To become fully certified a Master Gardener, one must take 19 courses that cover a wide variety of topics, including botany, native gardening, and pest control. These training sessions are a combination of online Zoom sessions and in-person trainings at the Greenbrier County Extension Office.
On Feb. 27, Donna and Myke Miles presented the training, “Propagation and Grafting.” This two hour class covered the full breadth of propagation from seed gathering, planting root cuttings, to the skill and art of grafting. One tip Donna shared were the instructions to make homemade rooting hormone. The recipe is as follows: Using willow branches pruned from trees or shrubs, cut branches into 3”-6” pieces. Place in an old enamel or stainless steel stock pot. Cover the pieces with water and bring to a simmer. Turn off the heat and let the material steep for 24 hours. Strain the liquid (it should be brown in color) into a glass container for storage. When ready to use pour liquid into a glass jar. Place your cuttings in the liquid and allow cuttings to absorb the fluid for 8-12 hours before insertion in sterile medium.
The training continued as Donna instructed the group on how to use the rooting hormone to improve the odds of a successful cutting. Then dipping the cut end of the plant in the rooting hormone one places the cutting in damp soil so that at least 1” of the stem and at least 1 node are below the surface. The pitted cutting may be covered with clear plastic to create a mini-greenhouse. Place the planted cuttings in a bright location out of direct sunshine. Keep the soil moist by misting. A plant is ready for the garden when it has enough roots around the edge of the root ball to hold the medium together.
If you enjoy gardening and wish to learn more about becoming a Master Gardener please contact Mary Dameron at the WVU Greenbrier County Extension office at 304-647-7408.
