Taking Cuttings: The Complete Walkthrough
This guide covers taking cuttings, rated an easy to moderate task, typically taking 15–30 min.
Our printable card on taking cuttings covers the essentials at a glance — here's the fuller walkthrough.
Rooting a cutting
Most soft or semi-hardwood cuttings root readily in a free-draining mix kept consistently moist — many herbs and shrubs can be propagated this way at essentially no cost.
What You'll Need
The key things to get right:
- A healthy parent plant
- Sharp, clean secateurs or scissors
- Small pots and free-draining potting mix
- Optional: rooting hormone powder or gel
The Method
A few things matter most here:
- 1. Take a 10–15cm cutting from healthy, non-flowering growth, cutting just below a leaf node.
- 2. Remove lower leaves, leaving just 2–3 sets at the top.
- 3. Dip the cut end in rooting hormone if using it.
- 4. Insert into moist, free-draining mix, firm gently, and water in.
- 5. Keep in a warm, bright but not direct-sun spot, and keep consistently moist until roots establish.
When Things Go Wrong
The key things to get right:
- Cutting rots before rooting — mix too wet or poorly drained; ease off watering, improve drainage.
- Cutting wilts and dies — too much direct sun or heat stress; move to a more sheltered spot.
- No roots after several weeks — try a fresh cutting, or check the plant is a suitable candidate for cutting propagation.
- Mould on the cutting — poor airflow; space cuttings out, reduce humidity slightly.
Ongoing Timing
Best time — spring for most soft-wood cuttings; autumn for many semi-hardwood shrubs. Duration — roots typically establish in 3–8 weeks depending on the plant. Maintenance — keep consistently moist; check for rot or mould regularly. Signs of success — a gentle tug meets resistance, indicating roots have formed; new leaf growth is also a good sign.
That's the full walkthrough. The printable A4 quick-reference card for this is on the main guide page below.