Vegetative propagation is when the plant is propagated by using part of the plant itself either a stem cutting or bulb or other part of the plant that a new plant is grown from. This is the most widely used method and normally the easiest and cheapest.
Runners:
Carpet plants such as Glosso, Dwarf Sag, and Hairgrass propagate this way.
They will send out runners from the “mother” plant which form new plants. These can be left to keep growing and sending out more runners, or can be cut. When cutting them, cut the runner as close to the plant on both sides and simply re-plant. New plants should have a good root system to enable them to establish quickly.
Rhizome division:
Rhizome plants such as Anubias and Java Fern can also be propagated this way.
As you will be cutting the plant into smaller portions, this should only be done to larger, healthy plants.
With a sharp knife or scissors, simply make a clean cut where you wish to split the plant. Each new plant should have an inch or two of rhizome and 4-6 leaves.
(you want to use a very sharp knife or scalpel to cut a rhizome to avoid unecessary bruising and damage)
Adventitious shoots:
Plants such as swords will propagate this way.
Swords will send up shoots that will develop baby plants on them. Baby plants should again have a good root system and have at least 4-6 leaves before they are seperated. When ready the plantlets will easily detach from the stalk when bent back toward the mother plant. If allowed to grow out of water, some will even flower.
Java fern will grow baby plants right on the leaves of the mother plant. This can even happen on leaves that have been detached from the “mother” plant. They can be seperated once the baby plant has about half a dozon healthy leaves, although if left they will detach themselves.
Lateral shoots:
Most stem plants propagate this way.
New stems will start to form at the nodes of your current stems. Once the new stems are about 10 cm long they can be cut away and re-planted.
