From our perspective, the journey of a new yarrow plant begins with the health and vitality of its parent. We ask that you choose a robust, disease-free plant that is not currently flowering. Our energy is finite, and when we are directing our resources into bloom production, we have less to dedicate to root creation. The ideal time for this is in the late spring or early summer when our growth is most vigorous. Please select a young, green, non-woody stem tip, approximately 4-6 inches long. Using a sharp, sterilized blade for the cut is crucial; a clean cut minimizes damage to our tissues and reduces the risk of introducing pathogens that could hinder our ability to callous and root.
The moment of separation is a critical one. Make the cut just below a leaf node—the small bump on our stem from which leaves emerge. This node is a hub of meristematic cells, which are undifferentiated and capable of becoming either root or shoot tissue. It is from this point that new roots will most likely emerge. Immediately after taking the cutting, remove the leaves from the lower third to half of the stem. This serves two vital purposes for us: it reduces surface area from which we lose precious water through transpiration, and it prevents any foliage from being buried and potentially rotting in the growing medium.
While not strictly necessary for our survival, many gardeners choose to dip our severed end into a rooting hormone powder. From our viewpoint, this hormone supplement mimics our own natural auxins, the chemical signals that stimulate root initiation. It gives us a significant boost, encouraging faster and more robust root development, which increases our chances of successful establishment. A light tap to remove any excess powder is all that is needed before we are ready for planting.
We require a well-draining medium to put down new roots. A mix of perlite and peat or a sterile seed-starting mix is ideal. It must hold moisture without becoming waterlogged, as our vulnerable, developing root tissues are highly susceptible to rot in saturated conditions. Use a pencil or your finger to create a pre-made hole in the medium to accept the cutting. This prevents the delicate end from being scraped and the rooting hormone from being wiped away. Gently place us into the hole and firm the medium around the stem to ensure we have good contact and support.
Our immediate need is for consistent humidity. Without roots, we cannot replace the water we lose through our leaves. Please cover our pot with a clear plastic bag or place us in a propagator to create a miniature greenhouse. This dramatically slows water loss and keeps our tissues from desiccating. Place us in a location with bright, indirect light; direct sun would cook us inside our humid enclosure. Keep our growing medium slightly moist, but never soggy. In approximately two to four weeks, you can test for root development by giving the stem a very gentle tug. If you feel resistance, it is a sign that we have begun to anchor ourselves and are on our way to becoming an independent plant.
