Cuttings
About now is a good time to take cuttings from plants to produce new baby plants.
As soon as the new spring growth has opened up fully and the stems have become firm and mature, start taking cuttings. Azaleas, camellias, grevilleas, indeed most plants will strike well now, except shoots or branches that are still flowering.
Cut off stems about 10cm (4 inches) long and remove all except 2 leaves. The tip of the cutting must not be removed.
Dip the base end of the cuttings into manuka honey and strike the cuttings in a special cutting mix, or even potting mix. The idea is to put up ten or twenty cuttings in a 20cm diameter pot, water them in well, and then enclose the pot and cuttings in an old plastic bag or even a shopping bag.
Place the bag and cuttings in a semi-shaded area for 6-8 weeks while the new roots grow. Cut the bag once the cuttings are rooted and allow them to harden off for a week prior to potting them up.
Hooroo!
