How Do You Take a Clip From a Plant?

To take a clip (cutting) from a plant, you need to use a sharp, clean tool and make a precise cut at a node. Here's a breakdown of the process:

Steps for Taking a Plant Cutting

1. Gather Your Supplies: You'll need:

   • A sharp knife or pruning shears (sterilized with rubbing alcohol to prevent disease).
   • The plant you're taking the cutting from (the "mother" plant).
   • Optional: Rooting hormone.
   • A small pot or container filled with a suitable growing medium (e.g., seed starting mix, perlite, or vermiculite).

2. Identify a Healthy Stem: Choose a healthy stem with several leaves. Look for new growth, but avoid stems that are flowering or have flower buds. These are less likely to root successfully.

3. Make the Cut:

   • Using your sterilized knife or pruners, make a clean cut just below a leaf node. The node is the point on the stem where a leaf (or leaves) are attached. This is where new roots will emerge.
   • Make sure the cut is clean and not jagged.

4. Prepare the Cutting:

   • Remove any leaves from the lower portion of the cutting, leaving only the top two or three leaves. This reduces moisture loss and encourages root growth. Submerged leaves will rot.
   • Optional: Dip the cut end of the stem in rooting hormone to promote faster root development.

5. Plant the Cutting:

   • Insert the cut end of the stem into the prepared growing medium. Ensure at least one node is buried in the medium.
   • Gently firm the medium around the stem to provide support.

6. Provide the Right Environment:

   • Water the cutting gently to moisten the growing medium.
   • Cover the cutting with a plastic bag or place it in a propagator to create a humid environment (like a mini-greenhouse). This helps prevent the cutting from drying out.
   • Place the cutting in a warm, bright location out of direct sunlight.

7. Monitor and Care:

   • Keep the growing medium consistently moist, but not waterlogged.
   • Check for root development after a few weeks. You can gently tug on the cutting to see if it resists; resistance suggests roots are forming.
   • Once roots have developed, gradually acclimate the new plant to less humid conditions before transplanting it into a larger pot.

Why Cutting Below the Node Matters

Roots develop most readily at the nodes of a plant stem. Cutting directly below the node maximizes the plant's ability to produce new roots from that point. Leaving extra stem below the node is not recommended because it increases the risk of rotting, which can harm the cutting.