What is a Semi-Ripe Cutting?

As plant stems age, they ripen (become harder). The youngest wood, just beneath the shoot tip, is very light and tender; the oldest wood, at the base of the stems, is harder and more woody in colour. Semi-ripe wood is the stuff between the two (in this case, red).

As far as cuttings are concerned, older wood is more difficult to propagate because it does not root so easily. Whilst some recommend hormone rooting powder, semi-ripe fuchsia cuttings will root without it in perlite kept moist with water. Simply insert about 1.25 cm (half an inch) of the cutting into damp perlite up to the second pair of leaves (make a hole first if necessary).

Keep moist by adding water to the container until it is just beneath the cutting. Roots appear in about two to three weeks at room temperature. Check for these by gently tugging the cutting.