NABAT · THE ILLUSTRATED GUIDE

Watch a new plant begin.

From a living node to the first roots: follow the small changes that make propagation work.

Watch & understand

Find the node

For this stem cutting, the node is the important starting point. A leaf on its own is not the same cutting.

How it works A cutting must retain the tissues that can form both roots and a shoot. A decorative leaf in water is not automatically a new plant.

FIND THE MAIN STEM

A leaf stalk is not the stem

Follow the leaf stalk back to the vine. The swollen joint where it meets the main stem is a node; the stretch between joints is an internode.

This is a vining aroid example. Some begonias and African violets can grow from leaf cuttings; this vine cannot be treated the same way.

Watch & understand

From cutting to roots

Follow rooting, water care and the move into a small pot. Each stage has a different need.

How it works Roots use oxygen to release energy for growth. Water propagation works for suitable species, but a neglected jar is not a complete growing system.

START ROOTING

Keep the node covered

The cutting has lost its old water supply. Keep its node in clean water and its leaves in bright indirect light, away from heat that dries or overheats the jar.

Growth is condensed into seconds. Root development, not a fixed number of days or a single root length, guides the move to a pot.

A little more detail

Other plants can use leaf cuttings, division, offsets or air layering. A division needs its own roots and growing points. Check species-specific instructions before cutting a valuable plant.

Watch & understand

Inside a corm’s new start

A firm corm develops before the first leaf appears. Watch the growing point, roots and cover.

How it works The corm stores the reserves needed to begin a new plant. A viable growing point and sound tissue matter more than adding fertilizer.

A STORED START

The corm holds energy and a bud

An Alocasia corm is a swollen stem that stores reserves. Choose firm material with an intact growing point and set that point upwards in lightly moist, airy medium.

Alocasia corm example shown as a cutaway. Firmness is a useful check, not proof that every corm will grow; species and conditions affect development.

A closer look

Watch & understand

Read the packet before sowing

From sowing to emergence, notice how the cover and light needs change. Seed instructions come first.

How it works A germinating seed respires: it needs oxygen while it uses stored food. Flooding the mix can prevent germination even when plenty of water is present.

BEFORE SOWING

A seed contains an embryo

Water starts germination, but the embryo also needs oxygen and the right temperature. Follow the packet for depth and light: some seeds need light to germinate; others need cover.

Magnified bean example with compressed growth time. Seeds differ in depth, temperature, light and dormancy needs; not all seedlings emerge like beans.

A little more detail

Keep the medium at the moisture level the seed requires, without flooding it. After emergence, provide suitable light and ventilation. A cover can change moisture and heat quickly; check it rather than sealing seedlings indefinitely.

From the story to your plant