Plants are propagated by rooting terminal cuttings. These vegetative cuttings are removed from stock plants maintained under long day conditions to inhibit flower bud formation. The terminal cuttings of 8-10 cm long that are removed from stock plants can be placed directly in to the rooting medium. To enhance development of roots, basal ends of the cuttings are dipped in a talk powder containing 0.1-0.2% IBA (Rootadex A or No.1 or Seradex). The greenhouse temperature should be between 15-180C and rooting medium temperature between 18 and 210C. 500-600 cuttings are planted per square meter of medium, depending on size of the lower leaf of the cultivar. Until rooting is accomplished fine misting is done intermittently on the cuttings during day light hours. The mist is usually turned off a day or two before cuttings are removed for hardening. Cuttings are well rooted in 10-20 days depending on cultivation and season. Cuttings with roots 1.5-2.0 cm long are desirable since longer roots makes planting difficult.
Any porous mixture that is not toxic can be used as a rooting medium. Perlite plus sphagnum peat moss is perhaps the most common medium. Vermiculite, sand and a sandy soil mixture have also been used as rooting media. Total salts below 15 m eq./lit for mist system not affect rooting. However magnesium should not exceed 70 per cent and high percentage of sodium (more than 67%) will cause “red root” while calcium is necessary for good rooting. Application of gypsum or ground lime stone @ 20-30 kg/100m2 can be broadcasted over the surface of the medium prior to the planting of the cuttings.
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