Select clean,
healthy vegetative
branch tips. Use
non-flowering lower
growth from pruned
veg plants to pre-
serve flowering tops.
The thin neglected
branch tips thrive in
the rich nutrient solu-
tion and triple in size
or more. Trim into 3-inch pieces and remove leaves,
leaving 1/2” of leaf stem above the node. Cut ends
will be trimmed once more after sanitizing to remove
bleached cut tissue. Leave one inch or more below
lowest node to be trimmed so that lowest node will
be located above where the media surface meets the
air. This node is often the most aggressive as it is
near the sugar medium and the oxygen to metabolize
the sugar.
Using a Washing Jar
Put the pieces into the washing jar. Run some tap
water into the jar and shake gently to wash off any
loose material. Add a drop of simple detergent and
stir to dissolve oils and begin killing mold and bacte-
ria. Drain the soapy water and add the sanitizer from
the culture tubes and swirl every 10 minutes. Some
bleach will get on your hands, cleaning them at the
same time. The objective is to clean the plants and
the vessel before going to the clean hood.
Trimming and Planting
Dip tools in sanitizer and spill some into the plate
to create a small puddle to trim cutting in. Take one
cutting out of the jar with forceps and prepare to trim
it again. Hold forceps as far back as you can and try
to work with your hands as low as possible without
reaching over the plate. You will often pass tools to
your other hand across the front of the plate. Shake
off residual sanitizer drops. Keep tools at least 3 or
4 inches inside of hood. Gloves are good if you have
them.
With the node cutting in the center of the plate,
pass the forceps to your other hand and take the
scalpel in your working hand, holding as far back on
the tool as you can. Trim away the bleached ends of
the leaf stems, or petioles, about 1/4”. Do not dam-
age the bud inside the node, the growing point that
will develop into your new plant, unless it will fall
beneath or just above the media level, in which case
remove it as it will be deformed by the direct contact
with the hormone.
Point the upper end of the node to the right side
of the plate, put the scalpel back in the sanitizer, and
pass the forceps back to your working hand. Open
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April 2018