Starting Seeds and Cloning Cuttings: Rooting Gels, Media and Setup

Starting your own plants from seed or cuttings is one of the most rewarding parts of gardening. It saves money, gives you more variety, and lets you copy plants you already love. Seeds and cuttings have different needs, but both come down to the same essentials: a clean medium, steady moisture, gentle warmth and good light.

Seeds vs. Cuttings

Seeds create new, genetically unique plants, while cuttings (also called clones) are pieces of a parent plant that grow roots and become genetic copies of it. Many herbs, houseplants, shrubs and ornamentals are commonly propagated by cuttings, while most vegetables and annual flowers are grown from seed.

Choosing a Starting Medium

Young roots are delicate, so the medium should be clean, light and well aerated while holding even moisture.

• Seed-starting mixes: fine, loose and low in nutrients, so they do not overwhelm tender seedlings. Examples include E.B. Stone Organics Seed Starting Mix and Dr. Earth Root Zone Seed Starter Potting Mix.
• Peat or coco plugs and cubes: pre-formed starter plugs are tidy and make transplanting easy. Root Riot Rooting Cubes are peat moss starter plugs for cuttings and seeds.
• Perlite and coco blends: airy mixes drain quickly, which helps prevent rot on cuttings.

Avoid using ordinary garden soil or heavy potting mix for starts. It can be too dense, may carry pathogens, and often holds too much water. Browse our soil and grow media for more choices.

Rooting Gels, Powders and Starter Solutions

Rooting products are optional for easy plants, but many growers use them on cuttings that root slowly. They fall into a few types:

• Rooting gels: the cut end is dipped into the gel, which clings to the stem. Examples are Hydrodynamics Clonex Rooting Gel and Technaflora Rootech Cloning Gel, a rooting hormone gel with 0.55% IBA.
• Rooting powders: a dry, convenient option for houseplant and ornamental cuttings, such as Fertilome Rooting Powder.
• Rooting enhancers and clone solutions: used in the water or medium to support young roots, for instance General Hydroponics RapidStart.

Use any of these exactly as the label directs. To avoid contaminating the whole container, pour a small amount into a separate dish rather than dipping into the original bottle, and discard what is left over. See everything in our propagation and cloning category.

The Basic Setup

Warmth

Most seeds germinate best in gentle, steady warmth, and cuttings tend to root faster in a warm, stable environment. A seedling heat mat can help in cooler spaces, but check the label for any temperature recommendations and avoid overheating.

Humidity

Cuttings have no roots yet, so they lose moisture through their leaves faster than they can replace it. A clear humidity dome or a loosely covered tray helps keep the air moist. Vent it daily to let in fresh air and reduce the chance of mold or damping-off.

Light

Seedlings need plenty of light as soon as they sprout. Weak light makes them stretch and flop over. A bright window can work, but many growers use a grow light so the plants get consistent light for the right number of hours. Cuttings generally prefer gentler, indirect light until they have rooted.

Moisture

Keep the medium evenly damp, not soggy. Bottom watering from a tray is a gentle way to avoid disturbing seeds and young roots.

A Simple Cutting Routine

1. Wipe your scissors or blade clean before you start.
2. Take a healthy cutting from a vigorous plant, just below a node.
3. Remove the lower leaves and trim the remaining large leaves if needed to cut down on moisture loss.
4. Dip the cut end into your rooting product if you are using one.
5. Place it in a pre-moistened medium, firm lightly around the stem and keep it humid.
6. Be patient. Gently check for roots after a week or more, depending on the plant.

Common Problems

• Damping-off: seedlings pinch off at the soil line. Use clean containers and fresh mix, and avoid overwatering.
• Leggy seedlings: usually not enough light.
• Black, mushy stems on cuttings: too wet or not enough airflow.
• Wilting cuttings: low humidity, or the cutting is too large for its tiny root system.

Hardening Off and Transplanting

Once seedlings or rooted cuttings are established, move them to larger pots or beds. Gradually introduce outdoor-grown plants to sunshine and wind over several days to reduce transplant shock. Hold off on strong fertilizer until they have settled in, and then start with a mild feeding.

Ready to get started? Shop online at dsgardensupplies.com, or pick up in store at 130 Doolittle Drive #17, San Leandro, CA 94577 (Mon-Fri, 10am-5pm Pacific). We ship nationwide via UPS. Questions about setting up a propagation area? Email us at dsgardensupplies@gmail.com.