Cuttings
/ˈkʌtɪŋz/
Definition
Cuttings are pieces of a plant, such as stem, leaf, or root sections, removed from the parent plant and used to produce a new plant by vegetative propagation. Unlike seeds, cuttings grow from existing plant tissue and usually form new roots or shoots under suitable conditions. Because they come from the parent plant’s body rather than sexual reproduction, the new plant is typically genetically the same as the original.
Use in Gardening
- Clonal propagation: cuttings produce new plants that are genetically the same as the parent, so leaf color, growth habit, and other cultivar traits stay consistent.
- Rooting depends on plant tissue: Stem, leaf, and root cuttings do not perform the same way. Success often depends on whether the piece contains nodes, which are the points where buds and roots can form.
- Adventitious root formation: Many plants respond to cuttings by forming adventitious roots, meaning roots that arise from stems or leaves instead of an existing root system.
- Useful for plants that do not come true from seed: cuttings are often preferred when seed-grown plants vary too much or take longer to reach a usable size, which is common with many houseplants and ornamentals.
Related Terms
Propagation
Propagation is the process of producing new plants from seeds, spores, or vegetative parts such as stem cuttings…
Asexual reproduction
Asexual reproduction is a biological process in which a plant produces new individuals from one parent without…
Vegetative reproduction
Vegetative reproduction refers to a form of asexual plant reproduction in which new plants grow from roots, stems…
Clone
Clone refers to a plant, group of plants, or cells that are genetically identical to the original source because they…
Callusing
Callusing describes the formation of a protective mass of undifferentiated plant cells over a wound or cut surface. It…
Node
Node refers to the point on a plant stem where leaves, buds, branches, or flowers attach or can develop. It is a…
Internode
Internode refers to the section of a plant stem between two nodes, the points where leaves, buds, or branches attach…
Layering
Layering is a vegetative propagation technique in which a stem forms roots while still attached to the parent plant…