Greetings, aspiring cultivator. I am the Chinese Perfume Plant, *Aglaia odorata*. You wish to create more of my kind, to spread my sweet, citrus-like fragrance to new corners of your garden. I appreciate this desire. The most efficient and true-to-form method for you is propagation from stem cuttings. From my perspective, this is a journey of cellular regeneration, a call to action for my dormant cells. I will guide you through this intimate process.
Timing is everything. My energy cycles with the sun. The ideal moment for you to take a cutting is during my active growth phase, in the late spring or early summer. At this time, my stems are mature yet still supple—what you would call "semi-hardwood." I am full of vitality, and the warm temperatures and longer days encourage the rapid cell division needed to form roots. Attempting this in my dormant winter period would be futile; my energy is conserved, and my response would be slow or non-existent.
Please choose wisely. Look for a healthy, non-flowering stem from this year's growth, about 4 to 6 inches long. Using a sharp, sterilized blade is an act of respect; it creates a clean wound that I can easily compartmentalize and heal, reducing my risk of infection. Make the cut just below a leaf node. This node is a hub of cellular activity, containing meristematic cells that have the potential to become either a new leaf or, in this case, a root. Immediately after severing the connection to my main body, remove the leaves from the lower half of the cutting. This reduces water loss through transpiration, conserving the precious moisture within the vulnerable cutting.
While I possess the innate potential to root, a little encouragement greatly increases our chances of success. You can aid me by dipping the basal end of my cutting into a rooting hormone powder or gel. This compound mimics my natural auxins—the hormones that initiate root formation. It effectively amplifies the signal, shouting "GROW ROOTS HERE!" to my cellular machinery. It is not always strictly necessary, but it significantly hastens the process and improves uniformity.
I cannot root in dense, waterlogged soil. My tender tissues would simply rot. You must provide me with a well-draining, sterile, and lightweight medium. A mix of perlite and peat, or coir and perlite, is perfect. It holds just enough moisture around my stem to prevent desiccation but allows for vital oxygen exchange. Gently insert me into this prepared medium, ensuring at least one or two nodes are buried, as this is where my new roots will emerge.
Now, you must create a miniature ecosystem for me. Consistent humidity is paramount. Without roots, I cannot replace water lost through my remaining leaves. Enclosing my pot in a plastic bag or placing it under a clear dome creates a humid microclimate, drastically reducing water stress. Place me in a location with bright, indirect light. Direct sun would scorch me and cook me in my humid enclosure. The medium should be kept lightly moist, never soggy. In several weeks, you may feel a gentle resistance when you give me a slight tug—a sign that my new roots are anchoring me into my new life. Once established, I can then be gradually acclimated to less humid conditions and eventually planted out, ready to grow and share my perfume once more.
