A MULTITUDE of shrubby plants can be increased from cuttings. It is an inexpensive way to increase plant stocks or to get something new - first find your cutting! Some gardeners delight in the business of propagation while others shun it fearfully, suspecting that some special skill is required. All that is needed is a modicum of patience and common sense.
Cuttings, which can be either side-shoots or a section of shoot, should be inserted into a small pot filled with a free-draining mix of sand and garden soil.
Several cuttings can be put in around the edge of the pot, firming them in very well so they are held tightly.
The aim is to encourage the cuffing to make a root before it rots in the damp soil. Moisture will be essential to keep the cutting alive, so this exercise will be a delicate balancing act. Water the pot and insert a small cane in the centre and then insert the pot in a plastic bag which should be tightly tied.
The cane should act like a tent pole, keeping the plastic out of direct contact with the cuttings. Stand the pot in a shaded spot and out of full sun, and forget about it for a few months. Not everything will root readily, but a surprising number of items will.