Name: ___________________________

Plant Propagation by Stem Cuttings

Written Evaluation
1. Any detached plant part which, when placed under favorable conditions will
produce a new plant identical to the parent plant is called a:
A. cutting
B. seed
C. plug
. graft
!. "his type of cutting is ta#en in the dormant season when tissues are fully matured
and lignified. "his may be after the leaves have dropped.
A. $oftwood
B. $emi%hardwood
C. &ardwood
. &erbaceous
'. "his mineral is e(posed to high heat and e(panded. )t is often used as a
propagation media.
A. *erlite
B. +ermiculite
C. *eat ,oss
. $and
-. .hat are two of the most important /ualities to loo# for when selecting a rooting
media0
1. ________________________ !. ________________________
1. .hy is it important to select cutting stoc# free of berries and flowers0
A. "he flowers and berries ta#e up too much space in the propagation bed.
B. Because berries and flowers weigh down the cuttings and may cause them
to tip over.
C. "he flowers and berries would attract harmful insects to the cuttings.
. Because they consume much of the food stored in and produced by the
cutting.
2. .hy is it important to transport cutting stoc# from the field to the propagation
area in a plastic bag0
A. "o #eep your hands and clothing clean.
B. "o help maintain the moisture level of the cutting stoc#.
C. Because a paper bag would tear too easily
. "o maintain the integrity of the soil around the roots.
3. .hen ta#ing the cutting from the stoc# plant, at what angle should the cut be
made0
A. !1%degrees
B. -1%degrees
C. 24%degrees
. 54%degrees
6. .hat is the name for cuttings made below the top of the branch0
A. 7niform cuttings
B. $tem%tip cuttings
C. ,edial cuttings
. .ounded cuttings
5. .hat is the optimum length for most cuttings0
A. 1 to ' inches
B. ' to 2 inches
C. 2 to 6 inches
. 14 to 1! inches
14. .hy must cutting si8e be limited0 9short answer:
11. "he bottom leaves from the cutting should be removed before ;stic#ing; the
cutting for which of the following reasons.
A. "he leaves may rot
B. "he leaves may become diseased
C. Neither A nor B
. Both A and B
1!. .hen stic#ing a cutting, how many nodes should be under the rooting medium0
A. At least 1
B. 1 to '
C. ! to -
. ' to 1
1'. <(plain the process of wounding. .hat is the purpose of wounding a cutting and
how is it accomplished0
1-. .hy are cuttings sometimes cut at a 54%degree angle at the top and a -1%degree
angle at the bottom0
A. "o help the propagator observe polarity.
B. $o the top and bottom are not mi(ed up.
C. $o the cutting does not get planted upside down.
. All of the above.
11. .hy are rooting hormones applied to cuttings0
A. "o increase the plant=s ability to reproduce.
B. "o promote the production of a new root system.
C. "o help the cutting resist disease.
. "o promote the production of healthy leaves, flowers and berries.
12. .hy must a hole or furrow be made in the growing media before stic#ing the
cutting0
A. "o prevent the rooting hormone from getting #noc#ed off the end of the
cutting.
B. "o ma#e the process of stic#ing the cutting easier.
C. "o establish the depth to which the cutting should be planted.
. "o maintain good air circulation around the cutting=s base.
13. &ow many seconds should a cutting be held in a li/uid rooting hormone0
A. !
B. 1
C. 14
. 1!
16. &ow far should cuttings be inserted into the rooting media0
A. > ; to ' ;
B. ? ; to ! ;
C. 1; to !;
. 1 > ; to ';
15. @ist ' ways in which uniformity is established.
1. ____________________________________________________________
!. ____________________________________________________________
'. ____________________________________________________________
!4. )t is important to firm the soil around the base of the cutting for which of the
following reasons:
A. "o eliminate air poc#ets.
B. "o ma#e sure the base of the cutting ma#es good contact with the rooting
media.
C. Neither A nor B
. Both A and B
!1. Aiving a slight tug on the cutting once it has been stuc# is a test to see if it was
properly _________________0
A. planted
B. firmed
C. spaced
. cut
!!. .hy is it important to evenly space the cuttings in the rooting medium0
A. "o promote good air circulation.
B. "o cut down on the transmission of disease organisms.
C. "o ma#e the best use of the propagation space.
. All of the above.
!'. .hat portion of the stem of a cutting should be coated with rooting hormone0
A. A portion which includes at least two nodes.
B. "he bottom B inch.
C. "he portion of the stem that will be under the media.
. "he entire cutting should be covered with hormone.
!-. .hat information is most important to be included on the label placed in the
container when cuttings are ta#en0
1. ________________________ !. ________________________
'. ________________________ -. ________________________
!1. .hat is the final step of preparing cuttings0
A. *reparing the rooting media.
B. $electing /uality cutting stoc#.
C. "he application of rooting hormone.
. .atering%in and placing the cuttings on a mist bed.
!2. .hy must any left over rooting hormone be discarded after use0
A. "o eliminate the possibility of contaminating the entire supply of rooting
hormone.
B. "o conserve funds used to purchase rooting hormone.
C. "o deplete the supply of rooting hormone to help #eep the supplier in
business.
. "o assist the propagator in #eeping the area neat and free of debris.
!3. @ist two solutions which can be used to saniti8e the tools used in preparing
cuttings.
1. ________________________ !. ________________________
!6. .hy might a propagator trim the leaves of large%leaved cuttings0
A. "o eliminate unsightly insect damage.
B. "o conserve propagation space.
C. "o shape the leaves into topiaries.
. "o achieve a uniform leaf si8e and shape.
!5. .hat type of cutting does not become woody0
A. $oftwood
B. $emi%hardwood
C. &ardwood
. &erbaceous
'4. .hich of the following groups of plants are often propagated from herbaceous
cuttings0
A. carnation, chrysanthemum, coleus and geranium.
B. a8alea, coleus, geranium and bo(wood
C. camellia, crepe myrtle, gardenia, holly
. dogwood, gin#go, hemloc#,
mountain laurel
Plant Propagation by Stem Cuttings
Written Evaluation
KEY
1. A.
!. C.
'. B.
-. 1. .ater holding capacity !. Air holding capacity
1. .
2. B.
3. B.
6. C.
5. B.
14. Cutting si8e must be limited because the top of the cutting must be supported by
the limited amount of moisture that can be absorbed through the base until rooting
ta#es place.
11. .
1!. A.
1'. .ounding e(poses more cambium and increases the chances of rooting while also
decreasing the time re/uired for a cutting to root. "he bar# layer is removed from
the base of the cutting > to 1 inch from the bottom of the cutting with a #nife or
the blade of a shear.
1-. .
11. B.
12. A.
13. B.
16. C.
15. 1. By ma#ing all the cuttings the same si8e.
!. By placing all the cuttings at the same planting depth.
'. By ma#ing all the holes the same depth.
!4. .
!1. B.
!!. .
!'. C.
!-. 1. $cientific Name !. Cultivar
'. Common Name -. ate
!1. .
!2. A.
!3. 1. Alcohol 9Cubbing: !. A 14D bleach solution
!6. B.
!5. .
'4. A.