Planting Tips

Chapter 27 What are the environmental factors that affect the rooting of cuttings
The survival of cuttings is not only related to the quality of the cuttings themselves and the cutting substrate, but also has a close relationship with the environmental conditions in which they are located. The following is an overview.

(1) Temperature Different types of flowers require different cutting temperatures, and the optimum temperature is roughly the same as the germination temperature.The soft branch cuttings of most flowers should be carried out at 20-25°C; tropical and subtropical plants can be slightly higher, but should not exceed 35%; cold-resistant flowers and hard branch cuttings can be slightly lower.The temperature of the substrate is slightly higher than the air temperature by 35%, because when the bottom temperature is higher than the air temperature, it can promote the occurrence of roots; when the temperature is low, it can inhibit the growth of branches and leaves.Therefore, heating facilities are provided at the bottom of the special cutting bed or cutting box to promote early rooting.

(2) Humidity Cuttings can only take root in a moist substrate, and the suitable water content in the substrate varies according to different flower species, usually 50% to 60% of the substrate moisture content is moderate.In the initial stage of cutting, more water is conducive to the formation of callus; after the formation of callus, water should be reduced, too much water often leads to rot of cuttings.In order to avoid excessive transpiration of water in the branches and leaves of cuttings, it is required to maintain a higher air humidity, usually 80% to 90% relative air humidity is advisable.

(3) Illuminated leaf bud cuttings and soft branch cuttings often have buds and leaves, and undergo photosynthesis under sunlight, thereby producing auxin and promoting rooting.However, too strong sunlight is not good for the survival of cuttings, so moderate shade should be given in the early stage of cutting.

(4) Oxygen When the callus and new roots occur, the respiration is enhanced, so the cutting substrate is required to have good oxygen supply conditions.The ideal cutting substrate can keep moist and have good ventilation at the same time.Currently commonly used substrates are river sand, peat, vermiculite, perlite, slag, etc.Practice has proved that using these materials to cut flowers takes root quickly and has a high survival rate.However, because they contain almost no nutrients, the cuttings should be potted in time after they survive, otherwise the new roots will soon "rust" (that is, turn from white to yellow) and gradually die.

(End of this chapter)