healthy specimens on hand.  The obvious reasons are to save money, but it's a good way to increase the landscape plants one needs to cover a given area.  You also know what you are getting as the young plants are clones of the "mother" plant.  I have shown how to make mini-greenhouses that should last long enough to insure the growth or formation of good root systems.  The new plants can then be transplanted to pots, or into the ground as you choose. 

Step 1 Get Cardboard Blanks Ready

Here, I measured the potting tubs that I wanted to use, and decided to make two greenhouses.  I therefore needed two cardboard blanks of 14x17in.  

Comments

[grannyjones]

Just be careful; If you happen to root cuttings from a 'patented' plant; you are in violation of the regulations printed on the label--I do not really know if the warning that you can't even propagate for your own use is genuine; or just scare tactics.  Just curious if anyone has tested this. . .

[cljack123]

you mean, codex alimentarius?

[ceafin]

It would seem to me, if you are propagating your own plants, for yourself, there shouldn't be a foul here. After all, you purchased the plant/seed so growing them should be a part of the unsaid contract.

I would just see this like making backup copies of a CD for which you legitimately own. (and are NOT selling copies to others, of course)

[Thursday Next]

the companies that patent plants prohibit propagating even for your own use. The reasoning is if you can grow more for yourself you won't buy any more from them. That being said I really don't see how they would police such a thing.

[mikeyd1951]

This works on a lot of "herbs" too. I did it a lot back in the day using vermiculite.

[mikchil]

It helps to make the cut from the mother plant underwater.  Otherwise the cutting is likely to "inhale" some air and that can interfere with initial transfer of nutrients up the stem ... not usually a fatal thing but they do better if that doesn't happen.

[DNMEBOY]

That particular plant there propagates really well. Infact I never use any root hormones at all. At first I was leaving cuttings in a glass of water and that would take a month or more to root. Since realizing that I have just stuck them directly into organic potting soil and water them. They always root. Well 99% of the time. This is how I have kept the plants at work alive and going for the last year. If one dies I simply replace it with a cutting from another plant.

Good idea though with the mini green houses.

[Creativeman]

Thanks. Cman

[ChrysN]

Nice! You can definitely save money this way!

[Creativeman]

Thanks Chrys. Cman