Many plants can be increased by cuttings of soft new shoots as soon as these are sufficiently developed in spring, to produce, in most cases, plants that will flower in summer and autumn if grown on without a check as soon as rooted. Many others, including most of the popular summer bedding perennial plants, can be increased equally well by soft shoot cuttings in late summer and early autumn.
Routine Management
A warm, moist and close atmosphere is essential to prevent soft shoot cuttings from flagging and to induce rapid formation of roots. After being placed in the bottom-heated frame (for small quantities of cuttings an electrically-heated propagating case is excellent), it is kept closed to keep the atmosphere warm and moist It should be opened each morning, however, the glass top dried, any decayed leaves removed, and the cuttings lightly syringed with tepid water. If showing signs of fresh growth, test one or two cuttings by gently pulling them upwards. If firm, they will have started to root and once this has become general a little air can be admitted to the frame, increasing this as growth progresses.
Viola cuttings of young growthsSLASS 6VER VBEP B08t from the centre of the plant are easily rooted in late summer and early autumn, inserted in boxes of sandy compost in a lightly shaded frame, or under a closed cloche, and kept moist Cuttings of Chrysanthemums and other hardier plants can be rooted in deep boxes, leaving plenty of headroom and covered with glass, on the staging of the greenhouse. A careful watch must be kept to see that no decay develops. Alternatively, the box can be covered with a sheet of polythene, but remember to turn this each day to prevent the condensed moisture from drripping on to the cuttings, as this may cause them to damp off.
Herbaceous Plants
A large number of hardy herbaceous plants that produce clusters of shoots from the crown in spring, can be propagated by cuttings of these shoots in-serted in shallow boxes or 4 in. Deep beds of compost in a closed unheated frame. Typical of these are Delphiniums, Lupins, choice Michaelmas Daisies, Erigerons and border Phloxes (only if very healthy).
Likewise, many of the freer-growing rock garden plants can be propagated from very young shoots formed after they have finished flowering. Among the easiest are Aubrietia, alpine Phloxes, dwarf Gyp-sophilas, Campanulas, Linums, Iberis, Helianthemums and Alyssum. If dibbled into sandy compost in a sunny frame, kept closed and moist, and shaded from the hottest sun, they will root in a few weeks. If frame space is not available cloches will serve.