Detailed Guide to Propagating Cleome by Cuttings

Cleome

Cleome, also known as spider flower, is native to tropical regions and popular worldwide. Its tall stems bear flowers that closely resemble dancing butterflies, looking beautiful in sunlight. If you want to propagate more cleome, you can use the cutting method.

1. Cutting substrate

This refers to the nutrient soil, river sand, peat soil and other materials used for cuttings. For home cuttings, it is difficult to obtain an ideal cutting substrate due to limited conditions, so it is recommended to use a pre-mixed and sterilized cutting substrate; medium-coarse river sand also works, but it should be rinsed several times with clean water before use. Do not use sea sand or river sand from saline-alkali areas, as they are not suitable for the growth of flowering plants.

2. Selection of cutting branches

The branches used for cuttings are called cuttings (stem segments). Usually, when pinching off the growing tips, the thick, pest-free and disease-free top shoots that are removed are used as cuttings, and the top shoots can be inserted directly for rooting.

3. Management after cutting

1. Temperature

The optimal temperature for rooting of the cuttings is 18°C to 25°C. Below 18°C, rooting is difficult and slow; above 25°C, the cut ends of the cuttings are easily infected by pathogens and rot, and the higher the temperature, the greater the proportion of rot. When low temperatures occur after cutting, the main measure for keeping warm is to wrap the flower pot or container used for cuttings with plastic film; when the temperature is too high after cutting, the main cooling measure is to shade the cuttings, blocking 50 to 80% of sunlight, and at the same time mist the cuttings 3 to 5 times a day. On sunny days with higher temperatures, mist more often; on cloudy and rainy days with lower temperatures and higher humidity, mist less often or not at all.

2. Humidity

After cutting, the relative humidity of the air must be maintained at 75 to 85%. Humidity can be increased by misting the cuttings 1 to 3 times a day. On sunny days with higher temperatures, mist more often; on cloudy and rainy days with lower temperatures, mist less often or not at all. However, excessive misting makes the cuttings prone to infection by pathogens and rot, because many kinds of pathogens exist in water.

3. Light

Cutting propagation cannot do without sunlight, but the stronger the light, the higher the temperature inside the cuttings, the more vigorous the transpiration, and the more water consumed, which is not conducive to the survival of the cuttings. Therefore, after cutting, 50 to 80% of sunlight must be blocked. After the root system grows out, gradually remove the shade net: on sunny days, remove the shade net at 4:00 p.m. each day and cover it again before 9:00 a.m. the next day.

How to take cleome cuttings, cleome cutting methods

Besides seed propagation, cleome can also be propagated by cuttings. Taking cleome cuttings is not difficult. The methods and steps for taking cleome cuttings are summarized below.

For the soil used for cleome cuttings, nutrient soil or a mix of river sand and peat soil can generally be used. In addition, the cutting soil must be sterilized.

For cleome branch selection, gardeners can generally use the thick, pest-free and disease-free top shoots removed when pinching back the cleome as cuttings, and insert the top shoots directly for rooting.

Once the branches are selected, they can be inserted directly into the prepared soil. After inserting the branches, press the soil firmly around them, then keep the soil moist.

Humidity control: After cutting, the relative humidity of the air must be maintained at 75 to 85%. The cuttings can be misted to increase humidity, 1 to 3 times a day. On cloudy and rainy days with lower temperatures, mist less often or not at all, to avoid the cuttings being easily infected by pathogens and rotting.

Light control: After cutting, light is indispensable, but strong light should be avoided, so after cutting, 50 to 80% of sunlight must be blocked. After the root system grows out, gradually remove the shade net: on sunny days, remove the shade net at 4:00 p.m. each day and cover it again before 9:00 a.m. the next day.

Temperature control: The suitable temperature for rooting of cleome cuttings is 18°C to 25°C. If the temperature is below 18°C, rooting is difficult and slow. If the temperature is above 25°C, the cut ends of the cuttings are easily infected by pathogens and rot, and the higher the temperature, the greater the proportion of cuttings that rot.

How to propagate cleome by cuttings, care methods after cleome cuttings

Cleome opens in the evening and withers the next day, so it is also called the flower of summer nights. Its brief life gives people a sense of illusion and impermanence. So how do you propagate cleome by cuttings? Below, the care methods after cleome cuttings are introduced for everyone.

How to propagate cleome by cuttings, care methods after cleome cuttings

Cutting substrate: This refers to the nutrient soil, river sand, peat soil and other materials used for cuttings. For home cuttings, it is difficult to obtain an ideal cutting substrate due to limited conditions, so it is recommended to use a pre-mixed and sterilized cutting substrate; medium-coarse river sand also works, but it should be rinsed several times with clean water before use. Do not use sea sand or river sand from saline-alkali areas, as they are not suitable for the growth of flowering plants.

Selection of cutting branches: The branches used for cuttings are called cuttings (stem segments). Usually, when pinching off the growing tips, the thick, pest-free and disease-free top shoots that are removed are used as cuttings, and the top shoots can be inserted directly for rooting.

Care methods after cleome cuttings

Temperature: The optimal temperature for rooting of the cuttings is 18°C to 25°C. Below 18°C, rooting is difficult and slow; above 25°C, the cut ends of the cuttings are easily infected by pathogens and rot, and the higher the temperature, the greater the proportion of rot. When low temperatures occur after cutting, the main measure for keeping warm is to wrap the flower pot or container used for cuttings with plastic film; when the temperature is too high after cutting, the main cooling measure is to shade the cuttings, blocking 50 to 80% of sunlight, and at the same time mist the cuttings 3 to 5 times a day. On sunny days with higher temperatures, mist more often; on cloudy and rainy days with lower temperatures and higher humidity, mist less often or not at all.

Humidity: After cutting, the relative humidity of the air must be maintained at 75 to 85%. Humidity can be increased by misting the cuttings 1 to 3 times a day. On sunny days with higher temperatures, mist more often; on cloudy and rainy days with lower temperatures, mist less often or not at all. However, excessive misting makes the cuttings prone to infection by pathogens and rot, because many kinds of pathogens exist in water.

Light: Cutting propagation cannot do without sunlight, but the stronger the light, the higher the temperature inside the cuttings, the more vigorous the transpiration, and the more water consumed, which is not conducive to the survival of the cuttings. Therefore, after cutting, 50 to 80% of sunlight must be blocked. After the root system grows out, gradually remove the shade net: on sunny days, remove the shade net at 4:00 p.m. each day and cover it again before 9:00 a.m. the next day.