You may have cloned your houseplant or another plant you wanted to propagate before. You might be wondering if there is a way to do it again, especially for the same plant again? Here is how to clone a plant in soil.
If you have a favorite houseplant that has grown so much that it needs its own home, then cloning it can help you grow more of these beautiful plants. Cloning a plant from cuttings is an excellent way to propagate new ones and keep them coming forever.
But maybe you don’t have cuttings – what should you do about your favorite plant? Read on for all the tips and tricks on how to clone a plant in soil. There are many ways to do this which we will look at here.
What Is Cloning?
Cloning is the process of growing a new plant from an existing plant. It’s a great way to reproduce plants you already have and to ensure that you always have a healthy plant. There are two types of cloning you can do – sexual and asexual cloning.
Sexual cloning, also called somatic embryogenesis, involves taking a sample from the parent plant’s flowers. Asexual cloning is done with tissue culture. Well, the easiest way to understand the process of cloning is to understand how a plant grows.
When a plant grows, it grows out of a small part of itself. It grows out of a tiny piece of the plant that has the DNA inside it. That is what clones are – they are a piece of a plant. They are not a new individual – they are a part of the original plant that has been taken and grown into a new plant.
Best Plants for Cloning
- African violets – African violets are a good plant to clone because they are relatively easy to start with and are very prolific growers. You can also easily find African violet plants to start.
- Orchids – Orchids are pretty easy to clone as well, and the flowers are a great place to find samples for cloning.
- Calendula – Calendula is a beautiful flower that is easy to grow from seed, and it’s also easy to start from cuttings.
- Chrysanthemums – Chrysanthemums are also a common flower to clone and are fairly easy to grow. You can start a new cutting from the side of the flower where the leaves attach.
- Palms – Palms are tropical plants, but they can also be cloned. Start with a front and put it in water until it roots.
How to Clone a Plant in Soil?
- Choose your plant – Look for a plant that is easy to clone.
- Take a cutting – You don’t need to take a large cutting from the plant; even small ones will do. You just want enough so that you have a bit of the stem and a few leaves at the top.
- Choose your growing medium – You will have to decide what medium you want to grow your cutting in. You can grow it in water, soil, or even a gel.
- Choose your growing container – You will need to pick a container that is large enough to hold your growing medium and your cutting.
- Keep the cutting moist – Your cutting won’t be able to take in the water it needs to grow if your medium is dry.
- Watch it grow – You will need to keep your cutting in a warm, humid environment until it roots. This will take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks depending on the plant.
Stuff to Remember While Cloning a Plant
- Pick an easy plant to start with – Some plants are very difficult to start with, and you might end up killing your cutting before it even has a chance to root.
- Have patience – Your cutting will take a while to root, and then it will take even more time to grow into a new plant.
- Use clean equipment – Make sure everything you use to start your cutting is clean. You don’t want to introduce any bacteria that could kill your cutting before it can even start growing.
- Start a few extra cuttings – There is no guarantee that all of your cuttings will take, so you should start a few extra just in case.
Conclusion
Cloning a plant is the easiest way to produce new plants. You can take a cutting from an existing plant, grow it in a clean environment, and within a few weeks, you will have a new plant. There are tons of ways to be able to do it, but it’s best to pick something that’s easy and will give you a successful result.
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