How to Bring a Plant Cutting Indoors for the Winter

If you love an outdoor plant but it is too big to bring indoors for the winter you have the option of taking a cutting from that plant. Once you have taken a cutting, you can start a new plant that is smaller and more appropriate for an indoor garden. Depending on the type of plant you are taking a cutting from, there are a few methods you might want to try.

Image via WikipediaTaking a cutting from a plant is also known as propagation. If you have a hardwood plant that you want to propagate the process is slow but easy to do as the cuttings are quite hardy. Take the cutting (about 5 inches worth) when the tree is dormant (in the middle of winter) and place the cutting cut-side up in a pail of sand. Fill the pail with water and wait until spring. Then submersed side will have little nodules that will turn into roots once planted.

When you are taking a cutting from a soft-wood plant, it will require more care and attention. Taking cuttings from soft-wood yields quicker results and you do the actual cutting when the plant is in the active growing phase. You are cutting off the new growth back to a nodal (from the point it stopped growing the year previous). This method benefits from the use of a root-producing medium found at nursery stores. It is important to place the cutting (cut-side down) into the root medium immediately. If the cutting dries out it will lessen the chances of a successful propagation.

Next, pick a pot or container suitable to the type of plant you are growing and plant it once the roots have developed. At this point, you can follow the regular care instructions for the type of plant you have just propagated.