PROPAGATION GROWING MEDIUM

 

A good propagation medium has ingredients that provide ideal ventilation, drainage and moisture holding features, made up from combinations of peat moss, perlite, vermiculite, sand, or similar materials.  The primary role of a propagation medium is to support plant cutting roots while in development.  These requirements are quite different from those of a potting medium, which may have to sustain a mature or growing plant over a long period of time.  Potting medium for growing plants and rooting medium doe propagation are not the same and not recommended.

Rooting Mixture

1-part Potting Soil, 1-part Seed Starter Soil,  keep the soil airy, the propagation container soil used should be based on the plants need for drainage, alternatively, you can use vermiculite or any potting medium labeled for seed / cuttings starter.  For plants that require good drainage so that they do not rot during the rooting process, add to the growing medium:

• builders’ sand

• or small chunks of bark

• or perlite or vermiculite

• or tiny pebbles

• A non-soil potting mixture of 50 percent fine peat and 50 percent washed coarse sand with added plant food for starter plants

• Fill the container(s) with 3” of the growing medium

 

Countless times, there arises problems with plant clipping placed in soil to propagate, several will rot, some will just wither and die, a few will not take root (see End Note [i]i)

Many plants will easily root in water, although, the root system that form can be extremely leathery and tough.  Plants rooted in water often have a difficult time becoming established after planting in growing soil.

 

[i] “Tap” water goes through the city’s processing felicity and it has chemicals such as chorine which may be harmful to many plants check the plants labeling for watering and care.