In the wild, vines spread rapidly using long tendrils to cover surfaces.
Others prefer to cut back vines, so they do not overgrow other plants or garden decorations, while others just enjoy the look of unruly vines. Vine clippings can be propagated for other gardens or homes by using them instead of throwing them away.
Vine cuttings are propagated quite easily as they have no woody stems, making them herbaceous plants. Cuttings are often replanted for growth as houseplants in water.
Usually, you would need a certain length of the stem with a few roots attached, and other times, just a leaf will do. The method, tools, and requirements for propagating creeping vines vary depending on the plant type.
Tools required for propagating vines
- Knife
- Sharp gardening shears or scissors
- Plant containers/ glass bottles/vases
- Plastic lids/bags ideally used for gardening or propagating purposes
- Potting soil that is loose and drains very well
Tips on getting tools (and yourself) ready
Once you know what kind of vine you wish to cut and have this list of basic tools ready, there are a few more things you need to know:
Now that you know the plant you’d like to trim. You will need to locate a node on the stem before you can start trimming.
Roots grow from nodes, which are small bumps on the ground. Root propagation must start with nodes. Nodes are necessary for roots to grow in vines and stem cuttings.
Cut the vine just below the node you located, and sanitize your scissors with rubbing alcohol (preventing bacteria from spreading). It is recommended that there are at least 1-2 nodes and anywhere between 2-4 leaves.
Then, before placing the cutting in water, dip the end in the rooting hormone. Rooting hormones don’t have to be used, but they increase the rate of rooting. If you don’t have a rooting hormone solution, you can use a thin layer of honey instead.
A vine or stem cutting requires nodes so that roots can grow. This last step may be optional and really depends on the condition and the type of cuttings.
Process of plant stem cutting
Irrespective of the kind of plant you may be trying to regrow, the process of cutting shoots from an existing plant is the same. Once you have the list of the items ready (mentioned above), proceed with the following steps:
- When the plant is growing, spring or summer is the most optimal time for taking a cutting. You must cut the vine at a certain point. Check the end of the vine to see if shoots are free of visible disease.
- Next, trim a cutting that is four to six inches long with a pair of sharp scissors. Ensure you cut near the leaf joint from the new growth.
- Hands are best for removing leaves from the top third of the cutting. The leaves of some plants can be removed easily with a downward pulling motion, while other leaves may require the use of scissors to remove. The leaves are a major source of moisture loss, making it likely that the plant will dry out.
- Determine where the leaves were removed from the stem by looking at the lowest leaf node. By cutting the stem 1/4-inch below this point, you can prevent it from spreading. There are meristem tissues in leaf nodes that help the plant grow.
- Make a ‘wound’ at the end of the stalk to promotes strong roots. Cut the base of the stem with a knife to expose the meristem tissue that triggers plant growth.
- One must insert the vine stem into the potting mix to bury half of its length. Fill a small planting container with a well-draining potting mix and fill it with the potting mix.
- Keep the cutting in a moist environment – spritz it with water, then cover the container with a plastic bag or clear lid.
- As the vine cuttings start to root, place them in an area that is not directly exposed to sunlight. Keep the soil lightly moist until they are rooted. 68° to 77° is the ideal temperature to grow plants.
Our top tips for taking care of new cuttings
Now that you have a simplified guide on removing cuttings from the parent plant, it’s time to take care of them. Cuttings are like newborn babies and require attention and the ideal environment to grow healthy.
Next, you need to have patience and follow these tips to ensure proper care throughout the lifecycle of the plants. You may need a few extra items like pots, trays, fertilizer, special growing mediums, and a water dispenser tool.
Take the cutting after you’ve watered the plant
When the foliage appears at the tips of the stems, a fresh growth should appear in spring. One must water the plants at least 3 inches before cutting.
Setup up a growing medium
In a 4-inch square container, mix two parts of perlite with one part sand and one part sterile compost. Saturate the growth medium or soil patch with water and then let it drain out completely – usually about thirty minutes.
Make the cut
A pliant, young cutting should be measured down 2 to 5 inches. Cut the stem of the parent plant using the shears just ¼ inch below a pair of leaves.
Dip the cutting in rooting hormone after trimming
The bottom half of the cutting should be free of all leaves. In order to speed up the rooting process, you can dip the severed end in talc that contains standard rooting hormone. Tap the excess hormone out of the root.
Get the hole ready for planting
Plant the mixture of moistened perlite in the hole you’ve created. Make a hole in the soil that is half the entire length of the cutting you have. For example, if your cuttings are about 3 inches in length, then the hole should be about 1 ½ inches.
Plant the cutting
Slice the cutting in half and insert the severed end into the hole. Fill the stem with the perlite mixture. Set the perlite against the stem with a little water.
Protect the cutting inside a plastic bag
Placing the pot inside a 2-gallon plastic bag will protect it from evaporation. Keep the bag from touching the cutting by propping it up with wooden skewers. One must close the bag tightly; however, you must cut the top of the bag to provide an escape route for trapped moisture.
Lighting should be adequate
A window sill facing north or east or outdoor shade is ideal for the bagged pot. Leaving the fresh cutting in direct sunlight could dry out the soil, the stalk, and new leaf growth.
Assess moisture levels frequently
You must check the perlite mixture daily for moisture levels. Open the plastic bag daily. When it feels barely moist underneath, water it generously. You can use a spray for spraying the leaves before watering.
Root-check
Pull the stem near the base and check for roots after two to four weeks. Check whether roots are growing from the cutting into the perlite mixture. Take out the plastic bag once roots are growing.
Cuttings are transplanted
Cut the cuttings and transplant them into a pot filled with potting soil if you’re working indoors; otherwise, you can directly plant them in the garden. Before transplanting, allow it to acclimate to direct sunlight for up to six days.
Putting cuttings in the medium
Soil-based rooting
Tools required: Shears or scissors with a sharp edge, rubbing alcohol, Hormones to promote rooting (optional), A new batch of potting soil, a clean, drainage-equipped pot.
To prepare your cutting, follow the above trimming instructions. Pour about 75 percent of the soil into the pot. Dig a few inches deep in the soil with your finger and insert the cutting into it. Fill the entire pot with the soil right to the top.
Ensure the cuttings are secure by tamping down the dirt around them. Make sure that your cuttings are adequately moist by giving them a thorough drink of water. A drainage hole in the pot is extremely important.
You might end up with too much water on your cuttings, and they start to rot before they have a chance to root.
Freshly planted cuttings would be thrilled if they gained more humidity to boost their growth. You can keep your pot’s humidity comfortable by placing a glass or plastic jar (or cloche) over it. It shouldn’t take long for your roots to grow back healthy.
Rooting in water
Tools required: Shears or scissors with a sharp edge, rubbing alcohol, Hormone for rooting (optional), Vessel for propagation made of glass.
Your propagation jar should now be filled with fresh water. Put the cutting in there and fill it up with fresh water. Once you see new root growth that is about one to three inches long, place the cutting in a warm area away from sunlight.
Depending on the severity, this may take more than 6 weeks in some cases. It would be best to plant your cutting after roots have developed in fresh soil and water the pot as usual.