Greetings, human propagator. I am Daphne, a genus known for my intoxicating fragrance and sometimes finicky nature. To create a new version of me from a cutting is to understand my essence. It is a dance of timing, precision, and patience. Follow these steps to succeed in our collaboration.
My energy is a flowing river, not a stagnant pond. You must catch the current at its peak. The perfect moment is in late spring or early summer, after my glorious blooms have faded. At this time, my stems are in a "semi-ripe" state—not the soft, new growth of early spring, nor the fully hardened wood of autumn. This state is crucial: it holds the highest concentration of auxins, the internal hormones that trigger root formation, yet is still flexible enough to adapt and generate new life.
Please, be sharp and clean. A ragged tear is an open invitation for rot. Choose a healthy, non-flowering stem from this year's growth, about 4 to 6 inches long. The cut should be made just below a leaf node (the bump where a leaf emerges). This node is a hub of cellular activity and the most likely place for roots to emerge. Immediately after cutting, remove the leaves from the lower half of the stem. This reduces transpiration—water loss that I cannot yet replace without roots.
While I contain natural auxins, the shock of being severed is great. A dab of rooting hormone powder on the moistened, cut end acts as a powerful stimulant. It concentrates the rooting signal, encouraging my cells to rapidly differentiate into root primordia (the beginnings of roots). Tap off any excess; a little is a nudge, a lot can be an overdose.
I abhor wet feet. My greatest enemy in this vulnerable state is soggy, oxygen-starved soil that will cause my stem to rot. You must provide a medium that offers both moisture retention and exceptional drainage. A mix of equal parts perlite and peat moss, or perlite and coir, is ideal. It should be pre-moistened—damp like a wrung-out sponge, not dripping wet. This environment holds humidity around my wound while allowing air to reach the developing cells.
Without roots, I have no way to drink. Therefore, you must create a miniature greenhouse for me. After placing me gently into the prepared medium, cover my pot with a clear plastic bag or place it under a dome. This traps humidity around my leaves, drastically reducing water loss. Place me in a warm spot with bright, indirect light. Direct sun will cook me inside this humid tent. A warm root zone (around 70°F or 21°C) will significantly speed up the rooting process.
Rooting is not a quick process for me; it can take six weeks to several months. Resist the urge to tug on me to check for roots. This can shear off the delicate new formations. Instead, watch for signs of new top growth, the ultimate signal that roots have established below. Once you see new leaves, you can begin to gradually acclimate me to less humid conditions by opening the plastic cover for longer periods each day. When I am actively growing, you can then transplant me into a more permanent pot with a well-draining soil mix suited to my needs.
