Some people prefer to use pots for plant cloning, while others will use something as simple as a plastic cup with holes poked into the bottom. A translucent container is usually best so you can see when and where the plant is taking root.
Rockwool is more complicated and requires more preparation than soil. It’s needs to be soaked overnight in water with a PH balance of 4. 5, and it doesn’t contain the same nutrients that natural soil does. [1] X Research source You also need to take the time to cut a hole in the center of a rockwool block so that it’s not too big and not too small for the plant you’re cloning. Potting soil, seed starting mix, or well composted garden soil can all be used for your plant. Normal soil dug up from your garden may not be ideal.
If you’re an organic gardener, root hormones may not be your friend. Many root hormones contain fungicides and chemicals that might not be earth friendly. If you are concerned about the use of chemicals in your gardening, you may want to opt for natural alternatives, such as willow tea, cinnamon, or diluted apple cider vinegar. Plants like tomatoes are easily cloned because they produce a lot of natural auxin, but other plants may only put out roots from the original root ball at the tip of the stem — which may make it difficult to get the plant to root without a synthetic hormone. [3] X Research source Do some research on your plant before making any decisions to see what’s right for the situation. Never dip your plant matter into your container of hormone. Take out the amount of hormone you need and apply to the plant per the instructions included. This is to avoid contaminating your supply.
If you’ve chosen to use soil, fill the container to the top. Poke a hole through the center, all the way down to the bottom of the container. If you’ve chosen to use rockwool, you can simply insert the chunk of rockwool into the container.
After you’ve made your cut, look at the stem and remove any leaves or flower buds from its base. When there are too many leaves or buds on a plant cutting, they suck most of the water from the base of the stem and may keep your plant from rooting. [5] X Research source
