Increasing Numbers of Plants
Whole leaf cuttings are a great way to increase your number of plants. By taking leaves from the plants that you already have and by working with them to grow roots for new ones, you can produce extra plants with no additional financial investment!

Posted Wednesday, April 12, 2006

Start with a plant that has rather large leaves. The leaf you take should have a stem that connects to the main stem of the plant, itself. Using a sharp knife, you are going to slice the stem of the leaf, as close to the base stem of the plant as possible. This will reduce stress to the plant that you are taking a leaf from.

Turn the leaf upside down, and sever the stem from the leaf, leaving about a half inch of stem still connected. Be sure that while you have the leaf upside down, that you cut across the veins on the leaf leaving a notch about every one inch. The larger the leaf the more cuts you will make. Just sever the veins- be sure not to cut all the way through.

Using a seed tray that is flat, filled with soil and compost materials, place the leaf vein-side down on the dirt. Hold the leaf in place with a few stones or rocks if needed. You want the cut portions of the veins to touch the soil that is in the seed tray. This is where the new roots are going to form.

Water the leaf and soil lightly, not too much. Cover with a plastic lid or a piece of plastic to keep it moist and warm. As the leaf begins to root, the plant will begin to grow. As you see a few new leaves forming and popping up out of the soil, you can take the covering off the seed tray and maintain its health by keeping it warm.

With a little care, sunlight and watering your leaf will form a number of new plants that you can then transplant into new containers. You can sell these small plants, plant them in your gardens, or just enjoy them in your greenhouse!