1. Introduction:
Plant propagation is an important facet of horticulture nursery management. It requires a lot of skill, knowledge and experience to propagate plants economically. Plant propagation is necessary for mass production of plants for sale, production of new and better varieties, improve the quality of plants. Cutting and grafting are tow major methods of asexually reproducing the horticultural plants. They are widely used in horticultural nurseries.

2. Asexual Propagation: Characteristics of Asexual Propagation:
Asexual propagation is any reproductive process such as budding or stem cutting that does not involve the union of gametes.
Characteristics of Asexual Propagation:
Production of new plant from various parent plant parts.
No seed is required.
Exact genetic duplication is possible as there is no fusion of gametes.
This technique is useful in plants difficult to propagate by seeds.

3. Cutting:
Stem Cuttings- a portion of the stem that contains a terminal bud or lateral buds is cut and placed in growing media to produce roots
Leaf Cuttings: consists of a leaf blade or leaf blade with petiole attached
Leaf Bud Cutting: consists of a leaf, petiole, and a short piece of stem with the lateral bud
Root Cutting: From root pieces of young plants during late winter or early spring

4. Types of Stem Cuttings
Softwood Cuttings: Cuttings of soft, succulent growth 3-5” in length with 2 or 3 nodes. They are cut slanting at ¼ ” below a node.
Herbaceous Cuttings: It is a type of softwood cutting. The cuttings are 3-4 inches long and contain several leaves.
Semi-hard Cuttings: Cuttings are made of new shoots of woody, broad-leaved plants.
Hardwood Cuttings: From one-year-old growth, deciduous or evergreens.
Conifer Cuttings: A type of hardwood cuttings of narrow leaf evergreens. The cuttings are taken in winter. May require several months to produce adequate roots.

5. Media used for Rooting the Cuttings
Peat, Moss and Perlite mixture: Good moisture retention and yet provides good aeration
Vermiculite: Good moisture retention
Sand: Good aeration
Sand, Peat and Moss Mixture: Good mix of moisture retention and aeration