Lesson 1 — Propagation fundamentals

Goal: Understand what cuttings need to survive and root so you control outcomes.

The 4 controls

1. Water balance: keep cuttings turgid (mist + shade) without saturating media.
2. Oxygen: rooting media must drain; wet + no air = rot.
3. Temperature: warm media speeds rooting and improves uniformity (bottom heat helps).
4. Sanitation: warm + wet + still air grows disease fast.

Read / print

• OSU PNW 152 — Stem cuttings
• NC State — Stem cuttings (PDF)

Do this

1. List your first 5 crops to propagate (start with “easy wins”).
2. Create a simple batch log: batch ID, crop/cultivar, stuck date, hormone, media, zone, % rooted.
3. Decide your first method for each crop: softwood / semi-hardwood / hardwood.