Kiwi Cuttings: [Grafts, Time, Rooting and Planting]

The kiwi is one of the fruit plants that is most valued for the exquisiteness of its fruit pulp.

It has the possibility of multiplying both by seeds and by cuttings, the latter being the preferred method.

The main reason is that the cuttings need a fairly simple process to carry out and offer characteristics equal to those of the mother plant.

However, when working with seeds, there is the possibility that genetic variability prevents us from obtaining a plant with good characteristics.Do you want to know how to take advantage of some kiwi twigs to obtain new plants? Let’s go ahead.

With what other plants or trees can we graft the kiwi cutting?

Kiwi grafts are quite common. However, they are not made with different plant species.

The idea is to promote the growth of a plant of a certain sex, when it is desired to have specimens for sexual reproduction.

It is also done so that a female plant with good production is grafted with a male to improve the results of the crops. In fact, the latter is the most common option pursued when working with kiwi grafts.

What is the best time to plant kiwi cuttings?

Kiwi cuttings need to be taken from a plant that is already mature but preferably one that still contains some softwood parts.That is why we usually wait for summer, between mid and late, to take and plant the cuttings.

How to get kiwi cuttings to root correctly?

After having selected the cuttings that will be used for multiplication, it is time to adapt them for planting.

This adaptation includes removing the leaves that are at the lower end of the cutting and leaving only those that are after the highest node.

On the other hand, an action that will help make the process much more effective is to submerge the cutting in a growth hormone .

This will help the roots grow faster and in better health.The cuttings must be buried in a substrate that offers very good stability. For this reason, a mixture of vermiculite with perlite is recommended.

When placing them in the substrate, care must be taken to press the substrate well around the cutting so that it has better stability.After planting them, keep the substrate well moistened to provide a pleasant environment.

The cuttings should be kept in a warm space, without drafts and where they receive a little indirect sunlight .

How should we take the kiwi cuttings to plant them?

Cuttings should be taken while they are soft in texture, as mentioned above. This means, semi-woody structure .

The length of the cutting could be between 15 to 20 centimeters long and it is preferable that it be thick.The cut must be clean, using garden shears so as not to cause damage to the mother plant.

As for the placement, it should be done below the leaf node.

How long should we leave kiwi cuttings in water?

Kiwi cuttings will be reproduced in a dry environment , in an appropriate substrate for this purpose.The level of humidity they require will be based on the contribution made to the soil.For this reason, it is not necessary to keep them in water for their roots to thrive.

Is it convenient to use fertilizer or compost?

The kiwi has a predilection for development when working with a good amount of organic matter.In fact, it has a preference for the nutrients provided by cattle manure that can be applied in an appropriate amount to the base substrate.

This same fertilization system must be maintained throughout development to ensure good growth and abundant fruit production.

How long does it usually take for a kiwi cutting to come out?

Kiwi cuttings usually give roots in a maximum time of 2 months.The verification can be done by moving the cutting a little, as if it were going to be extracted. In case of resistance, the cutting already has roots.

It must be transplanted into an appropriate pot so that it continues with its development before moving to its final space.

Since temperatures are most likely starting to drop by then, it is necessary to provide them with a warm space, such as a greenhouse.Kiwi plants need attention to develop well and this time is rewarded with excellent quality fruit.

Achieving that the harvests are also numerous, will go through properly executing the step by step from the moment the cutting is cut.That is why it is so important that you have this information at hand when deciding to work with this planting method.

If you want to go deeper, you can see: How to plant a kiwi tree.