New Form of Plant Propagation

This information was taken from an article published in "Wildflowers" magazine, Fall 2009, entitled "How To Make A Rooting Chamber."

I personally have not tried this method, but love to experiment. Fall and Spring are perfect times to propagate most plants. Then you can expand your garden or share/swap with other gardeners.

Here is how to make this simple and inexpensive chamber.

First you will need to gather these items for each chamber you will need:
1- empty and washed 2 Liter plastic soda bottle.
1 -6 ounce yogart cup
Scissors
Rooting Hormone
light-sterile potting medium
Utility knife
Clear tape
Sharpie Marker

Cut the bottle in half. Then cut a 1 inch "v" on four sides of the top of the bottle so it will fit back over the bottom half and be more secure. Also be sure to leave the cap on the top of the bottle.

Next poke 6 drainage holes in the bottom of the yogart cup. Fill the cup with potting medium. Poke hole in the soil for plant to go into.

Prepare plant for cutting. Cut a 3-5 inch section of plant you want to propagate. Remove the lower leaves from the stem, keeping just enough top leaves for the plant to photosynthesize.

Dip stem end into rooting hormone and gently place in the hole you made in the soil. Then carefully press the surrounding soil around stem until is it upright.

Place the yogart cup into the base of the bottle. Fill the base with water just until 1/4" up the side of the yogart cup.

Now place the top portion of the soda bottle onto the bottom portion. Secure with tape all around sides. Mark the date on outside of bottle. Place bottle in indirect lighting inside a window ledge.

Leave in chamber for a few weeks to allow new roots to form, then place the yogart cup only in a light shaded place for the plant to harden for a few days to a week. Then you may remove your new plant from the cup and place it into the garden.