Your Guide To Using the steadygrowpro Propagation Kit
The steadyGROWpro propagation kit is suitable for a wide variety of cuttings including
flowering plants, woody ornamentals, vines and ivies.
Propagation of plants from cuttings allows indoor and outdoor gardeners to inexpensively
expand their supply of favorite plants, trees or shrubs from their own garden or from a
friend's garden. Unlike plants which start from seed, plants grown from cuttings are
identical to the parent plant. As a result, propagating is often referred to as cloning.
The ideal propagation medium retains moisture, drains well and is porous. It also allows for good air exchange to and from the roots, releases nutrients and provides support and protection for the cuttings as they grow. SteadyGROWpro meets all these criterion, and it is sterile. It is the ideal propagation medium.
Media Preparation
Before sticking your cuttings, the steadyGROWpro propagation strip plugs should be thoroughly
soaked. Allow the excess water to drain away. Do not retain this water in the 10" x 20"
tray provided. The media should be moist to touch at the surface.
Cutting the Plant
Sharp and sterile scissors or pruners should be used for maximum results. Cuttings should
be taken in early spring or early summer while the plant is actively growing. Cuttings
root best if they are cut ½ inch below the leaf node.
Cut the stem at an angle. This creates more surface area to form roots. Cuttings root
better when they are cut from the bottom portion of the stem between two nodes. Leaves at
the lower end of the cutting should be cut away (not stripped) leaving only the top leaves.
Only two to three leaves should be left on the cutting.
If the media is not prepared, or if the cutting needs to travel for a while before they
are placed in the steadyGROWpro medium, place them in water or in a sealed plastic bag.
Cuttings will keep for several days if they are refrigerated while in water or in a
sealed plastic bag. Keep the cuttings away from sunlight.
Sticking The Cuttings
Placing the cuttings in the rooting medium is called "sticking." The
steadyGROWpro strip plugs should be moist at the surface when you stick the cuttings.
SteadyGROWpro plugs are prepunched. Stick your cutting in the prepunched hole to a depth
of " ½ to 1."
If you choose to use rooting hormones, dip the bottom of the stem in the hormone before sticking.
Caring For The Cutting In steadyGROWpro Plugs
Place your steadyGROWpro propagation kit in a well-lit area away from direct sunlight and
protected from extreme heat or cold. Keep the steadyGROWpro medium moist by misting from
time to time.
Watch For Roots
The cuttings will start making white globular material (known as callus) at the bottom
portion of the stem. Once the callus is formed, roots will start developing. In two to three
weeks you will start to see roots protruding out of the steadyGROWpro plugs. At this stage
you are ready to transplant.
Transplanting
Rooted steadyGROWpro plugs may be transplanted to steadyGROWpro blocks or to soil.
Before transplanting, make sure the steadyGROWpro plugs are well saturated. The steadyGROWpro
plug should be placed into the predrilled steadyGROWpro plug hole or in a prepared soil
hole. Make sure any void areas are filled and the plug fits snugly in the steadyGROWpro
or in the soil. Water again thoroughly. You may add fertilizer to your watering regiment
per the instructions of your specific plant needs. If you choose to transplant to
steadyGROWpro blocks, maintain a watering regiment to keep the surface moist but not soaked.
Once root formation can be seen at the bottom of the blocks, you may transplant them to
steadyGROWpro slabs. Click here for more information on steadyGROWpro slabs
and indoor gardening systems.
