HEARTWOOD CHAPTER

I recently attending a workshop sponsored by Urban Harvest.

The workshop covered topics on how to increase your success of propagating plants using cuttings and seeds.

My need for attending workshop involves increasing my success with growing milkweed from plant cuttings and seeds.

Simple rules for successful propagation from plant cuttings:

1.  Use good moist planting soil.   The key here is moist.   Plant in a small pot or as desired.

2.   Depending on the plant and hard wood, the cutting may require a root hormone powder to increase root

          growth.   Many plants do not need this treatment

3.   Use an object just larger than the cutting to provide a hole for the cutting.   The larger hold helps

         prevent loosing some of the rooting hormone as the cutting is inserted into the soil.

4.   Be sure and strip leaves from the bottom and leave nodes where roots should grow.  Be sure to remove

          the growing tip by clipping it off.

5.   Pat down the soil around where you have made and give it a little water.

6.   At this point you can add and pat down a little vercumlite to help retain moisture.

7.   Then take a plastic zip lock bag and you will slide this over plant.  Make it tight so it will have a seal and

        moisture can be retained.   Use some plastic straws to keep the bag from following down on the newly

         planted cutting.

8.     Place in a nice warm and wait for plants to root.

Propagating seeds:

1.      Use a small pot and fill with moist soil.

2.      Follow basic guidelines on how to create little green houses.

3.      Select your seeds

4.      Cover seeds with correct depth of soil.

5.      Cover with a thin amount of vercumulite.

6.       Water

7.        Take the zip lock bag as used before and cover pot to retain moisture.